The Elephant's Secret Sense: The Hidden Life of the Wild Herds of Africa

In reading the summaries and reviews for this book, I had gotten the sense that it focused on the science of elephant communication. However, it is more the author's personal memoir about her experiences in Namibia than about elephant communication. O'Connell does tell some fascinating tales of escapes from lions and elephant politics. In one incident, a female lion stuck its head into the author's bunker, and I was left reading the book on the edge of my seat (even though I know the author survived). She is also good at interpreting elephant emotions and giving real character to the matriarchs and young bulls in the elephant families. When her research team tried dart one female elephant from a helicopter in order to radio tag her, the elephant's colleagues and babies flapped their ears, tried to use their trunks to swat the helicopter, and even charged the helicopter. These stories are the best part of the book.I thought O'Connell discussion of the science of elephant communication left much to desired. There was too little of it, and when she does discuss the science it was a bit too quick and without enough explanation. She recounts a few anecdotes about elephants using seismic communication, but never actually gives us an idea of whether these observations were considered statistically significant. At one point, she discusses how she learned about the anti-aliasing effect in geophysics but looking at a computer graphic, but fails to give readers a photograph of that graphic in order to help us understand what she is describing.If you want a conservation biologist's adventure stories, this book will work well for you. In fact, I think it does a great job explaining the politics and frustrations, but also the joys of the field. However, contrary to the impression I received in reading the Amazon page, this book doesn't deal much with elephant communication.

I loved this book. I think this book is successful on at least two levels. First, I think it paints a picture of what it's like to live and work in the field in Africa - Namibia in this case. It's a glimpse of life that many folks, myself included, would love to experience. On another level, it's a description of the important work that Ms. O'Connell in identifying important communication tools used by elephants and specifically the use of sound waves conducted seismically and picked up by the feet of elephants, which allows elephants to communicate over vast distances. The book is interesting and well-written. If you love elephants, you'll deeply appreciate this book. If you love Africa and African wildlife, you'll love this book. And if you simply have a curious nature and are interested in a good read, I think you'll find that this book hits the target.

It is a big world and we tend to get too wrapped up in our world and life - it is good to know that people like Caitlin O'Connell are observing and contemplating nature. It would be hard to imagine me giving up creature comforts to spend one night in an observation bunker at an African watering hole, but Dr. O'Connell does this for many months through the years. While doing this fieldwork, she observes that elephants are communicating in an unlikely way - through the ground. This fascinating read takes the reader through the scientific process related to this discovery and provides many insights into life in the Third World and in the bush. My favorite thought of Dr. O'Connell's is that "humans and elephants share common traits: neither appears equipped to compromise; both are refugees of war, struggling for a foothold, a patch to resettle, to reclaim and call their own."

Anyone who is interested in African elephants and their rich and amazing lives will find this an interesting read. Caitlin has added hugely to the body of knowledge about Elephant communication. It is part adventure story, as most intrepid young scientists who venture into Africa for their PHD theses discover. It tells of the beauty and terror and difficulties of this most diverse land and her rich wildlife.Caitlin's book tells of her discoveries, elephant communication research, years of working with people in the Caprivi region to combat Elephant/Human conflict as well as her memorable times in hides stalked by lion and all the other adventures.The book is well written for the most part, does lose some momentum toward the end of the book but this would appraer to be editing rather than Caitlin's writing. I thoroughly reccomend it.

I have read almost every book about elephants that I can find and this is one of my favorites! I knew elephants were incredible but I had no idea they are able to listen through their feet. Caitlin does amazing research. She also does a great job of explaining what she has discovered to the average person. This book allows such an intimate glimpse into the lives of these magnificent animals. I would definitely recommend it to any animal/elephant lover. If you are not already in awe of elephants, you will be after reading this book. Thank you Ms O'Connell for opening up their private world to us.  The Elephant's Secret Sense: The Hidden Life of the Wild Herds of Africa

Well-written and illuminating. Elephants communicate with one another and their surroundings, in large part, through those gigantic padded feet. Really ... who knew?! The science occasionally gets delayed in the rich narrative, but in the end, you're left with a thrilling research and travel adventure that yields new and exciting information about this magical creature.

I recently traveled to Namibia and heard about Caitlin O'Connell's work so I bought this right away when I returned. Her experience as both a resident and a researcher were integrated through her storytelling. I loved it because I had been there and because seeing those elephants (some collared so likely part of the research) was nothing short of spiritual. She captures this and many other adventures. If you love elephants or you've if you've ever dreamed of going to southern Africa then this is an insightful read and a well-written firsthand account.

This book purports to be about the secret sense of elephants yet very little of the book is devoted to this. Much more is devoted to meetings between various organisations. I have been to Africa many times and observed elephants in the wild and nothing in this book evokes the magic of these magnificent creatures.

A wonderful, informative, well-written book. Hats off to Caitlin O'Connell. A must for every elephant lover's library. Highly recommended. I can't put it down.

A very interesting read, these animals are amazing creatures and the more we can learn about them the more we can learn about us!

Such an interesting and informative booked by someone who knows their subject matter. Elephants are wonderful creatures to be respected.

This book is a revelation.It has made me understand several hidden facets of this wonderfully complexand highly sophisticated animal.