Sandra Pryor

Private citizen

Jul 18, 2009

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

It's hard to say which had the biggest impact. I'd probably have to say having my first dog. My parents got her on my fifth birthday, and we basically grew up together. She was my best friend, she could sense when I needed her, she was very intelligent, she was more loyal than any human, and she gave unconditional love.

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

Yes, definitely. My father and I transplanted small pine trees from a forest that was being cut down for development. We had a huge back yard, actually more like two yards, and the part in the back was where we planted the trees. As they grew, we had our own pine forest in the back yard. It was a place of refuge and peace.

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

Probably dolphins, because they are so intelligent. Once at the beach, I swam out to where they were, and got so close to them that when I swam underwater, I could hear them sing. I could sense that they have a language, even though humans haven't deciphered it yet.

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'd have to say massive extinctions. Global warming and pollution are up there too, but I feel the greatest catastrophe is the sixth extinction. In the future, I'd say loss of biodiversity is the major challenge... but again, it's hard to say, because without pollution, global warming, habitat destruction, and human overpopulation, we would not be driving so many species to extinction.

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

Remember, we are part of nature, we are not above nature, and nature has intrinsic value apart from human use of natural resources. Moreover, if humans do not live in a sustainable manner, and destroy the planet, then we will become extinct too.