Which famous conservationist are you?

Strong, sporty and practical, you can’t sit behind a desk while the planet’s wildlife needs saving (we’re surprised you could sit still long enough to take this quiz). The hands-on approach works – just look at the legacy of South African conservationist Ian Player. Player’s work as a park ranger inspired a deep love for Africa’s vast grasslands and unique wildlife – especially the prehistoric-looking white rhinoceros. When his beloved animals faced extinction in the 1960s, he devised an ambitious plan to save them, and his tireless work in the field is the reason why they survive today. Whether tracking animals through the bush or out on the water in his canoe, Player had a practical knowledge of the wild and a taste for action – and you do too. He also understood that protecting the wilderness had to make economic sense, making him crucial in shaping Africa’s now-booming eco-tourism industry. Like him, you’re interested in workable solutions for protecting wildlife – so get out there and do what you do best. Fun facts: Player was the founder and inaugural winner of one of the world's toughest and most prestigious canoe races, the Dusi Canoe Marathon. He could also perfectly imitate the shrill call of the fish eagle.

Reserved and mild-mannered you might be, but like marine biologist and conservationist Rachel Carson, you have a quiet confidence and steely determination that help you hold on to your beliefs even in the face of fierce opposition. Those qualities helped Carson endure relentless criticism and attacks from the chemical industry after the publication of her landmark book 'Silent Spring', which exposed the dangers of unchecked pesticide use on wildlife and human health – and galvanized the modern environmental movement in the process. You also share her marine biologist’s love for the wonders of the ocean and her writer’s belief in the power of the pen. Your path to helping the environment lies in following Carson’s example to prove that the voices of individuals have the power to oppose powerful industrial and governmental forces. Fun fact: Rachel Carson was one of the contenders in the campaign to put a woman on the US twenty dollar bill by 2020.

Woah, check out your rose-coloured glasses! You’re an optimist to the core, and try to see the good in everyone, just like Jane Goodall. And just like her, you’re certainly not afraid to strike out on your own. In 1960, at the age of 26, Goodall travelled from England to the shores of Tanzania with nothing more than a notebook and a pair of binoculars in hand. Like Goodall, you’ve always been interested in animals – to this day, she keeps a toy chimpanzee given to her by her father on her desk. You’re passionate about sharing knowledge and you take on the 'mama bear' role without trying. Goodall travels more than 300 days per year to educate youth about their power to help other people, our planet and its wildlife. You firmly believe the path to helping the environment begins with spreading awareness and compassion. Fun facts: When Goodall graduated from high school, she couldn’t afford college tuition. Instead, she worked for years as a secretary, a waitress, a filmmaker’s assistant and finally assistant to famous anthropologist Dr Louis S. B. Leakey. She was one of the first PhD students accepted by Cambridge University without a college degree.

Sir David Attenborough, the godfather of natural history broadcasting, has introduced entire generations to the world’s wildlife. Like him, you're an adventurer, and only wish the world was twice as big and half as unexplored (and let’s be honest, you don’t mind the limelight either). You have a will to inspire others and to share your passions. You’re not afraid to get a little dirty – it was a love for collecting fossils that inspired Attenborough’s curiosity. While many have tried (and most failed) to capture Attenborough’s iconic hushed whisper, you know that underneath that calm demeanour is a well of barely contained excitement about the natural world. Whether tracking down birds of paradise or traversing the north ice, your path to helping the environment is to experience it firsthand. So get out there and go! There is no time like now. Fun facts: Attenborough was initially discouraged from appearing on screen because the BBC thought his teeth were too big. He is also terrified of rats!

Let’s cut to the chase – you’re no pushover. And you’re prepared to (literally) fight for what you believe in, just like Kenya’s 'tree lady', environmental and political activist Wangari Maathai. As a girl growing up in a small Kenyan village, the odds were stacked against her, but Maathai defied them all, going on to found the Green Belt Movement in a quest to reforest her home country – to date, the organisation has planted more than 30 million trees in Africa. Like Maathai, your passion is about helping both the planet and its people: she saw environmental action and tree-planting as a way to lift African women out of poverty. Following in Maathai’s footsteps is not easy – her activism often brought her into conflict with authorities, and she was beaten and arrested many times. But if you’re gutsy and strong-minded enough, it’s also the path to setting precedents: Maathai was the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize and the first woman in east and central Africa to obtain a PhD (in veterinary anatomy). Fun fact: According to her daughter, Maathai was a exceptional hugger. So exceptional that one of hugs was auctioned off to raise funds for the Green Belt Movement.

Jacques Cousteau was an explorer, inventor, conservationist and scientist – but above all else, he was a trailblazer. You might be a bit of a space cadet, but we know it’s hard to keep your eye on the horizon AND on the keys you lost an hour ago (seriously, do you have your keys?). Like Cousteau, you take comfort from the vastness of the sea, as it reminds you that we are all small and insignificant. You have an active imagination and big dreams. Driven by an excitement for what could be, Cousteau co-invented SCUBA and created the first underwater habitat for humans. Like him, you’re a multitasking master, and Darwin help anyone who doubts you. Your path to helping the environment starts with keeping your head in the clouds and thinking outside of the box, so find a way to put those ideas of yours to work (ideally while wearing a red cap)! Fun facts: When Cousteau was young, he joined the French Navy, but he never had any intention of going underwater – he wanted to fly. Cousteau rented his research ship, Calypso, for one franc per year from Irish millionaire Thomas Loel Guinness, a descendant of the iconic brewing family.

You’re a free spirit and a deep ecological thinker. Much like naturalist and author John Muir, you find your inspiration in the spirituality of the natural world and you're eager to uncover and document its many secrets. Most at home immersed in the beauty of the mountains, you are perfectly suited to the simple life. Your ingenuity and creativity are much admired. Muir was often recognised for his inventiveness and even won awards for some of his homemade creations. Often referred to in the US as the 'Father of the National Parks', Muir is credited with helping preserve Yosemite Valley and Sequoia National Park, among others. For you, the natural world is a place of rest, inspiration and reflection, and should be preserved as such for future generations. Fun fact: Muir loved the wilderness so much, he designed his cabin on Yosemite Creek so that a section of the stream flowed through the corner of the room, allowing him to enjoy the sound of running water.