About the Artist
Kristin Schaffer Long
“People forget the good that zoos do. If it weren't for zoos, we would have so many species that would be extinct today.” - Betty White
If you asked me as a child what I wanted to be when I grew up I would say two things, a Zookeeper, and an Artist. My path took me to Friends University, where I received my Bachelor of Science in Zoo Science. I trained to be a Zookeeper at the Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita, KS as part of this program. After graduation, I moved back to my home state of Missouri and took a Zookeeper position at the Saint Louis Zoo. Art was still a part of my life, but only as a hobby. I wanted to save wildlife, and I thought the only way to do that was to work with animals directly.
The military took my family to Texas, and after a short time at the San Antonio Zoo, I took a break from my career as a zookeeper to become a mom. Fast-forward almost a decade later, and I found myself desperate to continue my life-long dream of saving wildlife. I had already converted my entire property to native gardens, now I needed something more. I needed a way back into the zoo world.
I decided to give my art more purpose than I ever had before. I am now on the path toward becoming a Conservation Artist, focusing on zoological gardens and aquariums. My first collection showcases the animals of the zoo, who serve as Species Ambassadors to their wild counterparts. When a child or adult connects with an animal at the zoo, they want to learn more. They want to know how they can help, they want to save what they love.
My art is an extension of the zoo. When you see an animal in my artwork, I want you to learn, to care, and to love. To know that this animal served a vital role in saving their species in the wild. To know that this animal has a name, and zookeepers who have dedicated their lives to its care. I want you to know that you can make a difference too.
When purchasing my art (Coming Soon!), a portion will be donated back to the zoo where each animal resides, or to a conservation organization working to save their species. All Original artwork is created from my personal photo library.
Thank you for being a part of my mission.
