This is always one of the most difficult questions we get. As zoologists we see lots of interesting things in each animal we work with. In some animals, it's a cool biological adaptation; in others, there is a neat personality. Perhaps my closest connection to an animal was with a former zoo inhabitant, the llama named Basil. Basil was a very sweet animal with a wonderful disposition, which does not always happen with male llamas. Sadly, he developed cancer a few years ago, and we had to euthanize him. I suppose he might have struck a chord with my domestic farm animal teenage background. The dreaded "devil chicken," or blue-eared Manchurian pheasant, was certainly another favorite, although it was definitely because he was filled with feisty personality. Of course, he seemed to like me!