When a celebrated animal trainer takes a four-month-old African lion cub into his home, they care for each other, learn from each other, and change each other's lives, indelibly. A one-of-a-kind love story.
From the author of Modoc comes a personal and moving story about the animal that started Ralph Helfer's illustrious 30-year career as Hollywood's top animal trainer. When Helfer began his career training animals, he was shocked by the danger and cruelty that dominated the field. He believed that if he could raise even the most dangerous animal from a young age and train it in a loving, caring, yet disciplined environment - a process he termed Affection Training - love could be the basis of the animal's training instead of fear.
He brought Zamba, then a four-month-old cub, into his home, and his theories proved resoundingly correct. Zamba would go on to star in major motion pictures and on television, but more importantly, a bond developed between Helfer and Zamba that became the most important in Helfer's life. With stories that range from the hilarious to the incredibly sad and poignant, 'Zamba' will give any Lion King fans a new hero and touch every animal lover's heart.
