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Picking up the book—the name made me wonder how an elephant in Rajaji National Park, far removed from the southern kingdom of Mysore got the name Tipu, fondly called Sultan of the Siwaliks. Amirtharaj Christy Williams’ memoir has the answer, and more! Elephant naming anecdotes abound.

An insightful Foreword by Prerna Singh Bindra, India’s leading environmental journalist, tells how Williams makes a case for the Asian elephants, remarkable animals fighting a losing battle as forests get rapidly cleared for human use. African Elephants have long been studied and filmed and humanized by their chroniclers—scientists and conservationists, enjoy tremendous support unlike their Asian cousins. She also points out the fallacy in consigning all elephants into a single gray lump as each is an individual with distinct personality, idiosyncrasies and quirks.