Madi en la naturaleza

Biólogo de vida silvestre | Conservacionista | Viajero solitario

Hola soy Madi

Soy biólogo de vida silvestre, conservacionista y viajero solitario que busca historias en la naturaleza.

Desde rastrear jaguares y colocar collares a elefantes hasta marcar tiburones ballena y trabajar como cuidador del zoológico, cada capítulo de mi viaje me lleva a una misión: proteger la vida silvestre y alentar a otros a explorar el mundo con curiosidad y propósito...

¿Te interesa saber cómo empezó todo? ¡Pulsa abajo para saber más sobre mí!

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Si quieres colaborar en proyectos de conservación, te interesa un destino específico o compartes tus propias historias de viajes en solitario, me encantaría saber de ti. ¡El viaje siempre es mejor cuando se comparte con aventureros con ideas afines!

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A few clips from our visit to Swayambhunath Stupa, also known as the “Monkey Temple,” in the Kathmandu Valley.

Visiting this place never fails to amaze me. Watching Hindu and Buddhist traditions exist side by side, in harmony with monkeys and overlooking the city of Kathmandu, is always a special experience.

It will be a few weeks before I can download footage from my camera, so here are a few phone clips for now! We’re heading into the field tomorrow, and I’m excited to update on what we find a few weeks :)

As always, thank you to my friend Raz at @travelnepal.now for a memorable and educational time in Kathmandu

I spent some time in Seattle at the end of our road trip. While exploring the city, a sign covered in reptiles advertising Exquisite Creatures by Christopher Marley immediately caught my eye.

After reading about the exhibit’s ethical specimen sourcing and conservation focus, I decided to go.

I’m so glad I did.

Growing up fascinated by reptiles and all the small, often overlooked creatures, I’ve always felt it was difficult to communicate the intrinsic beauty I saw in them to the average person. It’s not that people are wrong, they simply experience nature through different perspectives, especially when animals are presented in their familiar contexts. As a zookeeper, bringing people face-to-face with living wildlife is incredibly powerful, and seeing animals move, interact, and behave naturally creates meaningful connections. But they’re still largely experienced within the context we expect.

What struck me about Exquisite Creatures was how it completely shifted that perspective. Displayed as works of art, each specimen’s colors, textures, patterns, and forms took center stage. Removed from their natural environments, visitors are invited to appreciate each organism simply for what it is.

There was something deeply compelling about that.

As I walked through the exhibit, I watched people lean in, ask questions, notice details they might have otherwise missed, and they seemed genuinely captivated.

It left me wondering: What gaps are we still not filling in conservation storytelling? Not because current approaches aren’t effective, they absolutely are, but because this experience made me curious about what else is possible. Who are we missing because we’re telling the same stories in the same ways? What new audiences might we reach by presenting nature in unexpected contexts and emphasizing its intrinsic beauty?

I’ve been thinking about those questions ever since. Thank you, Exquisite Creatures, for such a thought-provoking experience. The photos don’t do it justice!

My favorite time of year has finally arrived….tamarin free-ranging season! 🐒🌿

It was Gianna and Mattesichs first day doing the free-ranging program!

For those of you who are new here, our emperor tamarins have the opportunity to free range in one of our animal yards at the zoo under the direct supervision of our keeper team. Before they head outside, we follow a detailed training and safety protocol to ensure they’re ready to navigate the natural environment and consistently make choices that keep everyone comfortable with their exploration.

It’s always incredible to watch them use their natural behaviors, while enjoying the outdoors! They started off investigating some of the dense foliage next to their enclosure. I’m excited to watch their territory expand this summer!

Coast day photo dump 🌊✨

Finding sea stars at the beach would’ve been enough to make my day, but then we spotted three bald eagles and somehow stumbled upon the most incredible place to camp for the night.

Honestly, I don’t think the day could’ve gotten any better

Spent some time in Washington State and Canada road-tripping around with some incredible people! This was my favorite day🏔️

Full day hike in the mountains, North Cascades I LOVE YOU

My first time seeing an eastern yellow-bellied racer in Colorado! Great survey @co_parc team!

Was going to post these anyways but then I realized that Picaso turned 11 at the end of May! With each year that passes by, she only gets cuter and more high maintenance! Like mother like daughter 😍😍

The tamarins are outside and lookin CUTE! Here’s your proof

🦋New blog post-link in BIO

Want to help pollinators but have no idea where to start? I felt the same way.

Recently, my coworkers and I secured a grant that will direct $20,000 from Cheyenne Mountain Zoo toward pollinator conservation! As I dove deeper into monarch and pollinator research for this project and my own conservation interests, I was reminded that some of the most meaningful conservation actions don’t happen in distant wild places—they happen in our own communities, gardens, and backyards.

That realization inspired me to write this guide.

I wanted to create a resource that compiles what I have learned into one place, helping people understand why pollinators matter and find conservation actions that fit their space, budget, and lifestyle. Whether you have acres of land, a small backyard, an apartment balcony, or simply an interest in wildlife, there are ways to make a meaningful impact.

The best part?

Pollinator conservation is one of the most accessible forms of conservation, which is why I’m so passionate about it. Small actions taken by thousands of people can create real change.

🐝 Plant a native flower. 🦋 Support monarch habitat. 🌻 Reduce pesticide use. 📱 Participate in community science.

No action is too small.

Link in bio🐝

#PollinatorConservation #ColoradoWildlife #MonarchButterfly #NativePlants #pollinators

Been enjoying the last couple weeks staying close to home and getting ready for all the summer adventures ahead! ☀️ Between travels, we’ve got all kinds of wildlife monitoring coming up; bluebirds, bumble bees, monarchs, herps, and more.

As the weather warms up and you spend more time outside, don’t forget to upload the species you spot to iNaturalist (when appropriate and without revealing sensitive species locations). 🌿
Your observations help support research and conservation. Yay summer!

I was scouting out rattlesnake dens with Johnny and Brent the other day when we stumbled across this beauty!! My FIRST Prarie Rattlesnake in Colorado!!! Hopefully, we can increase that number for me this summer but for now, I’m just happy to say I finally saw one😃

We safely moved him across the road and continued our search. Once den locations are identified, we can rope off those areas to reduce the chances of unexpected encounters between people and wildlife.

A very eventful Dippin’ Dots run (shoutout Jason, Roger, Atka)!

Also, we did not capitalize on the Dr. Pepper flavor so let us know if it’s life changing or not🤝

Bacalar, Mexico 🇲🇽 My FAVORITE stop on my trip!

Nicknamed the “Lagoon of Seven Colors,” Bacalar looks unreal in person, with layers of turquoise, deep blue, and white blending together as you paddle through the water.

This lagoon is fed by hidden cenotes beneath the surface, creating one of Mexico’s most unique ecosystems. It’s also home to stromatolites, ancient, living formations that are some of the oldest life forms on Earth.

They may look like rocks, but they’re alive and incredibly fragile. So if you visit: no stepping, no touching, and stick to reef-safe sunscreen only!

I extended my stay here and enjoyed evenings out with friends in the small town, and days exploring the lagoon! 10/10 recommend!

Weekly shenanigans with “James P.” and others 🫶

Road-tripped out to the North Platte River to witness one of North America’s most impressive migratory birds, the Sandhill Crane. It was a very gloomy spectacle but well worth the visit 🌧️💙

I’ve been incredibly blessed to have encountered a variety of species all over the world. Each experience has shaped my passion for wildlife conservation in its own way.

Here are my top 10 wildlife encounters that have been defining moments in my life:

1. Being part of collaring a wild female elephant for conservation and research, done professionally with @tanzanianelephant_foundation.

2. The most unexpected surprise: African wild dog stopping to sunbathe in the road on our journey to the airport.

3. Discovering juvenile Gharial….enough said.

4.My first time seeing African elephants after hearing their trumpets for hours from afar. I was NOT expecting so many!!!

5. Getting lucky enough to spot and barely photograph a Black rhino from a helicopter

6. Randomly encountering a Boomslang after being entranced by them my entire childhood.

7. Tracking Resplendent quetzal in Guatemala.

8. Seeing Nina, the hero of the Pantanal ❤️

9. An incredible day observing wildlife in Nepal, so many rhinos!!

10. Watching a Lion pride hunt together, with hyenas hunting across the way.

I love reflecting on these moments. I become even more connected to the mission of protecting wildlife and spreading hope for the future of conservation.
Happy World Wildlife Day 💚

Went on a beautiful hike in Rio de Janeiro and ran into these little guys🐒🌿

Common marmosets are incredibly adaptable and can often be found living in and around urban areas across Brazil. They have specialized lower incisors that allow them to gouge tree bark and extract sap as a primary portion of their diet!

With most conservation trips, I try to add a few extra days to solo travel through a new region. It’s a great opportunity to meet new people, slow down, and inevitably collect a few wild, unplanned memories along the way!

Here’s a sneak peek into the blog post I’m working on, tracing a route through:

Valladolid → Cancún → Isla Mujeres → Bacalar → Tulum

The state of Quintana Roo is rich in both cultural history and ecological diversity. It’s home to ancient Maya archaeological sites like Chichén Itzá and Tulum Archaeological Zone, along with ecosystems that range from tropical seasonal forests and mangrove wetlands to freshwater lagoons, savannas, and sections of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. This corner of Mexico is layered in both natural and cultural depth.

I met incredible people, had a few unexpected adventures, and learned more than I anticipated so stay tuned

The beauty of swimming alongside the largest fish in the ocean. 🌊

It was both unbelievable and incredibly humbling to slide into the water and share space with such an iconic species that I idolized growing up.

Each whale shark has a unique spot pattern like a fingerprint, which researchers use to identify and track individuals over time. Citizen scientists can contribute to this research by submitting photos to Sharkbook.AI during a responsibly chosen whale shark tour, helping scientists monitor movements and better protect these gentle giants. It’s a perfect way to get involved if you choose to venture out to sea with @chooj.a and @katieadamsonconservationfund 🦈💙

#Whaleshark #conservation #islamujeres #sharkconservation #swimmingwithwhalesharks

Photo credits: Rafael de la Parra, Ch’ooj Ajauil

Back in August, I checked off a lifelong bucket-list moment: swimming alongside whale sharks, the largest fish in the ocean and one of its most mysterious 🌊🦈

More importantly, I had the opportunity to learn from Rafael de la Parra and his organization, Ch’ooj Ajauil, in collaboration with KACF. Rafael has spent decades tracking their migrations and identifying individuals through their unique spot patterns, turning bucket-list encounters into meaningful science that helps protect whale sharks!

In these photos, you’ll see Rafael conducting satellite tagging under a government-issued research permit.

When done by trained professionals, this work allows researchers to better understand and conserve these gentle giants. I share more about the tagging process and why it matters in the full blog post-link in bio!

The intersection of tourism, citizen science, and conservation is powerful when done responsibly. Every responsibly led tour and shared data point can contribute to both research and local communities.

Thank you Rafael and KACF for the incredible opportunity to get involved!

Disclaimer: A licensed professional conducted all research activities under a government permit. Do not attempt to replicate.

#whalesharks #sharks #ecotourism #conservation #whalesharkconservation

Crested Butte on skis ❄️🏔️
Steep lines, quiet chair rides, and mountain-town magic, I love it here 💙

Some adventures from 2025! Thank you to everyone who made it special, cheers to 2026 💫

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