Author

T. V. Bulpin

Book Overview

A powerful and haunting chronicle of T.V. Bulpin’s experiences in Southern Africa during the twilight years of the ivory trade. Written in the 1950s, this remarkable memoir provides an unflinching look at the harsh realities of elephant hunting and the complex characters who pursued Africa’s ‘white gold’. While documenting a brutal era, it serves as a sobering reminder of humanity’s impact on wildlife and helped catalyse early conservation awareness.

Why You’ll Love It

• Offers rare insights into a vanished era of African history through first-hand accounts
• Combines gripping adventure narratives with thoughtful reflection on environmental exploitation
• Provides valuable historical context for modern elephant conservation efforts

Perfect For

History enthusiasts, conservation researchers, and readers seeking to understand the historical context of Africa’s wildlife crisis. Particularly relevant for those interested in the evolution of conservation ethics and the human factors driving species decline.

Bring the Book to Life

Available at major bookstores and online retailers worldwide.

What Do Other Readers Think

Bulpin’s account has earned respect for its honest portrayal of a controversial period in African history. Readers appreciate its unflinching examination of the ivory trade’s brutal realities while acknowledging the complex social and economic factors that drove it.

The book resonates strongly with those interested in conservation history, offering crucial insights into how attitudes towards wildlife have evolved. Many note how the author’s detailed observations of elephant behaviour and intelligence make the tragedy of their exploitation even more poignant.

Modern conservationists value the book’s contribution to understanding the historical roots of current wildlife challenges. While some readers find the hunting accounts disturbing, most acknowledge their importance in documenting a pivotal period that shaped current conservation efforts.

The combination of adventure narrative and historical documentation creates a compelling testament to both human folly and the urgent need for wildlife protection. Its lessons remain particularly relevant as Africa’s elephants continue to face threats from poaching and habitat loss.