Ability to talk to animals:  Her most defining characteristic is her "Gift of Gab," allowing her to speak with and understand animals. She must keep this a secret to avoid losing her powers.  Family role:  She is the younger daughter of Nigel and Marianne Thornberry, the younger sister of Debbie, and the adopted sister of Donnie.  Personality:  She is intelligent, curious, brave, kind, and energetic. She is also described as a "tomboy" and a "geek" due to her extensive knowledge of animals and her glasses and braces.  Companion:  Her closest friend and confidant is her chimpanzee, Darwin, who is her sidekick and travel companion.  Appearance:  She has long red-orange hair, often worn in pigtails, round eyeglasses, and braces, as well as freckles.  Background:  The series is centered on her family's work filming nature documentaries, which allows her to travel the world.