Zamba: The True Story of the Greatest Lion That Ever Lived
By addebook • Apr 24th, 2009 • Category: Biology
Zamba: The True Story of the Greatest Lion That Ever Lived
by: Ralph Helfer
Zamba: The True Story of the Greatest Lion That Ever Lived
By Ralph Helfer
Publisher: HarperCollins
Number Of Pages: 272
Publication Date: 2005-07-01
ISBN-10 / ASIN: 0060761326
ISBN-13 / EAN: 9780060761325
Product Description:
When Ralph Helfer, now one of Hollywood’s top animal behaviorists, first began working, he was shocked by the cruelty that was accepted practice in the field. He firmly believed in “affection training” — that love, not fear, should be the basis of any animal’s development, even when dealing with the most dangerous of creatures. Then Zamba came into his life — an adorable four-month-old lion cub that went on to prove Helfer’s theories resoundingly correct.
Over the next eighteen years, Zamba would thrive and grow, and go on to star in numerous motion pictures and television shows — all the while developing a deep and powerful bond of love and affection with the man who raised him. By turns astonishing, hilarious, and poignant, Zamba is not only the unforgettable story of the relationship that Helfer would come to consider one of the most important in his life but also that of the amazing career and adventures of the greatest lion in the world.
Summary: MUST read for animal lovers and mystics
Rating: 5
This story is an absolute MUST read for animal lovers of all ages.
When I was about 9 years old I read Toni Ringo Helfer’s The Gentle Jungle. It has been one of my favorite books ever since and I am now 37 (the only book I saved from childhood)! It’s still on my shelf, yellowed and falling apart, and I wish it would be re-editioned. So on that note when I saw MODOC I purchased it immediately, and yesterday I ran across this book about Zamba. Both Modoc and Zamba were written about in the Gentle Jungle, but Zamba was my favorite. Those of you who have a deep love and respect for wild animals will ADORE this book.
Ralph Helfer is a special special soul, and far ahead of his time on so many levels. Although everyone who met Zamba when he was alive was changed, I dont think the world was open enough to experience this story until now, and thankfully here it IS. Mr. Helfer fits in, in my opinion, with the mystic teachers of all types who have come to the forefront today in all areas of expertise.
Several people have criticized Mr. Helfer’s writing (and I’ll admit Toni is a better writer) but the writing really doesnt detract from the whole of the book. I have read several of Jane Goodall’s books, and found her writing to be VERY dull, and hard to get through, much more so than ZAMBA. AND we all know how important Ms. Goodall is. Whatever you think of the writing, the story here is very important. And if you can get through the parts in the middle of the book which veer off Zamba’s story into other parts of the larger picture, you will be moved by this book.
NO ONE did things quite like the Helfers, and I wonder why we don’t hear more about their contribution as pioneers in affection training still today. It’s certain we have to share the earth with animals, but many common people cannot relate to conservation in a far-away country like Africa, for example. For them the animals arent “real” in the right way.
This story opens that door. Ralph does not make Zamba into a person. He simply writes about Zamba’s beautiful heart and soul, and their relationship, lion-to-human, and all the while Zamba is portrayed as what he is–a LION. Mr. Helfer does not glamorize his experiences. He emphasizes that his animals are WILD above all else. Even Zamba.
If not for people like Ralph Helfer some people would have no way of truly getting close to wild nature and learning to RESPECT it and know that it FEELS and LOVES and is worthy of life. WHY is it so hard for some people to accept the fact that animals have complex emotions… they love, they grieve, the same as us. We can learn from them. Scientists and conservationists can teach all they want, keeping things “clinical”, but for your average person, it’s not enough. Mr. Helfer often refers to the way humans treat each other and the reflection of the way they treat animals. So true. We refuse to let love in, and this is reflected in how we treat others. But violent prisoners have their hard shells broken by the unconditional love of a dog.
Without a story that hits close to our hearts, for many of us, we cannot relate. Just as it wasnt enough for some people to show concern for Orcas until they saw Free Willy. That’s the reality of it.
We need to hear stories like ZAMBA. They offer us a deeper, and real understanding of animals. They have souls and they love. Books like this are very VERY important.
Summary: I love this book!
Rating: 5
This is one my favourite book. The story began with the life of Ralf Helfer and it started to get interesting only after Zamba was found. I finished reading it in two days. It touched my heart, brought tears to my eyes but also gave me many smiles. There are many lessons that we may learn from reading this book. It is a book of all ages. I have passed it to my kids.
Summary: Zamba is a Wonderful Book
Rating: 5
This story was a wonderful read, at times I found the author a little airy fairy for me but he really is a great person who loves his animals. Interesting story and make sure you have a box of tissues for the end as I balled my eye’s out(but with a smile).
Summary: I laughed, I cried, I loved this story
Rating: 5
As an animal lover I knew I would probably enjoy the story of Zamba. Well, I more than enjoyed it, I loved it. Zamba has so much personality and his owner/trainer wrote his story with depth and heartfelt emotion.
Ralph Helfer is a Hollywood trainer and Zamba came to him as just a cub, Zamba was curious and as playful as a housecat. Right away Helfer and Zamba had an intimate bond that lasted Zamba’s entire life. Helfer accomplished this bond through unique training methods of his day based on affection and not fear.
Zamba really lived with Hefler and his family (even sleeping in the bed with Helfer) and it was wonderful to see the interaction between this huge beast and his young daughter. Zamba was incredibly gentle and as sweet natured as a golden retriever. Although he still acted in many ways as a lion, but he never attacked or become aggressive with the family.
Interspersed throughout the story is Zamba’s different acting gigs and his brushes of fame with Hollywood stars. Zamba even flew to Africa to star in a movie there. This was entertaining but the story is even better when Zamba is with Helfer’s family on their animal ranch in the California hills. Several times I laughed out loud in this story and I also cried. There are some incredibly poignant scenes in this book that have me teary eyed just thinking about them.
Even if you are not an animal devotee, I recommend this heart tugging tale about the sweet bond between an irascible, loving lion and his trainer.
Summary: Wonderful! Could not put it down!!!!
Rating: 5
I had not read a book in quite sometime and a friend told me about Zamba. We run a nonprofit rescue for big cats such as Lions, Tigers, Bobcats, Mountain Lions, etc. I took the book with me on a recent trip to California to rescue 6 cats. I thought it would keep me occupied during the long drive. It was such a wonderfull story that I could not put it down and read the entire book in the first day of our trip!! I immediately went to Amazon.com and ordered two more books by this author. I can’t wait to receive them and start reading!!!
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