I spent New Year's Eve Day 2003 exploring a mangrove swamp running parallel to the ocean in Loango National Park with Mike Fay, a distinguished conservationist and environmentalist. Fay personally helped establish 13 National Parks throughout Gabon. On this day, he spent most of his time trying to carve a small path into the large mangrove swamp so our canoes could pass through. It was interesting to learn about various issues and plans for the area to help keep it environmentally sound and pristine. His travels are always fascinating, adventurous, and dangerous. As we were getting out of our canoe Fay stepped onto a dwarf crocodile! He shot out of the water, and luckily the croc was just as scared and swam away. Mike Fay has done an enormous amount of work towards the conservation of Gabon and preserving the dwindling forests and wildlife throughout Africa.