Profile of an Education Liaison

Karen Povey, Senior Staff Biologist, Wild Wonders Outdoor Theater, Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium
Liaison for the Clouded Leopard SSP and Felid TAG since 1999

How did you get involved as a liaison?

We acquired clouded leopards at our institution in 1998. After being captivated by their natural history and behavior, I wanted to become more involved in addressing their conservation challenges. I solicited the SSP coordinator for the liaison position.

Describe your professional background.

Learning about clouded leopard adaptations at Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand.

I have a B.S. in Zoology and a Master's in Education. I have developed and conducted on and off-site live animal educational presentations for my 22-year zoo career. Currently, I oversee animal programming at Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium's Wild Wonders Outdoor Theater. This includes caring for the Zoo's pair of clouded leopards. These cats bred in 2003 and their cubs were an integral part of our messaging about clouded leopard conservation. I also serve as coordinator of the Clouded Leopard Project, an organization founded by the Point Defiance AAZK chapter to support clouded leopard conservation efforts.

Program accomplishments

We have developed the Clouded Leopard SSP/Clouded Leopard Project website into the most comprehensive source of clouded leopard information online. This site covers natural history, past and current in and ex situ research, and serves as a fund-raising vehicle.

We have also developed a brochure about clouded leopard conservation and have distributed it to zoos holding clouded leopards in their collections.

Students read about clouded leopards

Since 2000, we have raised over $40,000 for clouded leopard conservation efforts through merchandise sales and a donation station at Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium. These funds have supported field research in Thailand and Borneo and education efforts in Thailand and Vietnam.

In partnership with the Smithsonian, I conducted an environmental education training workshop at a zoo in Thailand, using clouded leopard conservation issues as the workshop theme.

In 2006, we completed a wild cat curriculum guide for use in communities surrounding Thailand's Khao Yai National Park. We are funding an outreach educator to disseminate the guide, conduct student programs, and conduct teacher training.

Where have you found funding for your program efforts?

Most funding was the result of efforts of our AAZK Chapter's Clouded Leopard Project. We sell clouded leopard merchandise in our Zoo's gift shop and online. In addition, we have a donation station at the Zoo. I have also received several grants from our Zoo's Conservation Fund and a grant from AAZK National.

What have been your biggest challenges as a liaison?

The biggest challenge at first was integrating into an SSP and TAG that was (and still is) very science and research oriented. There wasn't a culture of partnering with educators so I had to make my own way to find compatible projects.

The other huge challenge is finding time for all the projects that I want to be involved in for this effort. I am afforded some regular work time for this, but the reality is that I am able to use very little of it. Many of my efforts are on my own time — but I enjoy it!

What have been your biggest rewards as a liaison?

It has been very rewarding to partner with other organizations to establish international conservation efforts. This has allowed me to travel to Asia and work with Thais involved in conservation. It has also been very personally rewarding to feel that my efforts are having a direct contribution to a species I am passionate about protecting.

What are your goals for the program?

I hope to continue to strengthen in situ partnerships and expand the distribution of our educational materials to other communities in the region. We also plan to develop additional educational materials in an attempt to raise awareness about wild cat conservation issues and foster sustainable behaviors.

Words of Wisdom

Be sure that you align yourself with a program or species that you have a personal passion for because that will see you past much of the frustrations of lack of time, money, etc. so you can persevere. Don't let the fear of failure keep you from taking risks!