I always loved animals and was observant about things in nature. We always had pets, from dogs to rabbits to newts. I would spy on him playing by himself in the backyard or in the library and imagine him hunting in the wild. Maybe the most important thing in my development was that my family encouraged my interest in animals and nature and respected me for having a special skill. Since I was about six years old, I always said I would be a veterinarian or biologist.
G oing to the Galapagos Islands is a dream for most biologists.
The Galapagos Islands are so exciting to me because the animals there are not scared of people. Charles Darwin wrote about sneaking up on a giant land iguana and pulling its tail, expecting it to scamper away. I can't wait to see what it feels like to be among the animals as an equal, eye to eye, beak to nose, hand to flipper. They were such superior swimmers. They were also big, powerful animals with sharp teeth.