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This year, for Women’s History Month, Classic Escapes is taking a look at women who have paved the way into the unknown corners of the world as pioneers, adventurers, scientists, and of course – travelers. This week we’re taking a look at Mary Fields AKA Stagecoach Mary, the first African-American female star route mail carrier…
This year, for Women’s History Month, Classic Escapes is taking a look at women who have paved the way into the unknown corners of the world as pioneers, adventurers, scientists, and of course – travelers. First up is Beryl Markham – bush pilot, racehorse trainer, and author. She was the first person to fly solo,…
Unlike many of the women we’ve featured this month, Anna Merz did not start her conservation journey as a young woman. Rather, she was preparing to retire from her law career, which she was practicing in Ghana when the calling struck her. “When we went to Kenya in ’68, we saw rhinos everywhere,” she said.…
Nationality: USA Conservation Focus: Elephants Cynthia Moss began her career in 1964, as a journalist for Newsweek, writing religion and arts pieces for the prestigious publication. It wasn’t until three years later that she took a fateful holiday to the wilds of Tanzania and fell completely in love with elephants. A visit to Lake Manyara…
Nationality: USA Conservation Focus: Lemurs Few primatologists have the distinction of having discovered an entirely new species. Among that elite group is Dr. Patricia Wright, who introduced the golden bamboo lemur to the world in 1986. Unfortunately, at the time of its discovery, the golden bamboo lemur was already endangered. Its habitat had been demolished…
Nationality: UK Conservation Focus: Chimpanzees Dame Jane Goodall is a name that has become synonymous with the idea of wildlife conservation, primatology, and anthropology. She is a symbol for women in science and for compassion for all of animal-kind, and her life is one of many wonderful stories and contributions to our understanding of our…
Nationality: USA Conservation Focus: Gorillas In the history of wildlife conservation, there is perhaps no figure more colorful and controversial than Dian Fossey. Her outspoken opinions on the sanctity of nature, her tumultuous personal life, her unorthodox anti-poaching behaviors, and of course, her unsolved murder have long captivated the world. Dian’s origins are not that…
Nationality: Kenya / Britain Conservation Focus: Elephants Kenyan-born Brit Daphne (Jenkins) Sheldrick was always a stand-out, and upon finishing her primary schooling in 1950, was offered a scholarship to attend university. Instead, she chose to marry a WW2 hero, farmer, and park warden named David, and join him in his life of working and protecting…
Nationality: USA Conservation Focus: Cheetahs In 1974, a zoological park called Wildlife Safari, in Winston Oregon hired on a 20-year-old Ms. Marker as a veterinary assistant. It wasn’t long before she became the clinic supervisor, and had her first hands-on exposure to captive, breeding cheetahs. It was there that she fell in love with this majestic,…
Nationality: Canada Conservation Focus: Orangutans At only 25 years old, Birutė Galdikas set out on a journey against incredible odds – into the untamed, unstudied, often-hostile jungles of Borneo in search of the orange-hued great ape that had so far evaded major study – the orangutan. The tiny, thatched-roof hut she lived in was bombarded by carnivorous…