Meet Dave Johnson of Littleton

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dave Johnson.

Hi Dave , we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was a Denver pachyderm zookeeper here for 25 years. I worked with the elephants, rhinos, and hippos for most of my career at the Denver Zoo. In 2014 we decided to make an NGO for conservation to help with our wild cousins. We did this in the name of one of my Denver Zoo Explorer scouts who passed away from cancer. Thus was born, the Katie Adamson Conservation Fund. Made up of zookeepers, zoo volunteers, animal loving members of our community and her family, we have now been growing this fund for 11 years. We are at the 4 million dollar mark of funds raised and have had impact in 32 countries. It has been an amazing run. I just returned from India and Nepal where we were working with Denver Zoo elephant staff and some wonderful field colleagues to help with human/elephant conflict that is trying to keep bull elephants out of farms. We also are running our elephant health camp in Nepal and have 14 people from zoos around the US collaborating on foot care, blood draws, vaccinations, and health assessments for working elephants in the national parks. We went to rhino and tiger meetings before returning home. It is a fantastic way to spend my retirement in collaboration with real game changers not only here, but around the planet.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There were certainly struggles. These include some barriers at the zoo where I worked, that led to my early retirement, and the issues with trying to run initiatives on the other side of the world. It is tough only being able to see the work and meet with the teams maybe two weeks out of the year. You must be able to build a team you trust and continue to work with them over the years. Keep those connections! Things must be cultivated and you must follow and let them lead. We have now been to Nepal fifteen times. We send others over to work on projects like musk deer, pangolin, steppe eagles, and a herp survey team that has found five new species to science. They had never been recorded before. Changing political views and philanthropy styles are always a tough battle to work through. People must make room for conservation and the other species we share this planet with. Nature is very important to our very existence. Teaching and working with the global students to help them make better choices than we have is also a very daunting task. Our team has been up to the challenge. Some leadership models are straying far from conservation. This has to change.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a conservation leader now and was just nominated for the Indianapolis Prize, which has been compared to the Nobel Peace Prize for conservation. There were 44 of us nominated and 7 of the nominees were from the United States. I take great pride in being on this amazing team. I went to the Indy Prize and got to meet the winner from Madagascar. Dr. Lily is a global icon. There were so many of my heroes there. These are actually people worthy of our admiration. Since retiring as a zookeeper, I have averaged a trip once monthly. I have taken our Denver community to plant trees in Borneo, to release sea turtle hatchlings in Costa Rica, to collar lions in South Africa and to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, twice. We are a fun, passionate, loving group of people who actually give a damn about wildlife, cultures, and connectivity. We are contagious. It all started with Katie. Now we are all becoming Katie. I have written four children’s books to share our work with the world.

We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Our community may be surprised to hear that sometimes I get very depressed about the way things are going in the US and in the world. I only have one small window to make a difference and this can be daunting. I am 57 years old now and I feel the pressure that this window is closing. My outward appearance is one of fun, engagement, joy, but sometimes there are moments when I am overwhelmed, depressed, and can wonder what is going to happen with this world. Conservation can be an evil mistress. There are extreme highs, and horrible lows. I try to not let our community feel me on that roller coaster, but instead keep the glass half full attitude that gives folks the idea that we have a chance here, to make a difference. All is not lost. They help prop me up daily. We must stay positive and march proudly forward, together.

Pricing:

• Costa Rica trip- $2000
• Nepal trip- $4000
• Whale sharks in Mexico- $1500
• Set of children’s books- $44
• Planting a tree on the planet- $8

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.katieadamsonconservationfund.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katieadamsonconservationfund/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katieadamsonconservationfund

Image Credits
Katie Adamson Conservation Fund