Zoltan KUN

Executive Director - PAN Parks Foundation

Today’s Date: 26 July 2008

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

I can mention two interactions with landscape:
1) Staying on top of a mountain in North of Sweden, looking around and seeing no sign of human existence. The wilderness feel was amazing
2) Staying in a wilderness hut in Slovakia having no access to ordinary things like electricity, tap water and gas. Staying in this hut for 5 days had a great effect on my behaviour.

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

Not, but I always wanted to work for WWF, the conservation organization

Now? - Julian Alps in Slovenia (particularly the part protected within the Triglav National Park)
- Slovensky raj National Park of Slovakia

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

House cat and Dolphin because both symbolise freedom for me!

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?

The greatest challenge currently is to convince people about the urgency of acting on climate change
The future problem will be the disappearing wilderness areas. Developers are looking at this last places to change them. If we let them enter and develop in this areas, we will loose the last pieces of earth, which is "unmakeable"!

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

Don't travel that much to far away destinations, but discover the wonders around yourself!