Joan Embery

Speaking for those who have no voice...

Joan Embery serves as goodwill ambassador for the Zoological Society of San Diego, which includes the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Wild Animal Park in the San Pasqual Valley.

As the Zoological Society's official hostess, her work includes television appearances, radio interviews, speaking engagements and animal presentations. Joan has led education tours exploring the wild animal habitats throughout the world.

As glamorous as being a goodwill ambassador might be, Joan Embery is equally dedicated to the survival of the world.

Joan is a passionate champion of animals and the environment. She speaks to millions in person and via television about the fact that many wildlife species have disappeared forever, pointing out that thousands of elephants, rhinos and the great herds of bison are now gone all disappearing during the lifetime of millions of people who are still living. She is equally passionate about the imperative necessity to save the world's rain forest.

Joan Embery works closely with the research department at the San Diego Zoological Society's Wild Animal Park and its reproductive physiologists, geneticists, zoologists and animal behaviorists, as she and they work against time to save all wildlife and wildlife habitat.

The whole environment is in danger. It is not a specific animal or a specific tree, but life as we know it that is in danger, says Embery.

Joan has trained and handled some of the world's rarest and most unusual animals, from aardvarks to zebras and elephants to hummingbirds.

Nationally known for her television appearances with animals, Joan has appeared on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and Jay Leno, Good Morning America, PM Magazine, The Home Show, Donahue, Hour Magazine, Entertainment Tonight, and many others. She has hosted two series, Animal Express and Animals of Africa, which have aired both in the United States and abroad, and the Baby Panda and Challenge to Wildlife specials for Public Broadcasting.

A native of San Diego, Joan attended San Diego State University where she specialized in zoology and telecommunications. She completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication with Eastern Illinois University. She and her husband, Duane Pillsbury, live in Lakeside, California, on their fifty acre ranch. At the ranch, Joan raises Quarter horses, Miniature horses, Lippizans, Warmbloods, Clydesdales and Percherons, and her California State Grand Champion Brahman Bull, Bruiser. She also maintains an assortment of animals which travel with her on appearances.

Joan has written four books: My Wild World and Amazing Animal Facts, published by Delacorte; On Horses, published by Morrow, and The Good Dog Book, published by Avon Books. She has completed a computer workbook, Dogs! with Joan Embery, for responsible dog ownership developed by Digital Vistas.

Yes, in so many ways, Joan Embery speaks for millions, in an impassioned plea to ensure we all have an opportunity to leave a legacy.

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