Anthony explains the title of the book in the Prologue: While he is perceived to be the “elephant whisperer,” he asserts that the elephants are the ones who whispered to him. The context of the book is thus established early on, with the narrative exploring how Anthony builds a relationship with the elephants. This points to one of the central themes of the book: the value of communication and establishing a genuine relationship with animals.

Anthony learns to communicate with the elephants and gradually earn their trust. The possibility of bonding is established from the very first night Anthony spends outside the boma, when he makes a connection with the matriarch and manages to successfully convince her not to break out. The fact that this ritual continues over a number of days, with Nana acquiescing to Anthony’s pleas each time, establishes the connection as more than a chance occurrence. He is eventually able to pick up on the “rumblings” elephants use to communicate with one another, sensing the herd’s presence or absence in any area even without laying eyes on them. Although Anthony cannot actually hear the rumblings, he believes he perceives them subliminally.