Using Empathy Practices in Conservation With Emily Bernhardt of the Woodland Park Zoo

Nonprofit Thrive

Emily Bernhardt is an Empathy Network Specialist at ACE (Advancing Conservation through Empathy) for Wildlife, a network that encourages accredited institutions to foster empathy for wildlife conservation actions. With a degree in zoology, she has experience working for various zoos, including being an Education and Social Media Coordinator at ZooMontana. Emily was also an outdoor educator in the South Carolina salt marshes and studied spotted hyenas in Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya.

In this episode…

When advancing a cause, mission-driven professionals often believe that arming people with knowledge is enough to drive action. Yet this often has the opposite effect as people become overwhelmed with choices and immense responsibility. How can you motivate the public to advocate for your mission?

Passionate wildlife conservationist Emily Bernhardt champions empathy practices in wildlife conservation efforts. Through a network of empathy drivers, she distills complex and abstract concepts into inspiring and relatable stories about specific animals in zoo enclosures. These stories are integrated with simple, actionable steps zoo guests can take to preserve wildlife. These methods allow people to feel connected to a single animal by tapping into their emotions. Additionally, easily accessible technology platforms and video mediums connect people to the mission and foster further action.

In today’s Nonprofit Thrive episode, Ben Freda sits down with Emily Bernhardt, the Empathy Network Specialist at ACE for Wildlife, to discuss the power of empathy in wildlife conservation. She shares research into animal behaviors and emotions, her passion to inspire the next generation of nature enthusiasts and animal lovers, and how she leverages technology to connect networks of conservationists.