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.

Especially now when views are becoming more polarized, we must work to understand each other across political, religious and national boundaries.

I was the sort of person who didn't care about hairdressing and clothes and parties and boyfriends. I really wanted to be in the wild.

Without the support of local people, you might as well give up because you can make all the noise you like, you can demarcate a national park, but if the people outside want to go creeping into a forest you really can't stop them. They've got to get a benefit.

Other people have talked about chimpanzees being a window into the past, which I suppose is true, in a way.

every individual can make a difference ... if we continue to leave decision making to the so-called decision makers, things will never change.

As thy days, so shall thy strength be.