‍1. What do the words ‘a conservation hero’ mean to you?

To me, a conservation hero is actually not a super significant scientist or someone who’s doing avid fieldwork, but instead, a conservation hero to me is someone who actually inspires people to get outside and connect with the natural world. And the reason that I think that those are the true conservation heroes is because it will eventually take a global perception change and a more unified understanding of the planet in order for all of us to make a big difference and in order for all of us to save species in wild places, and so who are conservation heroes? What is a conservation hero?

To me, it’s as simple as somebody that connects people with the wild world and with the outdoors because quite frankly, it’s really easy. Once you get to experience nature, then you begin to care about it. And once you begin to care about nature, then you want to protect it. So whether that’s your dad who takes you outside to go for a hike, or somebody on your television teaching you about wildlife or an influencer on social media, or just you know, a friend that wants to get outside with you and go have a picnic in the park. Those are the real conservation heroes. Because nature will sell itself. Wildlife will sell itself. All it takes is getting away from the screen, getting outdoors and learning about wildlife to understand what conservation is, and the people that lead us there are the true conservation heroes.

2. Who do you believe is a conservation hero?

To me, the ultimate conservation hero is Sir David Attenborough. For his entire life, he has been connecting global audiences with some of the most fascinating places and creatures on the planet. And by bringing exposure to those incredible creatures and those outstanding places, he has inspired millions of people just like myself to care more about wildlife and see the beauty and the authenticity in it. And so I think the ultimate conservation hero in my mind, certainly from our generation, is Sir David Attenborough.

3. Who is your conservation hero and why?

My conservation hero is actually my mother. You know, as a little boy, who grew up in Southern Africa, I was constantly exposed to wildlife and wild places because that was my passion. And fortunately, I had a very supportive mother who was willing to take me out into the bush and take me to see all these things and allow me the freedom and opportunity to be able to go out and learn about wildlife and wild places and even bend and break rules sometimes and do things that might not have erred on the side of safety. But that allowed me to fall in love with wildlife.

And that gave me the support and inspiration to become my own conservation hero or rather, my own conservationist. So my conservation hero is truly my mother, who gave me that ability to be able to learn for myself and learn by doing and touching and feeling and seeing. And that takes a lot of support for a parent because it’s a dangerous thing to do. Oftentimes it meant saving up money to buy a little bit of diving and spearfishing gear or to go on a trip to see something and that support led to my career so my conservation hero is my mother.