Wildlife conservation and the art of letting go | Geraldine Morelli | TEDxWandsworth

Africa stole her heart and its wildlife changed her life. Through volunteering in a wildlife rehabilitation centre in South Africa, Geraldine learned how we should treat and respect wild animals, precisely by accepting that they are wild and should not be domesticated even though they fascinate us. Wild animals are facing tough times and we may feel powerless in the face of their fast decline. She tells us how we can help conservationists and organisations on the ground by not interfering in their lives and especially by learning to let go.
Geraldine was born in a small town in the South of France where she grew up by the beach and always had a passion for animals. Geraldine moved to Paris and graduated as an IT Systems Engineer and went on to work as a programmer and web designer. She is currently the Head of Smartphone Marketing at a London-based international telecoms company.
However, it was during a safari holiday to Kenya in 2005 which re-ignited her yearning to work with animals. This led to a three month career break where she volunteered at a primate rehabilitation centre in South Africa and her passion for primates was born. In 2014, Geraldine formed her own animal charity Wild & Free - which supports the rescue, rehabilitation and reintroduction of primates and other wild animals around the world.
Geraldine is married with two young children, a full time job, and manages the charity. She says, ‘There isn’t a dull moment in my life, and I’m happier than ever’.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@saren3115]

Amazing speech! I’m going to school to get a wildlife biology degree:3 I want to help conserve wildlife and help change the world

[@wildfreerehabilitationandr3749]

Thank you very much! And that's really great, well done. If you want to do it, then you will. You probably already are. You can always email me if you want. Best of luck :-)

[@alscritters156]

Nice, I'm a freshmen at UMass and I am majoring in Natural resource conservation, concentrating in wildlife conservation!!!

[@jayesh6233]

Same here I wanna be a wildlife conservationist and marine biologist and will serve to nature for my entire life I am 16 years old and today I am preparing for my ASL in the school I'll be the great support for wild animals ❤️

[@fatinnabilanazaruddin3090]

Wow, this is a very touching presentation of an animal lover. I feel it the same way too.. As an animal lover, it doesnt mean that we have to cuddle, hug and kiss the animal especially wildlife. If we really love them, learn them first. We can volunteer, donate and study about the animal welfare. Thanks for the outstanding presentation! :)

[@geraldinemorelli6700]

Thank you so much for your kind words Fatin. I'm really glad you feel the same way and I have faith more people will too eventually. I also fully agree with you. :-)

[@kosmiksoul]

Take time to stop, observe and listen to this beautiful speech.

[@wildfreerehabilitationandr3749]

Thank you very much for your kind words, really appreciate.

[@suhailkarim9196]

heart touching speech, i found this videos too much later, it full of information, motivational, and effective

[@geraldinemorelli6700]

I only see your comment now but I am really touched by your words, thank you so much. It feels so great to read how you feel about it. :-)

[@dixitchauhan1949]

Such kind of videos helps me to keep on fighting for wild animals .

[@wildfreerehabilitationandr3749]

That's so great to hear, a few years later and I'm still on it too!

[@lindalin5170]

The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribution of man. ----Charles Darwin

[@geraldinemorelli6700]

Indeed. It's great quote and important reminder I think :-)

[@lindalin5170]

I love quote, too. And your speech is thought-provoking.

[@sivasankart.6819]

The best speech on wildlife conservation. Thank you ma'am

[@sakshambhardwaj7114]

I recently watched this video and found very interested and loving it is very good and also the speech was very nice.

[@jvcVlogTV]

I'm a filipino biology teacher , ever dreaming to be a wildlife biologist , but due to financial matters , I could not be one, but I find your speech so beautiful like you ' great sharing of information

[@gersonyamada5366]

Gratitude 🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻

[@wildfreerehabilitationandr3749]

Thank you so much :-)

[@ASprinkleOfRandom]

Absolutely love what you do

[@dr.ankit.manerikar]

Great talk!

[@katinss9983]

In 2005 I worked in the Donana National Park for two months with the Iberian Lynx conservation project which she mentioned.

[@emmavie97]

Congratulations , great and sensible speech...

[@geraldinemorelli6700]

+Alexis Souliman Thank you very much, glad you liked it :-)

[@dmullz100]

Very well done!

[@wildfreerehabilitationandr3749]

Thank you so much!

[@Tom-sr8tw]

Wonderfully presented talk. Completely agree, so many ways to observe wildlife in the correct way (I.e in the wild or on a conservation journey) and learn no matter where you are, that increased accessibility might hold a key to opening more people to conserving wildlife. Also agree safari live and webcams are great tools, also good ways to procrastinate at work :)

[@geraldinemorelli6700]

A late reply from me, sorry! But thank you very much for your comment, it's brilliant to find people connected in the same way about wildlife! Safari live during the great migration is amazing at the moment, hope you follow and enjoy :-)

[@thewildlifechallenge7822]

Great talk! I am trying to do my part as well. Multiple ways.

[@wildfreerehabilitationandr3749]

Thank you very much, and really great to hear. Well done, we need more like-minded individuals in this conservation fight...

[@katelynboyd9211]

those 4 dislikes are from people who can’t let go tbh

[@wildfreerehabilitationandr3749]

Ha ha, thank you you, that made me smile. You may be right here...!

[@stephv1563]

I’ve commented things like “this isn’t good for the animal” on photos on Instagram of people owning tigers and baby monkeys and had people (not the animal owner but just random people also commenting) tell me to shut up. What’s up with that? Why are people so defensive of this?

[@sravanich4224]

I thought it was pheebs at first

[@ExyriaGaming]

I came to the comments to see if anyone else thought the same. lol