Pam Agullo is an activist, advocate, and ambassador who works on wildlife and environmental conservation issues. For the past five years, she has served on the Board of Directors of the El Paso Zoological Society, and as President of the Board for the last two, helping modernize and popularize the Society through social media to improve its fundraising and educational capacities.
While working in wildlife conservation, Pam also hopes to address climate change through her other advocacies. Aside from being crowned Mrs. Texas Earth for 2021, Pam also serves as an ambassador for Trees for the Future, an organization that helps develop and implement sustainable farming in Sub Saharan Africa.
Below, we have an exclusive interview with Pam on why wildlife and environment conservation matter to her, why they should matter to us, and what we can do to help.
How did you become interested in your chosen advocacies? Was there one event you can point to, or was it gradual as you grew up?
Pam Agullo: I became interested in protecting wildlife and the environment at a young age through a chance encounter with a tiny, green frog. I remember gently plucking this frog off a branch one rainy afternoon, intending to take good care of it in a brand-new home. The next morning, I was horrified to discover the same little frog, dull and transparent, almost lifeless.
This encounter left a profound mark on my life — teaching me, at the age of seven, of my power in the world and my connection to wildlife. Although I had good intentions, I unknowingly had the life of that frog in my hands.
What have you done since then for your advocacies? Are there some specific aspects that you’re focusing on?
Agullo: My main work has really been with El Paso Zoological Society, where I use social media to improve our capacity to communicate, educate, raise funds, and create awareness about what zoos actually accomplish.
Misinformation and lack of awareness are the two key factors that hinder engagement and action. This is why I decided to leverage social media as a central piece in my environmental activism. My hope is that by raising awareness, I can spur more people into action toward environmental and wildlife conservation.
What advice can you give someone who is already conscious of the environmental crisis but doesn’t know how to contribute?
Agullo: Step out of the misconception that in order to make a difference you have to make a drastic lifestyle change. Every choice matter, and small, consistent changes are better than nothing. To start, you can choose actions that can help the environment that you can easily incorporate into your life.
You can begin by avoiding single-use plastic, avoiding products with non-sustainable farmed palm oil, and supporting organizations that work toward improving the environment or preserving nature and wildlife.
If you’re interested in learning more and supporting Pam Agullo’s work, you can connect with her on Instagram, @pamgoneglam.
