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 http://ted.com/tedx