About Joan Embery
Biography![]() Joan Embery has served as a champion of environmental, conservation, and preservation issues around the world, most notably as spokeswoman for the Zoological Society of San Diego. She has had the opportunity to express her passion for animals with a multitude of audiences from youth to veterinary students to corporate executives. Her work has included hundreds of television shows as diverse as The Tonight Show, CBS This Morning, PBS programs, Hollywood Squares, Mr. Rogers, Entertainment Tonight and her own syndicated series Animal Express and Animals of Africa.
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Public SpeakerJoan is available for speaking engagements both on her own and with her Wildlife Ambassadors. Her Press Kit provides a list of awards, books, TV appearances, biography, and more. For rates and more information please contact us.
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In addition to her many public appearances, Joan has led wildlife expeditions to such exotic locales as Africa, China, Nepal, India, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, Thailand, and the Amazon, and has authored several books. As a dedicated animal and environmental advocate, Joan spends her time working with wildlife organizations and educating the public. She serves on many boards focusing on conservation and wildlife issues.

A San Diego native, Joan studied zoology and telecommunications and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication. While Joan is most well known for her work with exotic animals, she is also an accomplished horsewoman, having won trophies in almost every discipline from dressage to cutting and driving to jumping. She lives on the 50-acre Pillsbury Ranch in Lakeside, California, where she has raised and trained quarter horses, miniature horses, Lipizzans, warmbloods, mules, Clydesdales, Percherons, and her California State Grand Champion Brahman bull, Bruiser. She also manages the Lakeside Saddle & Driving Club, a community equestrian facility.
In 2004, Joan created the nonprofit foundation, The Embery Institute for Wildlife Conservation, with the mission of connecting people to wildlife and conservation issues and highlighting the role each individual plays in ensuring healthy environments.
Joan enjoys speaking with audiences about wildlife and the environment. She shares her experiences and passion for animals with personal accounts and anecdotes. She maintains a collection of wildlife ambassadors that travel with her representing the animal world and helping to educate her audiences.
In 2004, Joan created the nonprofit foundation, The Embery Institute for Wildlife Conservation, with the mission of connecting people to wildlife and conservation issues and highlighting the role each individual plays in ensuring healthy environments.
Joan enjoys speaking with audiences about wildlife and the environment. She shares her experiences and passion for animals with personal accounts and anecdotes. She maintains a collection of wildlife ambassadors that travel with her representing the animal world and helping to educate her audiences.
Television Personality
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From her television start on Johnny Carson in the early 1970s to Jay Leno, Charlie Rose, and many more, Joan Embery has thrilled millions of viewers with her countless educational and funny appearances. While the audience laughed at endearing animal interactions, Joan always showcased natural behaviors and shared facts about the diet, habitat, temperament, and status of each species—making her appearances not only fun, but broadly educational. If you grew up in the U.S. in the 1970s-1980s, you'll no doubt remember seeing her on TV with a zebra, monkey, or other amazing creature.
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"Working in television has allowed me the opportunity to reach large audiences in their own homes. I have had the opportunity to showcase an incredible array of wildlife species not often seen live on stage. The studio environment can be very challenging and I work hard to plan the optimum methods of handling the animals safely. I have met and worked with some of the biggest names in show business, but I'll always consider the animals my biggest stars." - Joan Embery
Published Author & Animal Expert
Joan Embery is an author with four published books that are available on Amazon.com.
My Wild World
Delacorte 1980 |
Joan Embery's collection of amazing animal facts
Delacorte 1983 |
On Horses
Morrow 1984 |
The Good Dog Book
Avon Books 1993 |