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I spent my first 4 years living in the tiny town of Snug, by the sea near Hobart. Curious about animals, I would pick up ants in our backyard and jellyfish on the beach.

Part of my plan was not only to introduce all useful animals that I possibly could into this part of Australia, but also the most valuable plants of every description.

Steve Irwin did wonderful conservation work but I was uncomfortable about some of his stunts. Even if animals aren't aware that you are not treating them with respect, the viewers are.

I was so fanatical about trying to save wildlife... I was unable to accept that we couldn't solve this problem of thousands of years, of wherever humans operated, the environment deteriorated.

When it comes to wilderness animals we have to make an effort to preserve what areas we can that they can be themselves in. Its come to a point though, clearly, where some species have to be cared for by humans if they are not going to disappear altogether.

To those who have always wondered how they might best serve the wider world, wildlife conservation is, at its core, one of the purest forms of giving.

The Endangered Species Act is the strongest and most effective tool we have to repair the environmental harm that is causing a species to decline.

Unlike New Zealand, which has nothing especially predatory, Australia is full of spiders and crocodiles and all kinds of animals that will eat you and sting you.

I want to go to Australia and take the same goofy picture of me holding a koala that everyone else takes.

I feel that we have a responsibility to try to do everything we can to protect species, and the best way to do that is to uphold international conservation law.