Full Biography: 

 

Wildlife Biologist | Zookeeper | Author | Conservationist | Founder of the Katie Adamson Conservation Fund

Dave Johnson is a retired Denver zookeeper, wildlife biologist, author, and global conservation advocate whose life’s work has centered on protecting endangered species and empowering the next generation to do the same.

Dave worked as a zookeeper in Denver, Colorado for over 25 years, primarily with the pachyderm collection beginning in 1998 until his retirement in June 2023. His passion for animals, however, began much earlier. At just fifteen years old, he started working at the Western North Carolina Nature Center in Asheville, North Carolina, where he participated in a mountain lion sensitivity study while still in high school. He later earned a degree in Wildlife Biology and worked in Alaska as a seasonal bear biologist for the Bureau of Land Management on behalf of the Salato Wildlife Education Center in Kentucky. His early career also included work at Hollywild Animal Park in South Carolina before settling in Colorado.

Beyond animal care, Dave dedicated 20 years as an advisor to the Denver Zoo’s Explorer Post, mentoring youth ages 14–21 who were interested in pursuing animal-related careers. Through the Boy Scouts of America-sponsored program, he helped shape the future of countless wildlife professionals.
 

Dave’s conservation efforts extend far beyond the zoo gates. In 2010, he began leading conservation treks to Nepal under the banner “Team Nepalorado – A Fusion of Cultures in the Name of Conservation.” By 2026, he will have traveled to Nepal 16 times, bringing more than 230 participants to engage directly in conservation work. His efforts support sustainability initiatives with the Chepang community, a former poaching group, helping implement solar-powered fencing and innovative beehive fence projects that mitigate human-elephant conflict while generating sustainable income. These community-based efforts have helped reduce rhino poaching in Chitwan National Park from 10–12 incidents annually to near zero in recent years.

Dave’s global conservation impact also includes climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro three times to raise funds for rhino and elephant conservation in Tanzania, sponsoring anti-poaching teams, supporting youth soccer tournaments for conservation, and joining the development team in 2024 of a new Bees and Elephants Research Center in the critical Kitenden Wildlife Corridor connecting Amboseli National Park in Kenya to protected areas in Tanzania. His conservation work further supports youth street drama groups in Nepal, tiger anti-poaching dogs in India, sea turtles in Mexico, wild dogs in Zimbabwe, penguins in South Africa, saola conservation in Vietnam, and jaguar protection in Costa Rica.

In 2014, Dave founded the Katie Adamson Conservation Fund (KACF), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in honor of one of his young zoo explorers who passed away from cancer. With the support of Katie’s family and the Denver community, KACF was built on the belief that we save endangered animals by empowering people. In its first year, the organization raised $10,000 for conservation. By 2024, KACF is on track to reach $4 million in cumulative funds raised for wildlife initiatives worldwide.

An accomplished children’s author, Dave has written four conservation books designed to inspire young readers to protect wildlife: Elephants of Denver (2012), Narayani: The Unicorn of Nepal (2013), Zoodiac Kids (2015), and I Am Katie (released December 2024). His stories center around Sissy Sally Sassafras, a spirited Colorado girl with a huge heart and an even bigger voice for animals. Through her adventures, Dave brings awareness to rhinos, elephants, and global conservation challenges. His books are used nationwide as school, scout, church, and community fundraisers—allowing organizations to “sell conservation instead of cookies.” Proceeds are shared to empower local groups, affectionately known as “Rhino Warriors,” to fund their own conservation efforts.

Dave is also known for his “Mimi Marathons,” named in honor of Mimi, Denver’s beloved elephant who lived 51 years. From 10Ks to a full marathon, Dave rallied his community to run for elephants and raise awareness for pachyderm conservation.
A longtime member of the American Association of Zookeepers (AAZK), Dave helped his chapter raise thousands for conservation, earning national recognition, a Conservation Merit Award, and multiple photography honors. In 2025, Dave was nominated for the Indianapolis Prize, an honor widely recognized as the “Nobel Prize for animal conservation,” recognizing extraordinary contributions to the advancement of wildlife conservation.
Today, Dave Johnson continues to speak, write, lead expeditions, and build a global herd of passionate “animal nerds” committed to protecting our planet’s remaining ecosystems and the creatures that depend on them.

 

His life’s mission is simple but powerful: when we empower people, we save wildlife.