I started doing field work back in 1996
and I didn’t have kids back then and
even when I was in the fields in
Madagascar looking at some of the most
critically endangered primates in the
entire world in the back of my mind I
thought I want these animals to be here
for my children one day and so I think
that’s what really motivates me is the
idea that if I do something to try and
help protect these animals in these wild
places that they’re going to be around
for for generations to come
I’m not sure it ever gets easier perhaps
more familiar it’s just like any working
mom who in the mornings has to drop off
their kids at school and works 9:00 to
5:00 and then doesn’t see their child
until it’s time for dinner and puts them
to bed and does it again the next day I
mean the following morning does it get
any easier I don’t think as a mom you
ever really like parting with your kids
for me it’s a little bit different I
don’t see them that afternoon I’m gone
for several weeks or months and then
sometimes I don’t even have a way to
communicate with them from from the
field so it’s definitely tougher but
while I’m out there there in my mind I
know that I’m doing something for them
and I know that when I get back and I
share these stories and these
photographs and footage of these amazing
places I mean my daughters are
constantly saying mommy we want to go to
the jungle with you we want to study
animals you know it’s opened up their
their minds to different cultures and
places and the idea of of pursuing that
dream is very important to me whether
that’s their dream or any other I think
they need to know that they can do
whatever they want and hopefully I’m
setting that example for them
I got the worst blisters on my leg I
personally believe that the best type of
conservation is done in the field
I call it muddy boots conservation you
have to get your boots dirty and be out
there and be present and interact with
the locals and spend time with the
villagers who are there day in and day
out and really who are really ultimately
responsible whether these animals
survive or not whether these forests are
there for those animals and the only way
to effectively do that is to be out in
these wild places I don’t think that
being in an office you know in New York
or in DC is is enough we’re going to
really do the trick I think you need to
be out there on the ground seeing what’s
happening talking to the locals seeing
what their needs are because at the end
of the day that that’s really what’s
going to help these places survive
there’s an unreal Rock huge the minute I
step off the plane in Africa for example
and a particular scent in the air and a
particular view of a place I’m at it
feels like I’ve been there before and
it’s a very familiar very warm welcoming
feeling every time I go out into into
the wilderness really and into a foreign
place which should feel foreign but it
doesn’t it feels like home
one personality trait of any Explorer
that I’ve ever come across or worked
with is a type a personality and just
this this focus and perseverance and
determination and hunger to learn more
to go places to just constantly really
put yourself out there and test the
limits of what you can do physically
mentally logistically and uncover the
unknown and I think those are traits
that each and every Explorer that you’ll
ever meet
is assured to have
you
and I didn’t have kids back then and
even when I was in the fields in
Madagascar looking at some of the most
critically endangered primates in the
entire world in the back of my mind I
thought I want these animals to be here
for my children one day and so I think
that’s what really motivates me is the
idea that if I do something to try and
help protect these animals in these wild
places that they’re going to be around
for for generations to come
I’m not sure it ever gets easier perhaps
more familiar it’s just like any working
mom who in the mornings has to drop off
their kids at school and works 9:00 to
5:00 and then doesn’t see their child
until it’s time for dinner and puts them
to bed and does it again the next day I
mean the following morning does it get
any easier I don’t think as a mom you
ever really like parting with your kids
for me it’s a little bit different I
don’t see them that afternoon I’m gone
for several weeks or months and then
sometimes I don’t even have a way to
communicate with them from from the
field so it’s definitely tougher but
while I’m out there there in my mind I
know that I’m doing something for them
and I know that when I get back and I
share these stories and these
photographs and footage of these amazing
places I mean my daughters are
constantly saying mommy we want to go to
the jungle with you we want to study
animals you know it’s opened up their
their minds to different cultures and
places and the idea of of pursuing that
dream is very important to me whether
that’s their dream or any other I think
they need to know that they can do
whatever they want and hopefully I’m
setting that example for them
I got the worst blisters on my leg I
personally believe that the best type of
conservation is done in the field
I call it muddy boots conservation you
have to get your boots dirty and be out
there and be present and interact with
the locals and spend time with the
villagers who are there day in and day
out and really who are really ultimately
responsible whether these animals
survive or not whether these forests are
there for those animals and the only way
to effectively do that is to be out in
these wild places I don’t think that
being in an office you know in New York
or in DC is is enough we’re going to
really do the trick I think you need to
be out there on the ground seeing what’s
happening talking to the locals seeing
what their needs are because at the end
of the day that that’s really what’s
going to help these places survive
there’s an unreal Rock huge the minute I
step off the plane in Africa for example
and a particular scent in the air and a
particular view of a place I’m at it
feels like I’ve been there before and
it’s a very familiar very warm welcoming
feeling every time I go out into into
the wilderness really and into a foreign
place which should feel foreign but it
doesn’t it feels like home
one personality trait of any Explorer
that I’ve ever come across or worked
with is a type a personality and just
this this focus and perseverance and
determination and hunger to learn more
to go places to just constantly really
put yourself out there and test the
limits of what you can do physically
mentally logistically and uncover the
unknown and I think those are traits
that each and every Explorer that you’ll
ever meet
is assured to have
you
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