Before a recent Upper School chapel, two students could be overheard chatting. “Who’s leading Chapel today?” asked Student One. “Renee Bumpus,” replied Student Two. “She works at the zoo.”
As Chief Animal Conservation Officer of the Palm Beach Zoo and Conservation Society, Renee Bumpus does technically “work at the zoo,” although a more accurate job description might include researcher, cultural translator, veterinary assistant, land management liaison, international policy advisor, and Emmy-winning documentarian.
Through her 25 years of animal conservation work around the globe, Bumpus is no stranger to harrowing circumstances—from the life-threatening to the species-endangering kind. But while she is fearless and fierce in protecting animals, Bumpus’s warm demeanor and boundless energy are fueled by love. “I grew up loving animals,” Bumpus says. “I just wanted to love and protect them.”
During Chapel, Bumpus spoke to students about “following Love’s path”—a path that has taken her to all corners of the globe and all manner of living situations. Whether she’s the only human for miles, living among her animals’ natural habitat, or she’s bringing together farmers, poachers, conservationists, and governmental heads to produce meaningful political solutions, her radical reliance on love has proven powerful. “I love the Bible verse, ‘Fear thou not, for I am with thee,’ (Isaiah 41:10)” she says. “I have used this so much to help me in settings that could seem like there should be a lot of fear involved.”
That boundless energy and cooperative spirit has blessed the Principia community in myriad ways. Bumpus has been the trip scholar on multiple Principia Lifelong Learning (PLL) Kenya safaris, and during a whirlwind visit to both campuses last month, her experience and expertise dazzled and delighted groups of all ages.
At the School, she delivered a presentation and gave classroom visits in Lower School, delivered Middle School and Upper School Chapels, even led a student trip to the St. Louis Zoo; at the College, she led a Faith in Action session, Women in STEM luncheon, and career networking reception; and finally enjoyed a special dinner with the Kenya travelers who had been her students and compatriots on PLL trips.
Through it all, Bumpus gave the same care, attention and, yes, patience to the humans that she saves for the animals in her care.
Bumpus’s emphasis on love has also borne tangible results. “I've seen species come back from the brink of extinction,” she says, “because people came together from all over the world.”
Whether she’s working with African governments and poachers to protect elephants or Pacific Northwest loggers and biologists to bring the Vancouver Island Marmot back from the brink of extinction, “the more you bring in everybody, the more successful you will be.” Now that is a path led by love.