TED talks are a great way to learn about a whole range of topics, including wildlife conservation, so we’ve listed out the top 10 TED talks we’ve seen about conservation. Click on any talk title and you'll be taken to the TED website so you can watch them all yourself!
How citizen scientists can help save the monarch butterfly, a call to action for everyone to get involved, no need for a PhD!
A TED fellow describes his efforts to save the Okavango Delta from development, making an impassioned call for the value of wilderness as fundamental to what it is to be human, and how their work will provide water security for millions of people downstream.
We love community conservation, so this is a great talk from a woman who studied the life of Cecil the Lion until he was shot, and asks if the result would have been different if the community were more involved in his protection. She shows why it is so important to involve local people in conservation and ensure those who live close to wildlife have the same chances to see them as those who fly in on safaris.
We love to see a positive spin on problems, and Noah delivers this with bees, focusing not on where they are struggling, but finding out where they are thriving and seeing how those conditions can be replicated to keep these hugely important pollinators safe and well so they can thrive.
There are many examples of where former poachers have become wildlife protectors, it’s a great way to make conservation work, and this talk shares experiences from Namibia to provide a great, real-life example.
This talk is not directly about conservation, but it’s hugely useful for anyone interested in how to stop the Illegal Wildlife Trade, given the importance of communication and getting people to stop buying IWT products and start buying ethical alternatives – the Prussian potato example is a classic!
A great reminder of how important and hugely valuable and insightful local knowledge is. In everything from development to conservation, outsiders often think we have the answers because we’ve read lots of books, but the real knowledge is held locally, and we need to build trust and listen to find it.
Elephants are amazing and this talk explains why – a must watch!
This is a classic example of a simple solution to keep predators away from livestock, which not only helps local communities and their livestock stay safe, but also stops lions being attacked by people trying to protect their livelihood.
It had to be No.1! Rich came across this idea almost ten years ago and has been spreading the word ever since, so it’s fantastic Dr King has got the platform to share this idea with the world, it’s a great way to help both people and elephants. We want to get some of that honey for our porridge!