Wildlife conservation is a key industry that is always in need of good PR and marketing to raise awareness about the importance of advocating for animals. Today’s episode welcomes Marco Wendt, Wildlife Ambassador at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. With a passion for conversation education, Marco is dedicated to making a difference and ensuring animals and people alike live in a world where all life thrives. Tune in to learn more about how marketing and awareness can ignite public interest and action.
imPRessions Season 3 Episode #4 Transcript
Jenn
Hey, Kalli.
Kalli
Hey, Jenn.
Jenn
So it’s been a minute for me, but when was the last time you went to the zoo or an aquarium or some type of, like, Wildlife Conservation?
Kalli
It’s actually been about a week and a half for me.
Jenn
Oh wow.
Kalli
Because yes, I know I actually it was for a birthday party for one of Olivia’s friends. But it was really cute. There is a wildlife preserve not far from my house and they had the birthday party there and it was, it was really nice. I’d never been there and seeing like a couple of different animals and, you know, really hearing about what people are doing to just even in my local community, like how to raise awareness and protect our wildlife. It was really nice.
Jenn
I love that and it’s so important and ironically, there’s a lot of, like, PR and marketing that go into keeping, you know, places like the Bronx Zoo and the San Diego Zoo afloat. So, I think today you’ll really love our guest Marco Wendt is going to be joining us. He’s wildlife ambassador and spokesperson for San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. He has such a passion for Wildlife Conservation and just making sure that animals across all different species are being taken care of, and you know he works with the Intertwined Conservation Corporation and he’s a mentor for Big Brother, Big Sister of America and teaches kids about animals and the importance of wildlife. So, I think you’re really going to like him today.
Kalli
Oh, I’m really excited and yeah let’s get to it. Today, we’re diving into the power of awareness in Wildlife Conservation, why it matters, how storytelling sparks action, and the overall role marketing plays in getting people to care. Joining us is Marco Wendt, wildlife ambassador at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. Marco has spent over 26 years at the Safari Park, working with an incredible range of bird species, from rafters to flamingos. His passion for conservation education led him to become a spokesperson and ambassador, advocating for a world where all life thrives. He’s also a dedicated mentor and a champion for diversity, equity and inclusion in conservation, thanks for joining us today, Marco.
Marco
Oh, it’s my pleasure. Thank you so much for having me.
Jenn
Of course, really excited to talk about this. I know we had a great intro call with you and really had a chance to understand a little bit more what you do at the San Diego Zoo, and I think our listeners are going to find a lot of value in it as well. So, I want to kind of kick off with talking about raising awareness about Wildlife Conservation. Tell us why it’s important and how it makes a difference in your line of work.
Marco
Yeah, of course. You know it’s funny cause I’ve been doing this role for 28 years now. A little back story, you know, I’m a native San Diegan. I knew Spanish first and I learned English like watching cartoons and animal shows on TV and got to visit the Safari Park cause I lived super close and the awareness for me really speaks to when I first visited the Safari park, I didn’t see a lot of representation of people within my Latinx community and it really honed in very sharply to me the concept and the importance of needing to connect with so many different people on a broad spectrum, because wildlife transcends so many different borders and this passion for awareness is really going to help out in conservation from everything that we do. From polar bears to platypus, none of these projects could be fruitful enough. We didn’t have the support of the people, and that’s all about awareness and in any kind of medium, right, whether it be a podcast like you and I are doing, social media, really speaking and connecting human beings to these projects and conservation is of the utmost importance.
Kalli
You know, know we’ve all seen a lot of, you know, powerful documentaries and photos that have brought awareness and really resonate with us. Can you dive into a little bit more of how, like, the storytelling and visuals play a role in creating the change and getting people to be invested and involved?
Marco
Yeah. You know, there’s so many different mediums out there to try to connect with human beings, you know, and we want equitable experiences, right? For all human beings, some can be a visual aspect, whether it be a television, you know or social media. Audio I’m a big fan of podcasts, obviously, which is why I’m so stoked to be here talking with you folks and all of these avenues are really key to try to connect with the variety of human beings.
There’s something I say about wildlife all the time, and it’s a healthy ecosystem. It’s a diversity of plants, of animals and human beings. And there’s such a wonderful rainbow of color and ways of receiving information in the human world, let alone the animal world. So, we really need to be aware of these things and really be creative and understanding of the nuances of how different beings, different human beings receive information. So, whether again it be visual or auditory, sometimes I wish I could convey the smells of the zoo to people at times too, but I’m sure maybe in the future there’ll be a wonderful new technique to do so. But there’s again so many ways of expressing awareness for conservation in our roles, whatever they may be in these communication aspects, you know, it’s really our responsibility to find those ways of connecting with a variety of human beings out there.
Jenn
Absolutely. And before I ask my next question cause I there there’s so much involved in PR and marketing in activism, all I need to know, and I think our listeners need to know what’s your, who’s your favorite animal? Tell us, like your favorite animal at the zoo. Like, like the best story you have with your favorite animal.
Marco
Yeah. You know, actually, I love this question. So, I’ve looked at the variety of species like you mentioned over 28 years now. Have experience of mammals and reptiles, insects and birds. Birds are my are my absolute love. My favorite animal? I don’t know if a lot of you guys know this one, but it’s called the crested caracara. Or really, it’s caracara. And it’s cause of a vocal that they do. It’s I can even do it for you. So it’s a it’s a Falcon. And it does a sound like this (imitates crested caracara). And it throws its head back. It’s a Falcon that acts like a vulture.
Jenn
Oh my God.
Marco
Which is really unique. They’re, yeah. And they can be found in Mexico, Central America and South America. And when you guys look him up because it’s a beautiful bird, crusted caracara. Yeah, it just speaks to the beauty of nature, how adaptable it is. It’s constantly changing. So that that’s definitely my favorite animal by far in the entire planet.
Jenn
You have the best job. I you really do like it, this is all so interesting. So. And thank you for that. We’ll definitely look up that bird and love to learn more about just the different animals and species that are there at the zoo. So, and you mentioned before, you know kind of a lot of the many things that that you and your team does with social media is obviously a very big part of activism across the board, right? No matter what your social media is our platform to get our voices heard and really talk about things that are important to us. How do you use social media in your line of work and what you’re doing to really raise the awareness of Wildlife Conservation?
Marco
Yeah, you know it’s one of my favorite mediums, to be honest with you. And you mentioned my team, but really I work with so many different teams, you know, so I’m sort of like a an army of one where as the as the wildlife ambassador, there is another spokesperson to the organization, Rick Shwartz. He’s amazing and we do different roles in the alliance here. But sometimes I’ll work with the social media department as an example, or public relations or content you know or wildlife care. But for me, social media it’s such an important way to connect with so many different types of communities, just again to speak a little more of my background thinking and my communities in Mexico or other relatives that have different areas or friends in different countries as well. The accessibility for information before social media came around radio for me was one of my favorite ways of communicating because I knew it was accessible for so many different human beings and walks of life, whether it’s a big city like New York or maybe a small little Pueblo somewhere in the in the jungles in the Amazon. Social media, at this point. I’ve had friends Masai warriors living out, you know, in this beautiful Serengeti landscape, but they had a cell phone and they had a Facebook profile and to me that just really resonated strongly with
me. And so I do. I’m a part of a podcast as well. You know, I do media news as an example, but I also have my social media feeds and I take those with the utmost responsibility because I am always thinking about so many different unrepresented communities. You know, being a person of color, identifying with the Latinx community and queer community, I being now the wildlife ambassador for one of the largest international conservation organizations in the world, I that does not blow past me. That responsibility I have to try to connect with all walks of life. All the kids out there that I think about that I want to make sure they’re feeling involved and connected with the aspects of projects that we do in San Diego.
Kalli
Marco, that’s actually really amazing and it’s such an important thing to and especially in today’s world, to have that care and know that it is a responsibility, you know, not and you’re representing so many different people and really just being an ambassador, not just for the animals, but for people of all different walks of life. And you know a lot of people and brands and influencers are starting to become more aware and really want to be involved, especially in Wildlife Conservation. What’s a way or piece of advice that you can give them to make sure that it does feel authentic and it’s not, you know, it’s not just for the attention because like we all know, you know, if you put up pictures of cute birds like, like, oh, they’re so great, but you obviously, like, have this wonderful back story that really speaks to it. Like, how can someone make sure that their messaging and their care is coming off as authentic as it is?
Marco
Yeah, you know. That’s a great question, by the way, and you mentioned about the possibility of maybe, you know, putting a cute bird, you know, on a social media post to garner that attention, and I think I think authenticity just speaks for itself. I think what whatever organization you represent, you know, whether you’re wildlife ambassador or a host of a podcast you know. It’s almost like a personal question in itself, where you have to ask yourself, you know, why you are engaging in this type of communication or this type of subject matter. And I can give you a quick example not to bring up social media again, but there’s been many situations in the past where I have intentionally not done the predictable posts of maybe a elephant or a rhino or a jaguar, because I know that it’s going to garner a lot of attention from the public, but there’s so many other species that need representation and so many times in my social media post as an example, what I put out is what I feel is needed in animals that are maybe not being presented as effectively like other species, just because I know, for instance, everyone loves a giant panda, they’re adorable. Why wouldn’t you love a giant Panda? But sometimes coming from, say, the bird department like myself, you have the other species, reptiles, insects, that need just as much protection, and sometimes I almost take it personal that I don’t see the public as excited about these other animals, you know. But again, it speaks to an authenticity for me, right? That I want to showcase unrepresented species, including human beings as well. And I try to convey that in my social media posts. But again, going back to your original question. I think people just need to ask within themselves, you know, the why? Why are they doing this particular form of communication for Wildlife Conservation. But I think people understand that authenticity. When you do it in a. not to use the word authentic, but yes, in an authentic way in a trusting way. And I think people really resonate with that. So I really encourage everyone and whatever kind of medium you’re involved in what I’m telling kids today is, you know, I know the world seems like a very chaotic place at times, but there’s so many things we can do in a day-to-day, a simple decision. Every single day that can be bigger than ourselves and that can do something good for the world and put that good energy out there. So it’s a it’s a good mantra to follow. And I and I think selfishly it will help you as a human being as well-being an authentic human being and putting out some good in the world and really getting invested in wildlife conservation.
Jenn
I love that. Can you? Can you actually elaborate on it? Because I think what you’re saying is really, really important and there are a lot of people in the world that are passionate about many things and Wildlife Conservation for one, right? Protecting animals, making sure endangered animals are taken care of. So if someone isn’t an avid activist, right, but you still want to see them taking some type of position, what’s a good way that they can spread the word?
Marco
Yeah. No, you know. I I’m so passionate, right, about certain species. Ohh I would love it if you could connect with this animal. That’s my responsibility. Right? To try to convey that passion for this unique species. And to your question, you know, I don’t think I can authentically convey it in a broad stroke cause every human being is so different. Everyone expresses themselves in so many different ways. As you’re asking me this question, I think of the people I work alongside and everyone’s different skill sets. For instance, there’s a colleague of mine named Sheila. She’s an amazing wildlife care specialist in the bird department, and she has this affinity for incubation and eggs and just does an amazing job in that field where I have a, my husband as an example started in wildlife care as well, but he’s also been always amazing with technology and he has grown within this organization and now he’s involved in computer software and growing it and thriving in it. The point of all this is that, you know, there’s so many different ways of getting involved in Wildlife
Conservation and putting out that good messaging out there. I think whoever is listening today in this, in this interview, just you ask yourself, and what I tell kids as well is, you know, find out what you love, find out what you’re good at and apply that to some of these concepts. For instance, Wildlife Conservation and awareness. And you can do so much out there. So I think that also speaks to the previous question of authenticity and again, apply your passions, you know, your wonderful skill sets that make you unique as a human being. And I think you’ll just thrive.
Kalli
That’s such great advice and you know, it makes me also wonder, you know. What is the toughest part about getting people to care about, you know, conservation? Because there are so many, you know, avenues you know of you’re so passionate about it and just listening to makes it sound easy. But I’m sure that there are challenges, you know, in spreading the word and getting people to really care and do something.
Marco
Yeah. I think we need to be sometimes creative, right? When we trying to connect with human beings. Not bragging at all, but I’ve spoken with, in many different aspects, large crowds, smaller venues, one-on-one interviews, you know, there’s so many different ways to attempt to get connected with human beings and me just because I love like, I live and breathe the zoo, right? So it’s a no brainer for me being passionate about the concepts of conservation topics that I bring up. But it comes from an authentic place, right? That’s who, that’s who I am. And I want to be honest and engaging. And I’m, I’m pretty good, I think, talking to human beings. And I think that’s why I have the role as a spokesperson that I do. But you know it can be difficult at times. You know I always kind of make the joke you know of everyone that I’ve spoken with out in the world, like the hardest group for me, honestly, are middle school kids, but you know it’s nothing against them at all. Cause I remember being in middle school. It’s just about survival at that point, really. And sometimes we have this wonderful program here called plant the seed. We bring in communities, underrepresented communities in San Diego and give them access to the Zune Safari Park. These wonderful children from middle school to high school kids and show them, you know, that the zoo is for everyone and there’s so many diverse aspects out there of employment opportunities that I want all, especially the communities of color here in San Diego, to understand that this is for everyone. And so that particular group for me, I am so passionate about it. Because I remember being that kid in San Diego. Being a Latin kid, Chicano, you know, whatever term you guys are familiar with and it wasn’t very popular for me being Mexican descent in San Diego, and may be hide within myself and not open up and get connected with the opportunities out there. So I am particularly challenged in my internal thoughts, you know, and pressures I put upon myself to really connect with the middle school kids. So. And I find different ways you know you have to tweak your communication. What may work for a community of, say, seniors over 65 may not be the same way I’m in the communicate with a group of school children in grade 6 or three, you know? So you have to be 1 creative. You have to understand your audience and don’t get too frustrated if you don’t see that connection, cause I know there’s it sounds super cheesy, but all you got to do is plant that seed, right? Just make that little ripple and that ripple can grow and you don’t know what effect you’re going to have in the future, but you won’t see it right then immediately. But these things take time to grow and process, you know, and nature, you know, often engaging with other organisms and affecting each other in positive and negative ways. So I say just stay authentic in your messaging, be creative and understand your audience and know that there’s another human being on the other side of that.
Jenn
You could not pay me to go back to middle school, right? Absolutely not.
Kalli
It’s so funny, I was talking to my mom yesterday and my niece is in middle school and I was like, that is literally the roughest time in life. Like and I’m much past it. But yes, no.
Marco
Yeah, I get it. Yes.
Kalli
Nope.
Jenn
Yeah. So if you’re a middle schooler out there, hang in there. It gets better, I promise.
Marco
It does.
Jenn
So I know we talked a lot about, you know, what people can do to make a difference and all of this has been really helpful. Are there any like businesses or nonprofits or government programs that currently work with the zoo?
Marco
Yeah, you know, just to give you a little, a little background, again if you’re not familiar with the organization we’re San Diego Zoo wild like the Alliance, right, we have two conservation parks here in San Diego, the Safari Park where I grew up in the town of Escondido and the I call it the back country of San Diego. And of course the San Diego Zoo in the heart of San Diego. But it’s more than that. It’s 8 centers focal points around the planet that we work with conservation organizations, government agencies, individuals, small organizations, larger. It doesn’t matter. It’s over 200 collaborators around the world that we partner, so many different aspects, colleges and universities for an example as well. Even here in San Diego. And it collectively, it’s how we’re going to make an impact in the world. You know, I said it earlier, but conservation begins with human beings. I started working, and many of my colleagues being in the animal field, you know, a term at the time was zookeeper. And now it’s wildlife care specialists who really speak to our skill set. But you know, a lot of us have said in making the joke that we started into animal care, thinking like, oh, I don’t want to work with human beings, they’re the worst. I just want to work with animals. But once you start getting into the zoo world and understand that you can’t separate the two, the only way we’re going to make a positive impact is to connect these communities with wildlife once again impassion them and make that connection, you know, from all the work that we do, what we try to do here in the wildlife alliances to unite our world-class wildlife care with our conservation science and really inspire people, that’s really the fundamental of it. You know, whatever the mission statement would be your vision statement for whatever organization you look at honestly. That’s really just a core that I think for any agency, even outside of the zoological world, is just to make that connection of the human being and from there you can really engender that, that support in the future. I mean for me, you know I saw wildlife in front of my very eyes as a kid. My parents bought me these little baby chicks. And then I set them all up and put them in the backyard, looking them through my kitchen window, all smiling, a little 6 year old Marco and all of a sudden this hawk came down and started going after my baby chickens. And for the first couple seconds I was so distraught and super sad about my babies. But that third second came in and this thought of, what is that hawk and that Raptor and my neurons are firing. And from that day on, I was just so inspired about the dynamics of Mother Nature and what this bird represented. And it just grew from there and just need that one little moment. Right. That one little connection with that human being, whatever the case may be, to, to really inspire that human being and motivate them.
Kalli
That’s the one of the sweetest stories I’ve ever heard. Now I’m not going to be able to look. At my window the same way. Yeah. So if someone does, you know, take that look out their window and they, you know, whatever it is for them and they make that connection. What’s
a way that they can start making a difference right away, you know, like, what’s one just simple thing that they can do to help raise awareness?
Marco
Ohh this is a great question. You know we have the ability to do this every single day, you know. Again, not to be more, not to romanticize it, you know, but I always I’m a very empathetic human being, you know, and I’m trying to be very aware of what’s happening around the planet. Sometimes I can drag you down. I know. But I remind myself, and I would really encourage everyone out there listening today that you have a moment every single day to make a positive impact, right? Everything from like I turn the shower off when I’m not using it in between getting cleaned up in the morning. I’m aware of what’s going down in my drain. I’m aware of when I go to the grocery store and I don’t buy items that have palm oil. That’s non-sustainable. If you’re not familiar, this is very impactful process happening around the world where forests are being decimated like in Sumatra as an example, and populations like the tiger are being affected by it, but we can easily make a positive impact in that by not buying products that are made with non-sustainable palm oil. Also your plastic use every day. I mean, I could go on and on every single day you have these opportunities to not buy that not support that organization, right or support this one that’s doing some good out in the world. You can go to your local zoo and aquarium. Your accredited zoos and aquariums. They’re doing so much work around the world, not only for wildlife but also for communities all over planet Earth. You can talk about conservation in a podcast as an example or social media post. It’s really on you. You’re a form of expression. But know that every person on this planet has that ability to make a positive impact in the world. I’m always saying it doesn’t matter to me if you’re like the Emperor of the universe or a kid from the Vario. Like nature is for everyone and we all should take that opportunity right to get connected and make those positive decisions every single day.
Kalli
Now, thank you so much for that. And you’re right. There are so many little things we can do that we probably don’t even think of. So really, thank you so much for your time today and for sharing you know your insights and your passion with us. It really is important to raise this Wildlife Conservation awareness and we really just really appreciate it. It was just a really wonderful conversation. So thank you so much. And thank you to our listeners for joining us today if you have. If you have any questions or guest ideas, we would love to hear from you. As always, you can drop us a line at impressions@pollackgroup.com. Until next time.
