Dawn Glover

Education Officer - Cheetah Outreach, South Africa

Today's Date: 25.08.06

1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?

Having a personal encounter with a cheetah at an eco-tourism facility when I was a teenager. Whilst having always had pets growing up and a desire to work with animals, this encounter focused my goals and inspired me to work with cheetahs.

2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?

no

Now? Not really, any wilderness area has its own beauty.

3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?

Cheetah, they are elegant, aristocratic, yet bond strongly to the humans caring for them. They are awe-inspiring when they are running, have such a fascinating history with mankind, yet purr when happy. There is nothing so humbling as realizing that you have the respect and love of a predator like the cheetah.

4. What do you think is the greatest environmental challenge facing us now, and what do you think will be the greatest challenge in the future?

Environmental Education is the greatest challenge and needs to be addressed at all age groups. There is a great lack of awareness of our impact on the earth’s resources and the resulting devastating decrease in biodiversity. I think that this will continue to be the biggest challenge for many years – developing environmentally literate and concerned citizens.

5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?

Conserve and protect – it is our future.