The sensitivity of horses combined with their grace and speed led Bartholomew Bottoms to become a veterinarian. With the help of Santa Barbara Foundation student loans, he reached his goal in 2004. After a year of practicing his extensive equine knowledge, he volunteered for a marine turtle research effort in the Monterey Bay. His vessel came upon a juvenile humpback whale hopelessly entangled in fishing gear. In spite of six hours of effort on the part of the researchers, the whale drowned. Bartholomew was devastated.
He realized that his life’s work was to help the marine mammals who, despite their immense size, are quite vulnerable. Last year he filmed southern humpback whales off Tonga and is now creating a documentary about whale conservation.
The sensitivity of horses combined with their grace and speed led Bartholomew Bottoms to become a veterinarian. With the help of Santa Barbara Foundation student loans, he reached his goal in 2004. After a year of practicing his extensive equine knowledge, he volunteered for a marine turtle research effort in the Monterey Bay. His vessel came upon a juvenile humpback whale hopelessly entangled in fishing gear. In spite of six hours of effort on the part of the researchers, the whale drowned. Bartholomew was devastated.
