A reflexion on identity

This morning at the Animal Kingdom a little girl looked up at me and asked, "Are you a scientist?" I told her that I was, but her question made me think. How am I seen by guests? I wear a Safari uniform, which is more like a costume, and although I take myself pretty seriously, I'm sure I look ridiculous to others.

This is how I see myself:

This is how others probably perceive me:

This is how the little girl saw me:

For all my life I have aspired to be a reputable scientist. That little girl paid me a serious compliment this morning by assuming that I was a real scientist. I wonder: when does a biology student become a biologist? At what point do I consider myself a proficient in my field? Will I ever reach a point where I'm no longer a student? Do I just have to know more than the person next to me? In the mean time, I hope to contribute to happiness and learning in my current role as a "Conservation Education Presenter."

African Cats

Last night I saw the premiere of African Cats. Disneynature releases a documentary every year on Earth Day, and this is by far the most beautiful cinematography I have ever seen. Throughout the film I kept asking myself, "How? How do the cameras get so close? How am I seeing such incredible behavior from wildlife? How have I never been to Africa?"

Go see this film.

Nature documentaries reconnect us to the essential elements of life and remind us of the beautiful world that was created for us.

Trying

Today I met a 6 year old at the Tree of Life Kid's Discovery Club. We were discussing bugs that you find in the backyard, and I asked him where he came from. "South Carolina." Then his grandpa whispered something in his ear, and this boy corrected himself, "I mean, Georgia. I used to live in Virginia." "Oh," I replied, "did you just move?" "Yeah, my mom died." In half a second I put the pieces together and, matching his own matter-of-fact tone, continued to talk about the bugs he could find in his new backyard in Georgia. Afterwards, grandma took a picture of me, the boy, and the bugs, and I watched the family walk away with their Kid's Discovery Club card.

I've thought about that family all day. That dear boy recently lost his mother, and his grandparents recently lost their daughter. A trip to Walt Disney World was perhaps an attempt at happiness. I hope they found it, at least for a moment.

Nahtazu

I spend most days working at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Here is a brief history of the park:

It opened on earth day of 1998, and it is the largest of the four Disney parks at Walt Disney

World. (Actually, all other three parks could fit inside of it). In my opinion, it is also the most beautifulof the parks. The 500 acres have been meticulously landscaped, transforming what was once a swamp into a lush paradise fit for animals (and people) from all walks of life.

Over 1700 animals are on display, though every “enclosure” gives the animal a great deal of freedom. There are no wire fences or concrete floors, making this “zoo” a leader in the AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums). The Kilimanjaro Safari is an exploration by truck through the African savannah, a reserve home to dozens of animal species. With the

exception of a rescued baby elephant at the end of the trek, all the animals are real. All receive veterinary care, balanced diets suited to their needs, and care from keepers at a facility with a "no-touch" policy. These are wild animals, and we are all safer when we remember the instinctive nature gibbons and gorillas, macaws and muntjacs. Like Mufasa taught young Simba, "everything exists together in a delicate balance..."

Other areas of the park are dedicated solely to research and conservation. Since its beginning in 1995, the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund has donated $15.6 million dollars to conservation efforts in 111 countries. The Wildlife Tracking Center carries out projects to assess migration patterns in Florida's sea turtles, reproduction in Columbia's Cotton-Top Tamarins, and even vocalization among African elephants. One-third of all the property owned by Disney in Orlando is dedicated to native Florida wildlife, and remains undeveloped.

It is truly a marvelous place. "Nahtazu" is a fictional word that describes the animal kingdom. Pronounce it, "not a zoo." Here are a few words spoken at the dedication:

"Welcome to a kingdom of animals... real, ancient and imagined: a kingdom ruled by lions, dinosaurs and dragons; a kingdom of balance, harmony and survival; a kingdom we enter to share in the wonder, gaze at the beauty, thrill at the drama, and learn." Michael D. Eisner, April 22, 1998