Veterinary Medicine- Sociedad Naturalista Andino Patagonica
Today's Date: 24th.August,2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Growing up among horses, living with them.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Yes, the clear streams & mountains of Cordoba, Argentina.
Now? The clear streams & mountains of northwestern Patagonia.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
Eagles & condors, because they represent the utmost freedom, far from zoos where we try & put everything!
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?
Demographic pressure. In the future…..more & more people using up the limited natural resources.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Birth control, use the world sparingly.
Thanks to my sister Michelle McIlroy for designing the logo!
August 24, 2006
Otte Ottema
Ornithologist at STINASU (Foundation for Nature Conservation Suriname)
Today's Date: 24/8/06
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
the discovery of a new species of bird
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Yes, the dunes in the Netherlands
Now? Yes, Augustus falls
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
Great Crested Grebe, I studied its behavior for 7 years
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 see one challenge now and in the future, that is bringing our level of consumption back to normal and keeping it there.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Trying to discover and to realize that our happiness is not depended of a materialistic level but instead of a spiritual one.
Today's Date: 24/8/06
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
the discovery of a new species of bird
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Yes, the dunes in the Netherlands
Now? Yes, Augustus falls
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
Great Crested Grebe, I studied its behavior for 7 years
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 see one challenge now and in the future, that is bringing our level of consumption back to normal and keeping it there.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Trying to discover and to realize that our happiness is not depended of a materialistic level but instead of a spiritual one.
Endre Knudsen
PhD fellow, Department of Biology, University of Oslo
Today's Date: August 24, 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Hard to say - maybe the year in childhood when we lived far, far away from home, in East Africa. Close to twenty years later, when I was fortunate to visit the region again, it smelled, looked and felt just like home, though it was not even the same country.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
I remember playing in the mysterious woods behind my friend's house. As my feet grew, they took me up into the mountains or fishing along the fjord.
Now? The woods of my childhood do not appear so large anymore, but I keep on dreaming about fishing in those mountain lakes. I also long for the roaring waves and smell of salt and rotten kelp.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
Apart from my late dog, I am very fond of birds - in general, but seabirds in particular. They are the 'outsiders', solitarily roaming the seas, but gregarious when needed. However, my own species still shows some promise as well.
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?
Now: Getting mankind to realize that we really are in a hurry and need to take actions quickly. Future: Human-induced climate change
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Listen to the birds - we have a lot to learn from them.
Today's Date: August 24, 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Hard to say - maybe the year in childhood when we lived far, far away from home, in East Africa. Close to twenty years later, when I was fortunate to visit the region again, it smelled, looked and felt just like home, though it was not even the same country.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
I remember playing in the mysterious woods behind my friend's house. As my feet grew, they took me up into the mountains or fishing along the fjord.
Now? The woods of my childhood do not appear so large anymore, but I keep on dreaming about fishing in those mountain lakes. I also long for the roaring waves and smell of salt and rotten kelp.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
Apart from my late dog, I am very fond of birds - in general, but seabirds in particular. They are the 'outsiders', solitarily roaming the seas, but gregarious when needed. However, my own species still shows some promise as well.
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?
Now: Getting mankind to realize that we really are in a hurry and need to take actions quickly. Future: Human-induced climate change
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Listen to the birds - we have a lot to learn from them.
Ryan Watson
Blue Macaw Coordinator, Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation, Qatar
Today's Date: 24.08.06
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Hand-rearing Echo parakeets for release back into nature, seeing those birds surviving in nature, behaving like wild birds.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Glen Forest, Western Australia
Now? The South West of Western Australia.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
Emperor penguin - Their deep-sea diving abilities and commitment to each other and to raising off-spring in such extreme conditions is truly remarkable. Watch Attenborough's "Life in the Freezer" and you will be left awestruck by this species.
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?
Global Warming and Global Warming!!! There are many important issues facing the world we live in today and the in the future, however, all the big issues combined such as terror, famine, aging population, extinction, unemployment, human and animal welfare, habitat destruction etcetera, all pale into insignificant if the world we live in is uninhabitable.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Make your vote count! Changes at the levels required to reduce and hopefully one day stop global warming, will only eventuate when the issue becomes the number ONE issues to voters and therefore the number ONE issue for our elected officials. If you live in America, Don't vote for the Republicans!!! The best thing that could happen for the future of Planet Earth is for Al Gore to become President, lets just hope he decides to run!!!
Today's Date: 24.08.06
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Hand-rearing Echo parakeets for release back into nature, seeing those birds surviving in nature, behaving like wild birds.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Glen Forest, Western Australia
Now? The South West of Western Australia.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
Emperor penguin - Their deep-sea diving abilities and commitment to each other and to raising off-spring in such extreme conditions is truly remarkable. Watch Attenborough's "Life in the Freezer" and you will be left awestruck by this species.
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?
Global Warming and Global Warming!!! There are many important issues facing the world we live in today and the in the future, however, all the big issues combined such as terror, famine, aging population, extinction, unemployment, human and animal welfare, habitat destruction etcetera, all pale into insignificant if the world we live in is uninhabitable.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Make your vote count! Changes at the levels required to reduce and hopefully one day stop global warming, will only eventuate when the issue becomes the number ONE issues to voters and therefore the number ONE issue for our elected officials. If you live in America, Don't vote for the Republicans!!! The best thing that could happen for the future of Planet Earth is for Al Gore to become President, lets just hope he decides to run!!!
Anonymous
Department of Environmental Biology, University of Delhi, India
Today's Date: August 23, 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
In my childhood my father encouraged me to be in the outdoors. went out to the jungle with him. as a child had a mini zoo in my home. loved the zoo from very early on as well as nature. I guess this had the biggest impact on me.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
no one particular place but i liked ponds, with lotus flowers, reed beds, trees in the neighbourhood etc.
Now? there are a couple of places in and around the city of Delhi that I frequent. one of them is the delhi zoo where a wild colony of storks has been nesting since 1960. I am studying that, as a researcher.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
strangely, i dont like mammals- furry creatures very much. I am terrified of rats and mice. so my favourite animals are certainly not mammals. I like birds.
I was once in charge of a zoo myself- a snake park. although I am not a reptile man myself (and have a healthy fear of snakes) I find this group of animals fascinating.
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?
certainly the human pressure on resources and how to check it is the biggest challenge. Everyone knows that but the challenge is how to conserve it, without drastically cutting on the human consumption, because I feel, it is impossible to cut down on the consumption of resources (such as in western societies).
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
I really don’t want to give advice. But Mahatma Gandhi once said: “There is enough for every man's need, but not enough for every man's greed". I guess that sums it up.
Today's Date: August 23, 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
In my childhood my father encouraged me to be in the outdoors. went out to the jungle with him. as a child had a mini zoo in my home. loved the zoo from very early on as well as nature. I guess this had the biggest impact on me.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
no one particular place but i liked ponds, with lotus flowers, reed beds, trees in the neighbourhood etc.
Now? there are a couple of places in and around the city of Delhi that I frequent. one of them is the delhi zoo where a wild colony of storks has been nesting since 1960. I am studying that, as a researcher.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
strangely, i dont like mammals- furry creatures very much. I am terrified of rats and mice. so my favourite animals are certainly not mammals. I like birds.
I was once in charge of a zoo myself- a snake park. although I am not a reptile man myself (and have a healthy fear of snakes) I find this group of animals fascinating.
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?
certainly the human pressure on resources and how to check it is the biggest challenge. Everyone knows that but the challenge is how to conserve it, without drastically cutting on the human consumption, because I feel, it is impossible to cut down on the consumption of resources (such as in western societies).
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
I really don’t want to give advice. But Mahatma Gandhi once said: “There is enough for every man's need, but not enough for every man's greed". I guess that sums it up.
August 23, 2006
Sang-im Lee
Researcher/Research Institute of Natural History, Ewha Womans University
Today's Date: 24th August, 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Two dogs - one gave birth to the other - that I had with my family when I was a teenager
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
No
Now? Temple nearby and associated forest
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
Dolphins, for their intelligence and cooperation among themselves (and towards humans too)
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?
Habitat destruction, too much logging and industralization of rainforest
in the future - most conservation efforts will be facing with local people's economics. Thus it would be important to educate them to fight over the power of industralization.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
We should keep our faith - do not succumb to money nor to power.
Today's Date: 24th August, 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Two dogs - one gave birth to the other - that I had with my family when I was a teenager
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
No
Now? Temple nearby and associated forest
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
Dolphins, for their intelligence and cooperation among themselves (and towards humans too)
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?
Habitat destruction, too much logging and industralization of rainforest
in the future - most conservation efforts will be facing with local people's economics. Thus it would be important to educate them to fight over the power of industralization.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
We should keep our faith - do not succumb to money nor to power.
Dr. Terry Moore
The Cat Survival Trust
Today's Date: 23rd August 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Many- main event was my first visit to rainforest
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Woodlands near our family home.
Now? Any natural habitat particularly rainforest.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
All cats. As an animal at the terminal end of the food chain, if they survive, so do we! www.catsurvivaltrust.org
4. What do you think is the greatest environmental challenge facing us now,
The World Bank and the IMF have indiscriminately loaned money to countries to carry out “developments” many of which have been a total waste of money and have failed to provide economic gain at the cost of environmental destruction. In addition corrupt governments and contractors have transferred too much of the money to Swiss and other off shore bank accounts. This has forced countries to extract timber and mineral resources from wild habitats in an attempt to repay the debts. The loss of forests, particularly in the tropics and natural habitats worldwide are the main causes of climate change. Forest clearance in the tropics is planetary suicide. In areas of forest clearance, the intense heat of the sun on cleared land during the day forces the tropical rain clouds higher into the atmosphere and the trade winds then transport them north and south of the tropics to provide tropical rainstorms on areas not designed to deal with them The additional heat retained in the tropics in cleared land and the differential in temperature between day and night create wind eddies which seed the hurricanes and transfer the heat north and south away from the tropics. Then to make matters worse as more and more forest is cut down, the air in the trade winds, which bring pollutant gases back to the rainforests in the tropics down the east coasts of north Africa and North America where they used to be “cleaned” from the air, progressively re-circulate these pollutant gases instead of extracting them. Add to this the increases in human population and the increased consumption of materials and is it any wonder the planet is no longer able to regulate itself. Everything else will follow- desertification, drought, flood, fire, starvation, death of all living fauna and flora in the sea and on land.
and what do you think will be the greatest challenge in the future?
Reversing the damage and destruction.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
There is no single piece of advice unless you simply say “Live in a sustainable way”. Personally, I would ask people restrict human population growth and aim to reduce population in the future. I would also ask people to save the world’s forests. To do this we have to save the forest we have left, allow damaged areas to regenerate and replant as much as we possibly can. I would get people to build underground. (In hot countries your air conditioning bills would be minimal in cold countries your heating bills would also be minimal). Many more are being built each year but the increase rate is too slow. Etc etc, All ideas and queries to DrTM@aol.com.
Today's Date: 23rd August 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Many- main event was my first visit to rainforest
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Woodlands near our family home.
Now? Any natural habitat particularly rainforest.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
All cats. As an animal at the terminal end of the food chain, if they survive, so do we! www.catsurvivaltrust.org
4. What do you think is the greatest environmental challenge facing us now,
The World Bank and the IMF have indiscriminately loaned money to countries to carry out “developments” many of which have been a total waste of money and have failed to provide economic gain at the cost of environmental destruction. In addition corrupt governments and contractors have transferred too much of the money to Swiss and other off shore bank accounts. This has forced countries to extract timber and mineral resources from wild habitats in an attempt to repay the debts. The loss of forests, particularly in the tropics and natural habitats worldwide are the main causes of climate change. Forest clearance in the tropics is planetary suicide. In areas of forest clearance, the intense heat of the sun on cleared land during the day forces the tropical rain clouds higher into the atmosphere and the trade winds then transport them north and south of the tropics to provide tropical rainstorms on areas not designed to deal with them The additional heat retained in the tropics in cleared land and the differential in temperature between day and night create wind eddies which seed the hurricanes and transfer the heat north and south away from the tropics. Then to make matters worse as more and more forest is cut down, the air in the trade winds, which bring pollutant gases back to the rainforests in the tropics down the east coasts of north Africa and North America where they used to be “cleaned” from the air, progressively re-circulate these pollutant gases instead of extracting them. Add to this the increases in human population and the increased consumption of materials and is it any wonder the planet is no longer able to regulate itself. Everything else will follow- desertification, drought, flood, fire, starvation, death of all living fauna and flora in the sea and on land.
and what do you think will be the greatest challenge in the future?
Reversing the damage and destruction.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
There is no single piece of advice unless you simply say “Live in a sustainable way”. Personally, I would ask people restrict human population growth and aim to reduce population in the future. I would also ask people to save the world’s forests. To do this we have to save the forest we have left, allow damaged areas to regenerate and replant as much as we possibly can. I would get people to build underground. (In hot countries your air conditioning bills would be minimal in cold countries your heating bills would also be minimal). Many more are being built each year but the increase rate is too slow. Etc etc, All ideas and queries to DrTM@aol.com.
Kathryn Bertok
Curator of Animals, Carnivore Preservation Trust
Today's Date: August 23, 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
The interaction that has had the biggest impact on me has to be working at CPT. When I first came to CPT I had no real desire to work with cats, but thought it would be a good experience for me to have. Once I had been here for a very short while, the animals started to really affect me. I saw there stories and their desire to be happy. I knew that I could affect their lives and the lives of other animals in their similar circumstances.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
My favorite place in the outdoors during my childhood was my own backyard. We lived on 2 acres of land that had lots of forest, a very large open field and streams and ponds. There was so much to do and to see and to play with.
Now? As an adult I have found that I prefer the same things, any place that has lots of trees and water.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
I don’t know that I can easily answer that. In a general sense, my favorite animal is the binturong. Very few people know anything about them, but they have such wonderful personalities and are great fun to work with. I have raised a few from birth and it was probably one of the most enjoyable experiences of my life.
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 they are one in the same, living beyond our means. We continue to use and use and use without thought of what impact we are making. We ignore the sprawl, we ignore the amount of resources we are using and we will eventually hit a wall. Unfortunately it is part of the human condition and that will make this a live long challenge for everyone.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Be frugal.
Today's Date: August 23, 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
The interaction that has had the biggest impact on me has to be working at CPT. When I first came to CPT I had no real desire to work with cats, but thought it would be a good experience for me to have. Once I had been here for a very short while, the animals started to really affect me. I saw there stories and their desire to be happy. I knew that I could affect their lives and the lives of other animals in their similar circumstances.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
My favorite place in the outdoors during my childhood was my own backyard. We lived on 2 acres of land that had lots of forest, a very large open field and streams and ponds. There was so much to do and to see and to play with.
Now? As an adult I have found that I prefer the same things, any place that has lots of trees and water.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
I don’t know that I can easily answer that. In a general sense, my favorite animal is the binturong. Very few people know anything about them, but they have such wonderful personalities and are great fun to work with. I have raised a few from birth and it was probably one of the most enjoyable experiences of my life.
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 they are one in the same, living beyond our means. We continue to use and use and use without thought of what impact we are making. We ignore the sprawl, we ignore the amount of resources we are using and we will eventually hit a wall. Unfortunately it is part of the human condition and that will make this a live long challenge for everyone.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Be frugal.
Dr. Gbadebo J Osemeobo
Senior Lecturer/ Bells University of Technology, Nigeria
Today's Date: 23 August 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Field Survey of Wild animal populations in Kainji Lake National Park in Nigeria
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Yes, I was in close range wild lions, elephants and many ungulates.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
The lion. It can be docile when not provoked, well fed and without rearing young ones
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?
Loss of habitats and loss of species. Ability to restore the environment including biodiversity
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Employ ecologically friendly practices in natural resource exploitation
Today's Date: 23 August 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Field Survey of Wild animal populations in Kainji Lake National Park in Nigeria
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Yes, I was in close range wild lions, elephants and many ungulates.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
The lion. It can be docile when not provoked, well fed and without rearing young ones
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?
Loss of habitats and loss of species. Ability to restore the environment including biodiversity
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Employ ecologically friendly practices in natural resource exploitation
Alexandre Vintchevski
Executive Director - Akhova Ptushak Batskaushchyny (APB-BirdLife Belarus)
Today's Date: 23/08/2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
TV films on nature and books by Gerald Durrel (UK)
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Yes, in Novgorod nature was everywhere. Forest around, insects in yard.
Now? Volma fishfarm near Minsk with 150 species of birds.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
Marsh harrier.
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?
Big money for destruction of natural systems and stupidity.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Close tab when brush teeth:-)
Today's Date: 23/08/2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
TV films on nature and books by Gerald Durrel (UK)
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Yes, in Novgorod nature was everywhere. Forest around, insects in yard.
Now? Volma fishfarm near Minsk with 150 species of birds.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
Marsh harrier.
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?
Big money for destruction of natural systems and stupidity.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Close tab when brush teeth:-)
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