Figure 1.--Here we see Tippi with her friend J&B. Thet had a.very close relatiinship. J&B once got aggressive with another child, but backed away when Tippi cautuiioned him. Tippi also had relatuionships withlions. The inly time she had aproblem is when a lion's tail kncked her over. Photographers: Sylvie Robert and Alain Degré.

Tippi Benjamine Okanti Degré was a Frenchb girl born in Windhoek, Namibia (1990- ). Her parents were French wildlife photogrphers who decided to raise thir daughterv growing up with animals and the tribal people of Africas. She spent her first 10 yars in Namibia ans beginning as an infant was allowed to interact with relativekly little supervisiion with the animals, including the large cats and elephants. The cats were orphaned animals raised by farmers. Many of the other animals were wild, including an elephant herd whuich literaly adopted her. The wildlife photographer-filmmaker parents was raised Tipopinin the bush. She was named after the American actress Tippi Hedren as well as friend of her parents Gert Benjamin Jordaan, a guide they knew in Namibia. Tippi befriended animals she lived among and not just the animals see as cute or beautiful. Sge was especially close to a 28-year old elephant Abu and a leopard nicknamed J&B. Her friends included lions, giraffes, a banded mongoose, an ostrich, meerkats, a cheetah, a caracal, snakes, a giant bullfrog, and chameleons. Tiopi had an almost mistical ability to connect with animals. She had an instictive ability to commuicate with the animals and be accepted by them. It was not something taught by her parents. She enjoyed playing wuith the monkies, but as a baby didn't like how they tried to steal her bottle.

Created: 3:17 AM 9/15/2023
Last updated: 3:17 AM 9/15/2023