A Conversation with Azi Sharif, Founder of Wildlife Jewels

The Children's Pool in La Jolla. Photo by Lauren Koenig.

By Lauren Koenig

I met Azi Sharif this past May at the Children's Pool in La Jolla, California — a spot originally built as a safe place for children to swim, now a popular refuge for seals and sea lions instead. Even with beachgoers and tourists all around, Sharif was completely focused, writing notes and carefully observing a colony of nesting gulls on the sand and in the rocks nearby. It's rare for wildlife and people to share ground this closely, but this stretch of coast depends on that coexistence working out for everyone.

Left: Harbor seals resting at the Children's Pool beach in La Jolla, California. Photo by Lauren Koenig. Center: Azi Sharif. Photo courtesy of Wildlife Jewels®. Right: Protected gull nests being monitored by  Wildlife Jewels®. Photo by Lauren Koenig.

Sharif is the founder of Wildlife Jewels®, a Southern California-based conservation nonprofit that grew out of a wildlife art collection she started in 2014. Her academic path spans art, computer science, and applied sciences, but as she puts it, it has "always been connected by one lifelong source of inspiration: wildlife."

Sharif started sketching animals around age four, drawn not just to their beauty but to their intelligence, behaviors, and the ways they adapt to their environments — art, she says, became "my first language for expressing the wonder I felt toward them." That passion led her first to a BA in Fine Arts, then an MS in Computer Science, then a PhD in Applied Sciences — three disciplines she describes as “connected chapters.”
​
Fine art taught her to look closely and turn what she saw into something people could feel. "As I continued my education," she says, "I became increasingly curious about the science behind what I was observing." That curiosity drew her to computer science, where she studied how swarm intelligence and other natural systems could inspire artificial intelligence and robotics, and showed her that complex, coordinated outcomes can emerge from simple, instinctive behavior at the individual level. Her doctoral work in Applied Sciences, with a focus on systems engineering and technology management, taught her how to move ideas from concept to implementation.

Wildlife Jewels®, she says, is what happens when all of it comes together: "I believe some of the strongest solutions emerge when disciplines work together rather than remaining in separate lanes."
​
Below, Sharif talks about the origins of Wildlife Jewels, the individual animals behind her art, what a week of fieldwork actually looks like, and her advice for students who don't feel like they fit into just one lane.

A California gull carries charcoal in its bill. Photo by Azi Sharif, courtesy of Wildlife Jewels®.

---

Wildlife Jewels has roots going back to 2014. What was the path from that early art-based initiative to the conservation nonprofit it is today?

Wildlife Jewels grew from my lifelong passion for wildlife and from a belief I have carried since childhood: wildlife alive and living freely in their natural habitats is more precious than any jewel.

That belief is why I founded and named the Wildlife Jewels® Collection in 2014. To me, the animals themselves are the true jewels of our planet — living, irreplaceable treasures whose value cannot be measured. This became the heart of the collection and our central message: Wildlife Are The Jewels®.

The collection debuted publicly in a Laguna Beach gallery in 2015, initially featuring Birds-of-Paradise and a peacock. The exhibition celebrated their extraordinary beauty while also drawing attention to the human-caused threats wildlife face. The collection soon expanded to include species such as the Persian cheetah, rhinoceros, pangolin, seabirds, and many other animals. In 2016, I began translating the artwork into fine art fashion and wearable designs. The collections appeared in exhibitions and fashion presentations across the United States, including a showcase at Harvard University.

Over time, the storytelling became increasingly connected to individual animals I had encountered through field observations, rescue situations, rehabilitation organizations, and sanctuary visits. Eventually, I realized awareness alone was not enough. Wildlife was facing growing, immediate, and often preventable threats, and I wanted Wildlife Jewels® to move from inspiring concern to taking direct action.

That vision led to the establishment of Wildlife Jewels® as a U.S.-registered 501(c)(3) public charity in 2023. Based in Solana Beach and Corona del Mar, California, the organization now works locally and globally through wildlife monitoring and response, rescue, education, community programs, conservation art, technology, field documentation, collaboration, and advocacy. Wildlife Jewels® has received Congressional recognition and recently became a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Joining IUCN allows us to bring our conservation, rescue, education, arts, and community-based approach into a global network working to protect nature.

What began as an art collection has become a conservation organization, but the belief behind the name has never changed: the animals themselves are the jewels, and they deserve far more than admiration—they deserve protection.​

---

Every animal in your collection has a gemstone-inspired name — Gray Sapphire the Gull, Pink Tourmaline the Pelican, Turquoise the Persian Cheetah. Can you tell us the story behind one of them, and why you name each individual animal rather than presenting them simply as a species?

Human beings have always treasured diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, and other rare stones. To me, the greatest treasures on Earth are living animals and the natural places they depend upon. A pelican flying over the ocean or a tiny pollinator sustaining an ecosystem is more valuable and irreplaceable than anything we could ever own.

Rather than presenting an artwork as simply "a gull" or "a pelican," I wanted people to meet an individual. Giving each animal a name creates a more personal connection — it encourages viewers to look beyond the species label and recognize that every animal is an individual life with its own behaviors, experiences, relationships, and place in the natural world. This philosophy extends beyond the most recognizable wildlife, too. Amphibians, reptiles, fish, insects, and pollinators are all part of our irreplaceable natural heritage, each playing an essential role in the ecosystems that sustain life.

The gemstone names also became a storytelling bridge between art and conservation. Someone may first be drawn to a piece because of its colors, design, or beauty, but then discover the animal’s story, learn about the threats the species faces, and understand why its protection matters.

One collection especially close to my heart is Pink Tourmaline the Pelican. I met her during a visit to a bird rehabilitation center. She had suffered a serious wing injury after becoming entangled in fishing hook and line and was undergoing physical therapy. Seeing her so close — vulnerable, injured, yet still fighting to recover — left a lasting impression on me. She was no longer simply a Brown Pelican or a representative of a species. She was an individual with her own story, struggle, and chance at survival. I named her Pink Tourmaline to reflect her beauty, resilience, and value.

Sadly, her story is not unique. During our coastal surveys and rescue work today, we regularly encounter Brown Pelicans and other seabirds suffering from fishing-hook injuries, entanglement in discarded line, pollution, and other human-caused threats.
​
For me, the artwork and conservation work are inseparable. Wildlife inspires the art, the art helps people connect emotionally, and that connection can lead to action—supporting rehabilitation, reducing preventable threats, volunteering, or advocating for stronger protections. That is what I want every Wildlife Jewels® collection to accomplish: not simply celebrate an animal's beauty, but honor its life and inspire people to protect the next animal in need.

Sharif helps rescue a pelican off the coast of California. Photo courtesy of Wildlife Jewels®.

---

You were wearing one of your own designs when we met at the Children's Pool — what do you want someone to feel when they put on a piece like that?

When someone wears or displays a Wildlife Jewels® piece, I want them to feel connected to that animal. I want them to experience its beauty, resilience, and value—and to understand that wildlife is not anonymous or interchangeable. Every animal has its own experiences, behaviors, relationships, and place in the natural world.

The designs are meant to become a voice for wildlife. A dress, scarf, accessory, greeting card, or fine art piece can begin a conversation about an animal who was rescued, a species facing human-caused threats, or a habitat that needs protection.
​
When I wear my designs in the field, it brings the full Wildlife Jewels® story together. The animal inspiring the artwork is connected to the wildlife we are observing and protecting in that moment. The art is not separate from the conservation work—it is another way of carrying the animal’s story into the world.

Also a fashion designer, Sharif uses clothing to advocate for wildlife, taking her designs from day to night.  Photos courtesy of Wildlife Jewels®.

---

Your doctoral research explored bio-inspired robotics. Was there something you discovered about animal behavior that genuinely surprised you?

I was especially fascinated by swarm intelligence, stigmergy, emergence, and ant colony optimization. Ant colonies are a powerful example because no single ant directs the entire group. Each ant follows relatively simple behavioral rules and communicates indirectly through environmental signals such as pheromone trails. Yet collectively, the colony can find efficient routes, allocate resources, adapt to changing conditions, and solve complex problems.

These natural behaviors have inspired optimization methods used in artificial intelligence, robotics, logistics, transportation, and autonomous systems. I was also interested in the coordinated movement of birds and the ways wildlife navigates changing environments while conserving energy and responding to the behavior of others.

What surprised me most was how much intelligence and resilience can emerge without centralized control. Nature shows us that highly effective systems do not always depend on one leader making every decision. They can arise through cooperation, responsiveness, and many small contributions working together.
​
That lesson continues to influence how I think about conservation. A volunteer documenting an injured bird, a scientist studying a population, a rehabilitator treating an animal, an artist inspiring public concern, and a policymaker improving protections may each contribute something different. Together, those efforts can create lifesaving change.
​
Wildlife Jewels reflects that same principle: every observation and contribution matters, and collaboration can produce an impact far greater than any one person or discipline could achieve alone.

---

Wildlife Jewels covers a lot of ground — monitoring programs, a rescue crew, school and community education, and a collection you still design and produce yourself. What does a typical week look like for you, and what are you focused on right now?

No two weeks are ever the same, and that is one of the things I love most about Wildlife Jewels.

One day I may be leading a community wildlife art program, beach cleanup, or wildlife walk; another day I may be conducting coastal wildlife surveys, supporting seabird rescue efforts from Orange County to San Diego County, meeting with government agencies about wildlife protection, designing a new collection, training volunteers, or coordinating with wildlife rehabilitation organizations.

Right now, much of my fieldwork is focused on Southern California's coastal wildlife, particularly Brown Pelicans, Double-crested and Brandt's Cormorants, Western Gulls, Heermann's Gulls, Ring-billed Gulls, Elegant Terns, California Least Terns, Ospreys, Harbor Seals, and California Sea Lions.

This nesting season has been especially busy — we've been monitoring nesting birds, documenting human-caused disturbance, responding to reports of entangled seabirds, and developing site-specific protection proposals.

The more closely we monitor, the more problems we find that might otherwise go unnoticed: fishing-line entanglements, nesting disturbance, injured animals unable to reach safe resting areas, and gaps in emergency response.
​
Meanwhile, we're expanding our conservation arts and education programs. One initiative I'm especially excited about is The Art of Newport Beach Wildlife, a collaborative community arts series supported by a City of Newport Beach Cultural Arts Grant. Participants don't simply paint wildlife-inspired artwork — they discover the stories of Newport Beach's marine wildlife, coastal birds, pollinators, and native plants, and learn how they can help protect them. Watching children, adults, and families connect with wildlife through creativity has been incredibly rewarding.

Sharif guides a group along the coast, pointing out wildlife and sharing her expertise. Photo courtesy of Wildlife Jewels®.

---

Two of your flagship programs, EYES® and the Wildlife Jewels® Rescue Crew, are very hands-on. What does participating look like?

EYES® and the Wildlife Jewels® Rescue Crew were created because I wanted conservation to be something people could actively participate in rather than simply read about.

EYES® is our wildlife monitoring, observation, and documentation program. Volunteers learn how to responsibly observe wildlife, record what they see, recognize human-caused threats, and collect meaningful field information that can support rescue, public education, and long-term conservation planning.

The Rescue Crew builds on that foundation. Through Search Scout surveys, trained volunteers systematically search coastal areas for wildlife in distress. Depending on their training and authorization, they may support observation, documentation, containment, transport, and coordination with permitted rehabilitation organizations. A single observation can lead to an injured bird being rescued, a banded animal's post-release survival being documented, a nesting area receiving protection, or evidence being collected to support policy change.

As these programs grow, I envision a well-trained network of compassionate community members who become the eyes of wildlife along the coast. People from different backgrounds—students, scientists, artists, photographers, educators, technologists, and concerned residents—can all contribute valuable skills.
​
Conservation does not belong only to wildlife professionals. Communities can play an essential role when people are trained to observe carefully, document responsibly, report quickly, and work within established rescue and agency protocols.

Sharif presents information about the Wildlife Jewels® Rescue Crew. Photo courtesy of Wildlife Jewels®.

---

What are the best ways for someone to get involved right now, whether they're in Southern California or looking to support the work from a distance?

There are many ways to get involved, and I believe everyone has something valuable to contribute.

For those in Southern California, volunteers can join community outreach, wildlife walks, beach cleanups, and the Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew. Depending on their interests and training, they may help document wildlife, conduct field surveys, and support rescue and transport efforts.
​
For people outside Southern California, or those who prefer to help remotely, we have many behind-the-scenes opportunities. Volunteers can support data analysis, research, educational content, communications, and fundraising. People can also help by sharing our educational content, contributing financially, or supporting the Wildlife Jewels® Collections. Whether someone is an artist, scientist, educator, student, or writer, there is a place for them to make a difference.

A sign posted by Wildlife Jewels® teaches curious members of the public about nesting gulls at the Children's Pool in La Jolla, California. Photo by Lauren Koenig.

---

Running a nonprofit that involves original creative work, fieldwork, and community building is demanding. What's been the most challenging part of building Wildlife Jewels, and what keeps you going on the difficult days?

One of the greatest lessons I have learned is that the more we look, the more we see.

As Wildlife Jewels has grown, we have spent more time in the field observing wildlife. The more closely we look, the more human-caused threats we discover that often go unnoticed—entangled birds and marine mammals, injured animals, wildlife harassment and disturbance, nesting failures, habitat degradation, pollution, and countless situations where an animal simply needs someone to notice and care.

It can be emotionally challenging because once you see those problems, you cannot unsee them. Every field survey reminds me how much more there is to do.

Meanwhile, the more we look, the more opportunities we have to help.
​
To me, conservation is not only about protecting populations or ecosystems. It is also about individual lives.
On the difficult days, I remind myself that helping even one animal is invaluable. Every rescue, observation, and person inspired to care can create a ripple effect far beyond what we may ever see. Wildlife cannot ask for our help—they depend on us to notice.

An Elegant Tern (left) and two Brandt's cormorants (right). Photos by Azi Sharif, courtesy of Wildlife Jewels®.

---

Your career crosses disciplines in a way that doesn't fit any single traditional track. For students who feel like they don't fit neatly into one lane, or aren't sure science and art can coexist in their own career, what would you want them to hear?

I would tell them to pursue the cause they care most deeply about, and think about who — or what — they hope to help. Let that purpose guide the skills they build and the path they create.

Throughout history, some of the greatest innovators have embraced both art and science. Leonardo da Vinci is a wonderful example. His curiosity knew no boundaries—he observed nature as both an artist and a scientist, recognizing that creativity and discovery strengthen one another.

I believe the same is true today. Art inspires people to care. Science helps us understand the world. Technology gives us new tools to solve problems. Education helps us share knowledge. Conservation needs every one of these perspectives.

Your path does not have to look like anyone else's. Stay curious, continue learning, and do not be afraid to build something uniquely your own. Often, the qualities that make your path unconventional become your greatest strength.
​
Most importantly, let your purpose guide your education and career — not the limitations of a traditional job title or single academic lane.

---

Looking ahead, what's next for Wildlife Jewels®?

We are just getting started.

We're training more volunteers, strengthening partnerships with wildlife rehabilitation organizations, scientists, and government agencies, and developing new ways to combine fieldwork, data, technology, and the arts to protect wildlife more effectively.

As a new member of the IUCN, Wildlife Jewels® is also entering an important stage of global growth. While our direct field and rescue work is currently rooted in Southern California, our mission extends to wildlife everywhere.

Wildlife has inspired humanity for thousands of years. Animals and natural systems have shaped our art, science, engineering, and countless innovations. Many things we use and benefit from today were made possible because someone first observed and learned from wildlife. Yet the extraordinary animals that continue to inspire us are increasingly being injured, displaced, and pushed toward extinction. I believe we have both the privilege and the responsibility to protect the animals and habitats from which humanity has learned and benefited so much.

That is the vision behind Wildlife Jewels and the message that guides everything we do: Wildlife living freely in their natural habitats is more precious than any jewel. That belief inspired the founding of Wildlife Jewels® and continues to guide everything we do.
​
Wildlife Are The Jewels®.

Cormorants, pelicans, and sea lions on the coast of La Jolla, California at sunset. Photo by Lauren Koenig.

Lauren Koenig

Lauren Koenig is Editor-in-Chief of the Scientista Foundation and a science writer whose work appears on the Scientista blog and other science news sites. She holds a PhD in biology and works in UX research in academic publishing.