The opening night reception for the new show Joan Embery's My Animal World at the Bonita Museum and Cultural Center was a sold-out success! Guests, museum members and local luminaries met Joan and her husband Duane Pillsbury and enjoyed her personal insights and stories about the show's exclusive selection of photos and memorabilia from Joan's ranch. Joan Embery is best known for her conservation work and many television appearances with exotic animals on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and Jay Leno. This exhibit explores her equestrian side, travel and more. The Joan Embery's My Animal World exhibition runs through January 7th, 2017. Admission is free and the museum is open Wednesday through - Saturday, 10 am - 4pm.  Get directions at bonitahistoricalsociety.org. 

​​​The Bonita Museum will offer a behind-the-scenes look into Joan's life, including stories about her lifelong love of horses, working in the Children's Zoo and Safari Park, and her current animal conservation efforts. Joan Embery has been one of the world's most high-profile wildlife conservation advocates for over 35 years. "Through her efforts as a wildlife ambassador, Joan has inspired generations of animal lovers to take action and get involved in conservation and protection efforts," comments Julie Gay, Executive Director of the Bonita Museum. Joan is a professional Fellow of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and operates her own non-profit foundation, which connects people to wildlife and conservation issues, and illustrates the role each individual can play in insuring healthy environments.

Joan's extensive knowledge of large animals started in her early childhood, spending summers with her uncle who was a veterinarian in Santa Cruz, California and later, in training her first horse Finally. Joan Embery, "When I first spotted Finally, he was only a couple of days old, chestnut in color with legs like stilts and a tiny dished head marked with a white blaze. He moved so elegantly and seemed so sure of himself, tail carried straight up in the air like a flag, while he ran with his mother. It was love at first sight...I nicknamed him Finally because I finally had a horse of my own!"

Joan started her career at the San Diego Zoo working with baby animals where she learned about wild animal behaviors and training techniques. By working with many types of animals she became a keen observer of wild animal behavior. Through this exhibition she will discus the safe handling of wild animals, animal behavior, and training techniques, as well as share her unique stories about wild animals and how she learned to communicate with them over the years.

Joan and her husband, Duane Pillsbury, live on the Pillsbury Ranch in Lakeside, where they continue conservation efforts. Joan has always loved horses and in this exhibition visitors can explore her love for all equines in a tack room environment full of everything a horsewoman needs.

Mehl Lawson, local horseman and cowboy artist, came up with the idea for this exhibition, "Joan and I were brought together many years ago by our love of horses. Also, her husband Duane and I are both artists. To this day Joan and I ride together at their ranch in Lakeside where I train their horses. Many days Duane and I will paint around the place after riding. She and I have both been very blessed to have had a lifetime of doing what we love to do and making a living from it."

"Joan's life work has been to educate, on a global level, and increase awareness as to the wellness and conservation of animals from tiny hedgehogs to the great African Elephant. Her first experiences around animals were in Bonita, and we are excited to tell her stories through this exhibition" Julie Gay, Executive Director.

In 2004 Joan started The Embery Institute for Wildlife Conservation, a not for profit that promotes awareness of endangered animals and their shrinking habitats. It aids veterinarians efforts to conserve healthy wildlife both in the U.S. and around the world. The Institute allows Joan to teach others about wildlife conservation. Some of the conservation groups Joan has worked with over her career include the Wildlife Health Center, Anza-Borrego Foundation and Institute, Envirovet, Kenya Wildlife Service, San Diego River Park, Veterinary Department Tanzania National Parks, Wildlife Health Center. Joan has been the recipient of numerous awards including the Zoological Society of Florida's Wildlife Ambassador award. 

For more information and print images contact Wendy Wilson (760) 822-2524. Learn more about the Bonita Museum and Cultural Center at www.bonitahistoricalsociety.org. 

Enjoy this "best of" montage of Joan's animal appearances on the Tonight Show. 

Johnny broke out into a hilarious song when Joan put a very relaxed bush dog in his arms during this show in 1975. 

Anna and her cheetah friend frolic onstage with guest host David Brenner at the Tonight Show. 

Kubor the koala climbed a tree on the set during this taping of the Johnny Carson show.

In this quick clip Johnny very mindfully holds a tarantula spider. 

Joan brings two European Ferrets to the set to show off their amazing rodent-hunting abilities!