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Lessons from the Wild

What wild animals taught me

Lessons from the Wild

In this adapted English version of the Dutch bestseller Over leven in het wild, featuring additional pages, insights, photographs, and maps, Martine takes you into the heart of the African wilderness. Her compelling and often breathtaking adventures with wild animals demonstrate what these creatures can teach us about being human.

While living among gorillas in the rainforests of Gabon, Martine discovers what it truly means to be part of an ecosystem. In Cameroon, chimpanzees become her teachers. Near Kruger National Park in South Africa, she runs a busy wildlife veterinary practice, where lions, rhinos, elephants, and giraffes are among her daily patients. Confronted with the realities of wildlife protection, she faces constant danger—from the struggle against rhino poaching to narrowly escaping an attack by an African buffalo.

This personal journey illustrates how reconnecting with nature and stepping outside our comfort zones can strengthen our resilience, courage, and well-being. At the same time, the urgency and complexity of nature conservation become strikingly clear.

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Would you like to purchase a signed copy? These are available at the ARTIS shop.

Over leven in het wild

In the bestseller Over leven in het wild, Martine takes you into the African wilderness, making you feel as if you are right there with her. For her work with gorillas, she lives in the vast rainforest of Gabon and creeps along elephant paths. In South Africa, rhinos, lions, buffaloes, giraffes, and elephants are her daily patients. On foot, on horseback, or from a helicopter, she fires tranquilizer darts and is active in the fight against poaching. These experiences teach us much, including that we are part of a vast ecosystem, but also about our origins, our humanity, and our vulnerability. She also experiences the power of practice and stepping out of our comfort zone.

Learn from wild animals

Life in the wilderness is full of challenges and danger, but by trusting in herself, her team, and the wild animals, Martine finds her place in the wild. This book—for all ages (from 10 to 100), reading levels (from bookworms to 'I never read'), educational backgrounds (from no formal education to professors), and interests (from fanatical nature lovers to people who have no connection with animals or nature)—is about dreams and what we can learn from wild animals. Life lessons that are also applicable in our urban jungle and that make us aware of how extraordinary nature is.

When you purchase the book through the WWF, you support their fantastic nature conservation projects. Signed books are also always available in the ARTIS shop!

Would you like to order a copy with a personal message? Please contact us.

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT SURVIVAL IN THE WILD

This book is about following your heart and chasing your dreams. Fantastic, I read it all in one go. I visit Africa regularly, and this book also provides a wonderful 'insight' behind the scenes of wildlife parks and fauna management. I recommend everyone to read it! This is Ben Tiggelaar's 'dream, dare, do' put into practice. Everyone can learn from this. But above all, it is beautifully written. It is also impressive how personal suffering or discomfort is sometimes mentioned, yet described without becoming sentimental.

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Martine has made a stunning literary debut with this book. What a magnificent narrative and wonderful writing style. It is as if you are right there with her. In addition to her breathtaking adventures as a wildlife veterinarian, this book is also a compelling call to drastically transform our all-consuming lifestyle into a sustainable society, where ecology and economy go hand in hand. A must-read!

- Roeland Wessels

A beautifully written book about a woman with a passion for wildlife, and a fine example of perseverance. From the very beginning, you are drawn into the adventures of a veterinarian dedicated to wild animals in the African wilderness. I know Martine as a beautiful and extraordinary person, but after reading this book, I have even more admiration for her.

- Ramon Gekko

Beautiful, personal, and a great read. An inspiring and honest life story in which ambition, courage, and decisiveness struggle with fear, uncertainty, and doubt. And all within the context of the African (and sometimes European) wilderness! Once again, a wake-up call about the value of nature, without being preachy.

- W. Bertone

A heartwarming book full of adventure and love for animals. Martine shows us how a veterinarian makes a difference in our relationship with nature.

- Frans de Waal

This book is about connection, inner strength, conscious living, service, and love. Read this fascinating book!

- Princess Irene of the Netherlands

This adventurous veterinarian shows us that humans are fragile beings who are merely a small link in a vast ecosystem. Beautiful!

- André Kuipers

I dedicate this book to...

"All the large, small, dangerous, innocent, winged, swimming, crawling, jumping, and walking wild animals on this planet. May they survive for a long time to come, as they have been able to do undisturbed for many millions of years. And to all the rangers, anti-poaching units, wildlife park managers, detectives, helicopter pilots, lawyers, veterinarians, and other warriors who risk their lives on the front line to protect wild animals and their habitats.

Every day, many men and women stand ready with heart and soul for rhinos, gorillas, elephants, and many other wild animals. Often for low and uncertain wages. Although many have already given their lives in the struggle against injustice, greed, and indifference, they tirelessly continue their difficult and risky work. They are the world's greatest heroes and heroines."

— From: Over Leven in het Wild