Joel Cracraft

Growing up, Joel Cracraft loved reading travel and adventure books. In high school, he became interested in ornithology, the study of birds. Today he works for the American Museum of Natural History, where he loves to study birds of paradise. Joel also uses his knowledge of genetics to help endangered species, such as the Sumatran tiger.

Image credits: main image, M. Shanley/© AMNH.; stumper, courtesy of Jessie Cohen, Smithsonian National Zoo; stumper, © AMNH Library; Joel Cracraft: Courtesy of Joel Cracraft.