Tales from a Life in the Field with George Schaller

“The world has so much beautiful wildlife that people need to enjoy, treasure, and respect. It’s part of all of our lives, and we need to get back into nature. Get out of noisy cities, away from computers, and just go out and listen, look, and smell the surroundings. You start thinking, shouldn’t we protect this? We are part of nature, and people tend to forget that. We need a reminder that nature is beautiful. You can get joy and satisfaction; it reaches your heart if you have an open mind.” – George Schaller

Dr. George Schaller is often called the father of modern field biology, having explored the wilderness of the world since 1952. A legendary scientist and master biographer of the planet’s most charismatic species, he has conducted extensive field research with gorillas in the Congo, giant pandas in China, lions in the Serengeti, tigers in India, snow leopards in the Dolpo region, and jaguars in the Pantanal of Brazil. George’s work has led to the creation of more than 20 parks and reserves worldwide, including the Chang Tang National Reserve that protects nearly 130,000 square miles of Tibetan wilderness, and he has inspired generations of field biologists and conservationists.

In May 2024, George told stories from his remarkable career during this presentation at the Reid Park Zoo in Tucson, Arizona. He shared his passion for and dedication to protecting wildlife across the globe and in showing kindness to all living beings. The event was co-sponsored by The Rewilding Institute and Conservation CATalyst, and part of the Reid Park Zoo’s Conservation Connections series.

Learn more about his life and work here. Video by Leslie Ann Epperson.

George Schaller with Cuenca los Ojos founder Valer Clark on his Borderland Jaguar Road Trip © Beth Wald

Megan "Turtle" Southern

Before joining The Rewilding Institute, Turtle was the coordinator of the Northern Jaguar Project, where she provided programmatic, fundraising, and administrative leadership. During her 15 years with NJP, she helped to establish and grow the 58,000-acre Northern Jaguar Reserve in Sonora, Mexico, organized scientific research projects and conservation education among youth, and worked extensively with ranchers to promote coexistence with felines and other wildlife.