On countless occasions I have been surprised by how far scientists will go for wildlife. A life in conservation often involves living in incredible isolation, sacrificing the closeness of loved ones and the most basic comforts for small financial compensation and ongoing challenges. Furthermore, I have been amazed when witnessing the extreme conditions that the human body can tolerate in the field – at times my own included. It is always a privilege to meet selfless conservationists dedicated to the earth. I hope that one day I will be able to look back and say I was one of them.