Join us for a special screening of the short documentary BEAR GUARDIANS, directed by Explorers Club fellow Mariah Wilson, followed by a panel discussion on sun and moon bears and the vital work of wildlife rescue.
BEAR GUARDIANS offers an intimate portrait of a father-daughter team in Cambodia dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating endangered sun and moon bears. The film follows their journey caring for two bears who lost limbs to snare traps—shedding light on the emotional bonds between humans and animals, and the devastating impact of these traps on forest ecosystems.
After the screening, stay for a conversation with director Mariah Wilson, international wildlife veterinarian Dr. Hollis Stewart—whose conservation medicine work has taken her around the world—and bear biologist Zachary David, who studies sun and moon bear behavior in Southeast Asia.
This in-person event at the Explorers Club Headquarters will include an audience Q&A.
RESERVATIONS
This will be an in-person lecture at Explorers Club Headquarters.
In-person tickets are $20 for Members, and $35 for the General Public.
Check-in will begin at 6:00 pm, with a beer and wine reception from 6:00 – 7:00 pm
Mariah Wilson
Mariah Wilson is an Emmy-winning documentary producer and director with a focus on wildlife conservation whose work has taken her to six continents. She has produced content for PBS, Amazon, Netflix, National Geographic, Vice, A&E, Al Jazeera, History, Mongabay, Discovery, and more. Her work has been shown at Telluride Film Festival, AFI, SXSW, IDFA, Big Sky, DOC NYC, Santa Barbara, Woodstock, Mill Valley, Jackson Wild and has been supported by Sundance Doc Fund and Rogovy Foundation. Mariah is passionate about illuminating the myriad intersections between humans and animals, and celebrating those dedicated to protecting wildlife. She is a proud Jackson Wild Summit Fellow (2021) and Explorer’s Club Fellow. More at: www.mariahewilson.com
Hollis Stewart
Dr. Hollis Stewart is an international wildlife veterinarian with a deep passion for animals, conservation, and all things wild. A veterinary nomad, she has traveled the globe working with a number of the planet’s most endangered species. She is most comfortable with dirt under her nails and a dog by her side, while sleeping under the stars. More about Doc Hollis at: https://www.dochollis.com/
Zack David
Dr. Zachary David graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2016 with a BSc in Biology and recently completed his PhD in Ecological Sciences at Old Dominion University, studying the physiology of sun bears and Asiatic black bears at Free the Bears (FTB) sanctuaries. He has previously conducted research on a wide variety of taxa, including giant pandas, northern spotted owls, marsh rice rats, brown bats, and greater sage-grouse. Dr. David is currently the Research Programme Manager for FTB, overseeing all research and related collaborations conducted at FTB sanctuaries. Dr. David strongly supports FTB’s mission to protect, preserve, and enrich the lives of bears, and is committed to using both in-situ and ex-situ research to improve animal welfare and support the long-term conservation of bears worldwide.
