Natasha Daly

Natasha Daly: Chronicler of Humanity’s Complex Relationship With Animals

We analyze the career of one of National Geographic’s most impactful investigative reporters specializing in animal welfare and conservation ethics.

Career Evolution: From History Major to Animal Advocacy

• 2015-Present: Staff writer/editor at National Geographic, developing specialty in undercover investigations of wildlife exploitation
• 2017 Breakthrough: Exposé on illegal Amazonian wildlife tourism practices led to SEJ’s Outstanding Investigative Reporting honor
• 2019 Pivot: Groundbreaking global investigation into social media’s role in normalizing abusive wildlife tourism

Defining Works: Three Articles That Shaped the Discourse

Suffering Unseen: The Dark Truth Behind Wildlife Tourism

This 18-month investigation across four continents revealed how Instagram-friendly animal encounters mask systemic abuse. Daly’s team used hidden cameras to document:

"The elephant you ride in Thailand was likely broken through phajaan - a torture-based training method where calves are beaten for days in crushing cages."

The article’s viral interactive elements showed before/after social media filters, demonstrating how platforms enable ethical washing. Subsequent policy changes included TripAdvisor banning ticket sales to venues using performing elephants.

COVID-19’s Hidden Toll: When Zoos Became Silent Witnesses

Daly broke the story about big cats contracting COVID-19 at the Bronx Zoo through relentless USDA database monitoring and zoo source cultivation. Her reporting:

• Forced transparency about zoo animal testing protocols
• Sparked debate about zoonotic disease risks in captive settings

Shedding Light On The Dark Reality Of Wildlife Tourism

In this podcast deep dive, Daly explains her investigative methodology: "We had to gain trust slowly - many workers initially defended practices until shown photographic evidence of long-term animal trauma."

Strategic Pitching Guidance

1. Focus on Underreported Animal-Human Intersections

Daly prioritizes stories exposing systemic issues rather than individual abuse cases. Successful pitches should mirror her 2023 investigation into horse roundup policies, which connected mustang management to political lobbying networks [4].

2. Data-Driven Conservation Angles

Her award-winning work combines ethnographic observation with FOIA requests and trade data analysis. A strong pitch might examine exotic pet trade routes using customs seizure statistics and sanctuary intake records.

3. Solutions Journalism With Verification

While exposing problems, Daly seeks credible mitigation strategies. The Wildlife Tourism article highlighted certified ethical sanctuaries, later used by National Geographic Expeditions as vetting criteria.

Awards and Industry Recognition

• 2020 National Press Club’s Ann Cottrell Free Animal Reporting Award: Recognized for advancing global understanding of wildlife exploitation dynamics. The judging panel noted her "unflinching yet nuanced exposure of economic drivers behind animal abuse."
• 2017 SEJ Fund for Environmental Journalism Grant: Supported early career-defining work in Amazonian wildlife tourism investigations, leading to policy changes in three countries.