Noah the Wanderer — David Kilpatrick

A touching, thought-provoking, and beautifully told story that will linger in your heart and mind for a very long time. There is something here that rings so true and pure. Moving, even haunting, the story of Noah, and of all elephants, isn't that different from that of humankind. In essence, this is an epic fable that is a must-read for all. To pass on their history to someone is a custom of the elephant, so century-old Noah the Wanderer tells his story to a small boy who visits him at the zoo. Communicating in a silent language that bridges their species, he shares his life, from the day of his birth to the current moment. Across three continents Noah traveled as a free being, then a circus performer, sideshow attraction, and zoo exhibit. He witnessed everything the human world has to offer: kindness, cruelty, love, hate, peace and war. Along the way, he learned the story of his own kind, from the ancient times of Rome and Carthage to the modern holocaust of poaching and famine. And he learned that man and elephant have been inseparable throughout the ages, for they are more alike than any other creatures on Earth.