"In the late 1980's, a female baby elephant was born into a herd
that lived on the plains of Southern Africa. Her mother had carried her
for two years, and normally she would have nursed her for five more. But
the close-knit family of wild elephants was to face a predator for which it was
no match - humans. In a "cull", the family was slaughtered in a
few moments. Only the newborn female's life was spared.
Terrified and bewildered, the young elephant was transported to America to be sold. There she met the person who was to change her life forever.
Bob Norris is a cowboy with an empathy for animals that overwhelms his other emotions. He was raised with a pet bear and as a boy decided to become a real cowboy, and saw his dream come true on one of the larger cattle ranches in America. Handsome as a movie star, he was the Marlboro Man, with his face appearing on TV and on billboards around the world. But with the passing of years, and his own family grown up, he felt the need for something that he could not name.
When she came into his life by happenstance, the hurt, vulnerable little elephant tapped the fullness of Bob's empathy, and an incredible bond between the most unlikely of friends was forged.
Bob adopted the baby orphan elephant - name Amy - and patiently set about helping her recover from the trauma of her ordeal. He had never seen a real African elephant up close, except in zoos. He was a horseman, and breeder of champion Quarter Horses. But through close observation, gentle training, humor, and endless perseverance, Bob gradually coaxed Amy into overcoming her mistrust of humans, and indeed, her fear of the world. The little elephant became a "hand" on Bob's cattle ranch, tending to simple chores, riding the fences, and shadowing Bob on his horse. She developed a winning personality and strong character, and became a beloved member of the Norris family, and partner to the ranch hands.
But Bob knew almost from the start that the ultimate goal was for Amy to regain her confidence and her independence - even, if it were possible, to go back to the savannahs of Africa.
This is the true story of how Amy and Bob came together. No one who reads THE COWBOY AND HIS ELEPHANT can fail to be moved by such a simple tale of unlikely love."
Having first heard the story about Bob and Amy in his mother-in-law's kitchen, Malcolm MacPherson, the author of THE COWBOY AND HIS ELEPHANT, was curious about the odd and unlikely relationship and was determined that the tale be told. MacPherson is a writer and journalist who has worked as a former Newsweek staff correspondent in Nairobi, Paris, and London, as a senior editor for New York magazine, and as a senior writer for Premiere. He is author of nine books of fiction and nonfiction, and his writing has appeared in the New York Times, Playboy, Reader's Digest, and Smithsonian.
Your own personal copy of THE COWBOY AND HIS ELEPHANT can be ordered through www.amazon.com or Barnes&Noble at www.bn.com.
For Additional Pictures of Bob and Amy, click here