Biography
Tana Helfer was born in Los Angeles California, the daughter of the legendary animal trainers Ralph and Toni Helfer who owned the "Natures Haven: Wild Animal Rentals" in Van Nuys, California. Her parents named her after a river in Kenya, East Africa and to her father Ralph Helfer said she was, and is one of the greatest blessings God had bestowed on him.
Her parents supplied many legendary exotic animals for Hollywood like their African Lion Zamba, Indian Elephant Modoc, Bruno the Bear (a.k.a. Gentle Ben) and many others.
Tana grew as if from the pages of Rudyard Kipling under the loving care of Kasan, the great grey Timber Wolf assigned protector of her crib. Tana's childhood was unlike any others. Her play yard was equipped with an elephant, whom she used as other children would a jungle gym. Among her many playmates were Sultan, Serang, Patty, and all the other Bengal Tigers. Her big family of fur and feathers loved her as one of their own so she grew and thrived among the animals. From the beginning Tana and Zamba, a full-grown African male lion, had a very special relationship. Ralph's own relationship with Zamba grew up together as siblings and she called him her brother. They use to watch television together with a bowl of popcorn and Tana would curl up against him and drift off.
Soon their family property was cut in half by the Antelope Valley Freeway so they had to relocate to Soledad Canyon where they bought 600 acres of land to build their new ranch and they decided to name it "Africa U.S.A." which became the largest animal rental company in the world. There it was not uncommon for Tana to be riding on Zamba's back, play with Modoc and many of the other exotic animals she loved on her parents ranch.
Sadly in January 1969, her family's Africa U.S.A. ranch was destroyed by a powerful storm that caused terrible mudslides, this resulted in severe flooding and it was the largest flood that had ever been recorded over the Soledad Canyon region.
So her parents built another company and Animal training park called "Gentle Jungle". Based on a 55-acre ranch in Colton, California, about 50 miles east of Los Angeles once home of the old Gene Holter Movieland Animal Park.
There Tana learned from her father Ralph his own approach to educating wild animals that he called "Affection Training". Which was Love, Patience, Understanding and Respect.
Because of Ralph's Affection Training his animals proved to be more responsive and dependable then animals that were traditionally worked from Trainers who preferred to use the fear and intimidation of whips, guns and chairs.
Tana always knew that she wanted to be a wild-animal stunt-woman and became one at a very early age and was deemed by the press the youngest exotic animal stunt person. She couldn't remember ever wanting to be anything else.
Tana moved to Kenya, East Africa when she was 23 and has been a single mother raising her three daughters alone. There she worked together with her father Ralph Helfer in his safari tours industry "Eden International Safaris and Treks". In 1997 she became the Executive Director of Wildlife Awareness Foundation; in 2000 she conducted a Global Solidarity conference at the United Nations on behalf of animals internationally; in 2003 she took on the role as Executive Director of the Jane Goodall Institute, when time allowed, she acted as a guest lecturer on Animal Behaviorism and Affection Training.
Tana has written "A Professional Safari Guide to Kenya" that provides the basic overall information which is meant to assist anyone who is interested in certification as a Safari Guide as well as naturalist, travelers, individuals in the tourism sector and others who are simply interested in one book that will provide a basic overall view of Kenya.
