Vicki Constantine Croke, Author and Journalist

In 1920, James Howard Williams began working in the teak logging camps of Burma (now Myanmar). Mesmerized by the intelligence, character, and humor of the great animals that hauled logs through the remote jungles, he became a gifted “elephant wallah” who championed humane treatment for the animals. The elephants led a double life, working alongside men for five hours a day, then living in the forest much like wild elephants for the remaining hours. Vicki Croke will discuss her best-selling book Elephant Company: The Inspiring Story of an Unlikely Hero and the Animals Who Helped Him Save Lives in World War II, which chronicles Williams’ life. She will also provide an overview of elephants in Myanmar today, highlighting why conservationists worry about their future.

Presented in collaboration with the Harvard Animal Studies Project