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