A LIFE DEVOTED TO CHIMPANZEES
Dr. Géza Teleki (1943–2014) was a committed guardian of untouched nature. In 1968, he was one of the first to join Jane Goodall in Gombe to help and shape the research going on there. He spent his entire life serving the cause of chimpanzees, defying illness, pressure from lobbyists, and lack of time and money. He always considered the interests of the entire race to be the most important, and advocated this at universities, in his lectures and in his books. He was convinced that in order to save animals and plants, people's emotions must be mobilized. He considered himself a conservationist rather than a scientist.
His greatest achievement was the establishment of Sierra Leone's first national park, Outamba-Kilimi National Park, which is still open to visitors. He devoted five years to this endeavor (1979–1984); along with your health.
He remained an ally of Jane Goodall in the fight against animal testing until the end of his life. And he had a significant role in drawing international attention to the danger of chimpanzees, deploying all means for their protection.
He is a member of the historic Teleki family from Széki, the grandson of Pál Teleki. He was born in Cluj [Cluj in today's Romania], grew up in the United States, but the most important years of his life are connected to Africa. After 63 years, he moved back to his homeland, Hungary.
With: Dr. Jane Goodall
Photo credit: Heather McGiffin Teleki