Growls, hisses, and howls echoed through the Carlson Family Theater on the morning of Monday, May 12, but this wasn’t the set of a wildlife documentary. It was the kickoff to an interactive assembly led by National Geographic Explorer and conservation photographer Ronan Donovan, presented as part of the Vital Impacts Student Program.

Donovan, who spoke to both Lower and Middle School students in separate assemblies, invited the audience to tap into their wild side by mimicking animal sounds based on different emotions. The activity broke the ice and introduced a deeper message about our connection to the natural world and what we can learn from other social mammals.

A wildlife biologist turned filmmaker and photographer, Donovan shared his personal journey–from studying chimpanzees in Uganda to capturing breathtaking stories for National Geographic Magazine, Disney+, and the BBC’s Planet Earth 3. Through vivid imagery and powerful storytelling, he transported students to remote corners of the world where he has spent months at a time living alongside wolves, mountain gorillas, and chimpanzees.

“Territorial social apes are extremely similar to us. They have culture, they have language, hierarchy, politics, and they use tools. All of these things that we thought uniquely were us, but these exist in the natural world as well,” Donovan explained.

Donovan’s photos and film clips were not only captivating but also offered insight into social behavior, communication, and the strong bonds animals form in their communities. He reminded students that we, too, are social mammals, and by learning from the lives of other species, we can better understand our own.

If you're curious to see more of his work, Donovan’s photo exhibition Wolves is currently on display at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County–a powerful continuation of the stories and lessons he brought to campus.