Madi Ort
Wildlife biologist | Conservationist | Solo Traveler
Madi Ort is a conservation and wildlife professional with specialized experience in exotic animal care and community-driven field projects, dedicated to connecting people with the natural world through science-informed, story-driven work. She blends hands-on animal expertise, global field experience, and authentic storytelling to create meaningful connections between people and wildlife. She has collaborated with conservation teams across Asia, Africa, and the Americas, supporting initiatives that prioritize both ecological integrity and community involvement.
With a strong foundation of scientific insight and a real on-the-ground perspective, Madi partners with conservation organizations, educators, travel companies, and local communities to bring wildlife stories to life. She specializes in transforming complex ecological issues into accessible, actionable content and in crafting conservation-minded travel experiences that empower people to make an impact. She works with conservation organizations, field teams, eco-travel partners, and educators seeking engaging, community-centered conservation content.
Madi’s work is rooted in the belief that conservation thrives when people feel personally connected to wildlife and its stories. Whether developing field collaborations, supporting research teams, or creating accessible conservation storytelling, her mission is to make wildlife protection approachable, inclusive, and grounded in genuine connection.
Collaring elephants with Tanzania Elephant Foundation
My Story
If you had told five-year-old me that catching frogs at the local pond would eventually lead to collaring elephants in Tanzania, I probably would’ve dropped my butterfly net. But in a strange, fantastic way, that’s basically how it all unfolded.
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Baby Madi Rescuing a Turtle
Here’s What You Should Know About Me
-My love for the natural world started with a childhood obsession with amphibians and reptiles. I spent years catching frogs and salamanders in the marsh, something I now know is terrible for their conservation (shoutout to chytrid fungus). My bad.
-I have a severe cashew allergy that I never shut up about (and no, you don’t get to know where my EpiPens are in case you decide to stab me heroically).
-My top three favorite animals are the okapi, the gharial, and the binturong.
Character Development
My path was unconventional from the start. While living in upstate New York as a toddler, I contracted Lyme disease, beginning a lifelong journey of navigating chronic health complications. Because of this, I was homeschooled through high school. It wasn’t exactly what I wanted. I had to quit sports (RIP my soccer career) and completely relearn how to approach education. But in hindsight, it pushed me toward a path I might never have found otherwise. What felt like a setback slowly became the space where my curiosity for wildlife deepened and my career quietly took shape.
Childhood Lyme Disease arc. The frogs offered zero medical support.
While homeschooled, I spent most of my time outdoors in Colorado searching for reptiles and reading science books about my favorite species. I was fascinated by veterinary work and animal care. At age 13, I became a teen intern at an accredited zoo with the intention of becoming an exotic zoo veterinarian one day. Before most teenagers had even considered career paths, I became a zookeeper caring for an incredible diversity of animals from majestic elephants to the smallest, most intricate reptiles, like Lenard the legless lizard, who lunged at me every time I fed him scrambled eggs.
Interactions with our elephant herd and Okapi at the zoo as a teen!
The countless mentors at the zoo, whose passion shone through their work, helped me discover my love for training, building relationships with animals, and the zoo field as a whole. Eventually, I ditched my vet dreams to pursue a more conservation-oriented animal-care path. As a teenager, I took advantage of every wildlife conservation opportunity available such as volunteering with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, serving on a Youth Leadership Action board, teaching workshops for youth conservation efforts, and leading wildlife days. I eventually started my own wildlife education business, began teaching online science classes, and found every possible way to stay surrounded by animals and nature.
Connecting children with animals through pollinators day and my animal ambassador business
When Conservation Became My Entire Personality
As a teen in the zookeeping space, I connected with Dave from the Katie Adamson Conservation Fund and immediately knew that conservation-focused travel would become my greatest passion. Hearing him speak about community-driven conservation and how to get involved opened a door I didn’t know existed. At 15, everything finally clicked during my first international trip to Costa Rica. Immersed in sea turtle and jaguar conservation, I saw what it truly means to protect vulnerable species where they actually live. The dense rainforests, the pace of the work, and the urgency behind it all made me feel connected to something far bigger than myself. And I’ve been semi-broke from booking flights ever since…
Building a sea turtle hatchery and regernative agriculture at Osa Conservation
I still remember the culture shock from one of my first trips abroad. When I returned to the same place a year later, it felt like a total reset, like the lens I used to look at the world had suddenly widened. I became less focused on my own little bubble and more aware of just how vast the world is, and how complex every person’s life is within it (there’s a word for that: sonder). There’s something essential about stepping outside your comfort zone and realizing that life keeps unfolding far beyond the borders of your day-to-day. That perspective shift was fundamental for me. Maybe you’ve felt it too. And if you haven’t taken that leap yet, I hope my stories here nudge you toward your own version of that moment.
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My favorite and most eye-opening trip of all time; 5 weeks in Tanzania <3
Core Mission
One of my greatest missions now is to continue supporting community conservation through storytelling and collaboration. I’ve been fortunate to be welcomed into places I never imagined visiting by incredible people who have invited me into their work, their homes, and their missions. I’ve listened to families whose livelihoods are impacted by wildlife conflict, and I’ve seen their willingness to try new approaches to coexist. These stories matter deeply, and I want to share them with you here.
Croc festival, 2023 in Nepal. One of my favorite community conservation events led by Care For Nature Nepal
My work with the Katie Adamson Conservation Fund has taken me across the world: swimming alongside whale sharks in Mexico, surveying gharials in Nepal, and supporting community-driven wildlife programs. Most recently, I was in Brazil, joining a jaguar conservation team partnering with local communities to promote coexistence in the Pantanal.
Jaguar camera traps and tracking in the Pantanal with Instituto Impacto
As a National Geographic–certified educator and practicing wildlife photographer, I’ve traveled across continents documenting and protecting wildlife. For me, these expeditions are more than trips; they’re missions to bridge the gap between my own understanding and the extraordinary creatures and people we share this planet with.
Documenting orphan rhinos two years apart for KACF. This is at the Wildlife Hospital in Nepal
Earning a Degree (and Zookeeping) Between Flights
All of this was happening alongside my college journey. In December 2024, I graduated with my bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences and a minor in psychology. Amid studying, I spent several months out of the last two years solo backpacking, collaborating with conservation projects abroad, and working as an animal keeper at an AZA institution. It wasn’t the most typical college experience, but I loved every minute of it.
Alongside my expanding conservation work, my zoo career was growing just as quickly. I currently work as a primate zookeeper at an AZA-accredited zoo, caring for a variety of primate species. Zoos have my heart as much as the conservation field does. I love the role accredited zoos play in protecting species and helping people connect with wildlife they might never encounter otherwise. What excites me most are the zoos that elevate animal care by bringing the stories of these animals’ wild lives to the forefront through innovative exhibits, meaningful training, and a commitment to welfare that encourages animals to truly thrive.
Positive reinforcement training with orangutans, my best friends the tamarins, and presenting at my first primate conference!
That spark is what I hope to pass on here. Through my travels, wildlife work, and stories, I want to help you feel the same sense of connection that inspires me and guide you toward a few adventures of your own.
The Debauchary That is Solo Travel
However, it wouldn't be right for me to not include the chaotic solo travel stories that have nothing to do with conservation. Doing things for the sake of the story (thickening the plot, if you will) has enriched and shaped my life in more ways than I’d like to admit. I took my first solo backpacking trip around Europe at 19, and it completely changed the way I travel. I now feel comfortable taking risks, making friends anywhere, and being open to spontaneous experiences. I’ve learned that my impulsive nature thrives in the strange, wonderful world of hostel-hopping. Plus, it adds to the fun aunt lore.
Seeing the Mona Lisa at the Louvre
Saying “yes” to every adventure has helped me create so many memories, and catch strange contagions around the world (don’t worry, I’ll help you avoid that last part).
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Scuba diving in Belize and my last minute hang gliding adventure in Rio de Janeiro
My Mission For You
All of these threads—conservation, zoos, solo travel—have shaped the way I see the world. I hope that somewhere in these stories, whether it’s conservation work, wildlife encounters, or my questionable solo-travel decisions, you’ll find a spark of your own. Maybe these stories will nudge you toward your own adventure, the kind that changes you in the most unexpected ways.
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Head to South Africa with
Katie Adamson Conservation Fund
Visit the Zulu Nyala website here
Katie Adamson Conservation Fund and Zulu Nyala have partnered to bring you a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in South Africa. Whether you're dreaming of an all-inclusive stay at Zulu Nyala or hoping to pair your trip with conservation work, there are plenty of ways to make this experience your own.
Have questions or want to get involved? Message me through my contact page to learn more!