Working in animal care and wildlife conservation is often considered a dream job. At least it’s always been for Dr. Kyle Burks, CEO and president of the Wilder Institute’s Calgary Zoo. Growing up a short walk from about 10,000 acres of protected forest in eastern Texas, Burks naturally developed a love for nature and wildlife. Pursuing this passion, he went on to study animal behaviour and wildlife conservation, and eventually fell in love with the world of zoos.
“I set out on that path in the early 1990s and haven’t stopped,” says Burks. “I’ve been in the zoo and aquarium world my whole career, focused on animal welfare and conservation, and I think I have a pretty cool job.”
Burks joined Wilder Institute in January 2025 at a transformational time, helping usher the institute into its next stage. This past summer, the global conservation charity, which celebrates its fifth anniversary this year, announced a new strategic plan — One Wild Future. The plan will grow the institute’s conservation impact and involve the community in this mission.
“Kyle joined us at a really exciting time when this planning was underway and this new chapter was being formed. His leadership accelerates the way that we’re now opening this up and launching this exciting chapter with our community,” says Steve Ross, chief development and external relations officer.
Part of One Wild Future is an evolution of the zoo, which is approaching its centennial in 2029. By 2034, 40 per cent of the zoo will be updated. Visitors can expect state-of-the-art exhibits more indicative of natural animal habitats, including the new Imagine Asia area, now open to guests.
The plan outlines ways to expand conservation impact, including increasing the number of species the Wilder Institute focuses on across Canada beyond its many current conservation programs that target burrowing owls, Northern leopard frogs, whooping cranes, Vancouver Island marmots, curiously isolated hairstreak butterflies and more. But Burks and his team know that conservation can’t be done in isolation. That’s why they collaborate with Indigenous partners, focusing on social mobilization — a step beyond simply exciting people about wildlife. Part of the social mobilization includes encouraging people who are enjoying the zoo to directly contribute to conservation outcomes.
“We want an experience that inspires people,” says Burks. “If I can get you excited, thinking, ‘Wow, I just had this amazing experience, but now I’m also going to make some choices in my life,’ then that’s what really makes [change] happen. That’s what’s going to save species. That’s what’s going to really change the world.”
As visitors go through the exhibits, prompts will ask them to reflect on their daily habits and choices that impact conservation, and provide at-home steps they can take to join the movement.
“Inclusivity is the crux of this [new] identity. We wanted to share with our community, and nationally and internationally — with all our supporters — that there truly is a role for everyone to play, and together, this One Wild Future is possible,” says Ross.
Burks has championed the importance of conservation his entire career. He and his team know that this is a long game.
“If we can create a world where people can coexist with wildlife, we’re going to live better lives ourselves,” says Burks. “This is a long game to make these changes work — it’s decades. We’re in it for the long haul, but we’ve got to get going right now.”