Juliette Dupont

Private citizen

Today’s Date: 1 August 2008

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

When I was 11, we found a raccoon in our garden (there are no raccoons in France!) and with my parents we made a lot of investigations to know what to do (about the food, the rage, where it could be coming from…). Actually it belonged to people in the next town, who bought it in Germany, and I was really sorry to see that it was living in a small cage, eating cat’s food.

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

I was often playing in the forest near my village.

Now? There is a meadow near my boyfriend’s village where we go every week, with a lot of flowers and the forest all around it and I think it’s the most peaceful place I’ve ever been.

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

I love the cat family. I guess it’s because of my own cat but also for their attitude, the way they move.

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?

I think the global warming is a real big challenge because of all the things that it’s changing.
And it will also affect our future: some species are in real danger because of it ( polar bear…)

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

I would say that there is no need to go to the jungle to save species if you don’t feel able to do it but there are simple things that anyone can do at home without stress ( save water, …).