Meet conservationist Krithi Karanth

"I've learned to expect the unexpected. Once, while walking down a curving road at a wildlife park in India, we came face-to-face with a group of elephants. Not wanting to disturb them, we began to back up. Most of us knew to stay calm and quiet. But one person in the group who wasn't used to encountering wild animals created some noise. Startled, an elephant looked up. Normally these creatures are gentle giants, but some become defensive when scared. This one started stomping toward us! We got out of there fast. My job does have some risks, but I love it. Helping protect animals is so important. I can't imagine doing anything else."