It made me feel particularly sickened to know that this kind of callous attitude toward animals is repeated again and again in laboratories around this country.

If plants could be credited with reasoning powers, we would marvel at the imaginative ways they bribe or ensnare other creatures to carry out their wishes.

I got to Africa. I got the opportunity to go and learn, not about any animal, but chimpanzees. I was living in my dream world, the forest in Gombe National Park in Tanzania. It was Tanganyika when I began.

Every stage of my life set the scene for the next, and at each point all I had to do was say "yes" and not think too much about the consequences.

If you work hard and be persistent, you will achieve whatever you want to do.

I love to write - it is a great source of reflection, especially as I continue to meet many new inspiring people.

Chimps are unbelievably like us - in biological, non-verbal ways. They can be loving and compassionate and yet they have a dark side... 98 per cent of our DNA is the same. The difference is that we have developed language - we can teach about things that aren't there, plan for the future, discuss, share ideas