the animal get comfortable with other people as well to set that animal up for success . It is a team effort .
Gerald Durrell were great inspirations , and I owe much of my career aspirations to Dr . Dolittle and his Pushmi-Pullyu .
What inspired you to work with animals ?
I have had a profound love of nature from my earliest memories and used to love visiting the national parks in South Africa , the famous Kruger National Park in particular . Those visits always inspired me , and the more I learned about the ecology and about animals , the more it drew me in .
I found it fascinating , and studying veterinary science along with some of the smartest people I have ever met was both humbling and inspiring at the same time . I have learned so much from the people around me , and I am very grateful to them all . David Attenborough and
Let ’ s talk about animal personalities — they can be so expressive and particular . Can you tell us about a specific individual animal ( and by name ) who has a big personality ?
Gorilla dad , Gino , is an imposing figure , and he takes his role as protector of his family very seriously . He also likes us to acknowledge that he is the number one . When we do backstage tours with VIP guests , he sees how people treat the VIP guest with reverence , and he notices little cues that suggest this person is actually number one .
That simply won ’ t do for Gino ! So he will sneak up toward the VIP guest and suddenly launch into an astonishingly
It ' s very important to remember who the real VIP is . PHOTO BY MIKE BILLICK