As a child, I had a Pegasus as a pet (seriously, nobody else saw it?), knew I was part mermaid, and talked to animals – truly believing I would grow up to be Dr. Doolittle.
As an adult, things have changed: Pegasus flew off to follow his own path, my mermaid ancestry is questionable, and I still talk to animals, but haven’t quite reached Dr. Doolittle status. However, I do believe there is magic in the world and use my passion for nature, science, and art to do my best to make the world a better place.
Whether it was hanging out with furry family members at my house or observing wildlife, my world has always revolved around animals. This passion led to volunteer experiences that included the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of marine mammals and working as a licensed veterinary technician. But it was a visit to Kenya that cemented my love of animal behavior and conservation, ultimately leading to degrees in Wildlife Science and Environmental Studies (where my research focused on painted dogs – also known as African wild dogs).
Animal behavior is my passion, but as the human component cannot be ignored, I’ve found myself focusing more on human-wildlife interactions and how we can peacefully coexist. I like to do this by integrating science and art to offer different perspectives for learning about this amazing planet we all call home. This is the foundation for the projects I create and collaborate on – and what lets me combine my love of nature, research, and writing.
– Dr. Tammy Cloutier
