givingback
Hatred Is a Learned Process of Emerging Prejudices
A
friend of many, Dr. Peter Pritchard was the worldleading expert on turtles
by Joanie Schirm Sibille & Dr. Peter Pritchard
Peter realized he’d exhausted his drinking water supply. Beyond being thirsty, Peter felt dizziness and fatigue, early signs of
and tortoises until his
dehydration. Retracing his steps, Peter
death on February 25,
walked about a mile to where he’d earlier
2020. In a 1920s house that served as his
noticed a small hut nestled in the scrub
Chelonian Research Institute (CRI) in
bushes beside the beach, hoping the
small-town Oviedo, Peter displayed the
inhabitants might offer some water. He
world’s most extensive collection of relat-
found only a small Black girl of about five
ed specimens. As a CRI board member, I,
years of age in the hut, and Peter knew he
like many others worldwide, with great
was likely the first white man she’d ever
admiration, referred to Peter as the “Turtle God,” an honor like what Jane Goodall represents to the chimpanzee world.
their economy grew exponentially. Sibille, a native of Guyana, has a family tree that includes Portuguese, Chinese,
encountered. With no adults nearby as they were likely fishing for food, she peered, unafraid, at him.
Arawak Indian, East Indian, African, Jew-
Assuming the little girl spoke Spanish,
cated at Oxford University and the Uni-
ish and Texan ancestors. As we recently
Peter asked in her language if she had any
versity of Florida, earning a PhD in Zool-
reminisced about our magical trip, Sibille
water she could share. Keeping her eyes
ogy before spending nearly 40 years in the
shared this meaningful story relevant to
down, the girl turned away, went over to an
conservation of turtles and tortoises. At
our tumultuous times of fractured unity in
open makeshift cupboard shelf, and looked
CRI, Peter gave inspiring tours to anyone
America and elsewhere in the world.
among the cups for a glass one. She filled the
A Brit raised in Ireland, Peter was edu-
of any age, free. Remaining humble to the
Peter’s research took him to desolate
special glass with water and presented it to
end, this adventuresome man was named
beaches across the globe where logger-
Peter as if he were a prince. Then, she went
a Hero of the Planet by Time magazine
head or green turtles emerged from the
to the back of the tent and just watched him
and a Central Floridian of the Year by the
surf. Over many decades, his work pro-
sip the water down. She never said a word,
Orlando Sentinel.
tecting sea turtles in Costa Rica trans-
just observed him with a slow-building
In 2013, my husband and I and a few
formed the country’s approach to turtle
smile on her face. Peter thanked her and
very close friends accompanied Peter and
preservation. Beyond his scientific work,
walked back to his tent on the beach,
his wife, Sibille Hart Pritchard, on a Gala-
Peter also had a keen interest in the peo-
reminded that kindness is instinctive.
pagos Islands boat trip. Every evening
ples he encountered and was especially
The takeaway? Hate is an emotion that
after observing incredible wildlife, Peter
drawn to young inhabitants who often
flourishes in the absence of empathy. No
reflected on humorous and meaningful
were experiencing someone beyond their
one is born with hate. Hatred is a learned
accounts of past adventures there and
villages for the first time.
process of emerging prejudices. Compas-
elsewhere across the world in conserva-
In his research, Peter spent many years
sion is instinctive when nurtured from
tion. His stories revealed that people could
in desolate areas along the Pacific and
birth. We exhibit acceptance from birth
change for the better as he detailed, years
Atlantic Costa Rican coasts. Late one
until learning otherwise. Hate spurs on
previously, Galapagos turtles were being
afternoon, after scanning the beach for
easily taught prejudices. We must never
overhunted by locals and threatened by
the better part of a day in oppressive heat,
forget; people can unlearn hate.
illegal fishing. After spending time with Peter listening to his wisdom, the residents went from turtle hunters to protectors. Ecuador set up stringent environmental protection laws, and tourism and 96
orangeappeal.com
In honor of Peter Pritchard — a video of appreciation. https://youtu.be/cEPd2T6RO8Y Author Joanie Holzer Schirm follows Peter’s example to make our world more caring. A community activist and volunteer serving on the Holocaust Museum for Hope & Humanity’s Leadership Council, Joanie knows we rise by lifting others. joanieschirm.com
