The Earth Organization (TEO) was founded by internationally acclaimed, South African conservationist, Lawrence Anthony, who owns and lives on an exclusive, private game preserve in South Africa. He is most well known for his remarkable 5 ½-month rescue initiative of the animals and staff of the Baghdad Zoo, early in the Iraqi War. For his amazing act of courage, he received the prestigious United Nation’s Earth Trustee Award, the coveted UN Earth Day Medal, and was inducted into the by-invitation-only, esteemed Explorers Club. The book Babylon’s Ark: The Incredible War-time Rescue of the Baghdad Zoo was written about his adventure, and the story of his determination and bravery is so compelling that a Hollywood major, feature-length motion picture about his heroism is currently being produced.
Shortly after purchasing the game preserve Thula Thula (which means “Peace and Tranquility” in Zulu), Lawrence acquired a herd of 7 extremely traumatized wild elephant, reintroducing the species back into an area where they hadn’t been seen for over 100 years. Lawrence rescued the troublesome herd when he was told they were going to be shot, bringing them to his reserve, and then, to prevent them from escaping and being shot, spent 24 hours a day with them for three weeks until they settled down and came to trust him. His relationship with them now is so extraordinary that CNN, BBC, CBS, and a number of other major media have come there to film him with them, dubbing him “the Elephant Whisperer”. Anyone else approaching these totally wild elephants would be in grave danger. However, Lawrence can go out into the bush and call them and, hearing him, they rapidly come from miles away to see him and just be with him. They stand right next to him and interact with him for as long as he is there. When the matriarch of the herd had her first baby on his reserve, she purposefully brought it up to his home to show him. In kind, when he had his first grandchild, he brought him to her to show her.
As mystical as it may sound, every time he returns from a trip, the night he arrives, the herd comes to his house to see him. One time he missed his flight. The herd came as far as the garden gate and perceived he wasn’t there, and left. The next night when he returned, they came back to see him.
Lawrence’s second book, The Elephant Whisperer, is being released in June of 2009, covering his experiences with this magnificent species.
Lawrence was born and raised in the African bush and speaks Zulu fluently. His primary conservation focus has been the education and involvement of remote rural communities in conservation and environmental awareness. It took 16 years of work and negotiations, but his understanding of the native culture has made it possible for him to obtain an historic agreement between all 6 local Zulu tribes, to drop their fences and create together one of the largest game preserves in the world - the Royal Zulu Biosphere. As of March 2009, the documents are being drawn up and more news regarding this groundbreaking initiative is soon to come.
Lawrence’s wife, Francoise, was a Parisian model when she left France to join Lawrence in South Africa. A Cordon Bleu chef, she manages and runs the hotel accommodations of Thula Thula, providing a unique and elegant ambience for their guests through luxurious cabins and tents, and gourmet cuisine. It has been noted, however, that Bijou, the miniature poodle always in attendance at her side, is, in fact, the true boss of the entire facility.
Lawrence has been featured in a wide variety of magazines and newspapers, ie. Men’s Journal, Elle, Readers Digest, The Smithsonian, SAA Magazine, The Zululand Observer, The Globe, and many others.
