Technologist and TED Fellow Gautam Shah invites us to imagine how the metaverse could redefine the relationships between humans and other species. By giving individual wild animals a personal identity (such as Fio, a young orangutan in Borneo, or Mweituria, an elephant living in Kenya) and sharing data on their migration, milestones and habitats, Shah thinks we could empathize with wildlife in a whole new way. Learn more about how emerging technology could bring us closer to the natural world -- and what the connections we build there could mean for the future of the planet.

Gautam Shah: Can the metaverse bring us closer to wildlife?

Can the metaverse bring us closer to wildlife?

Virtual environments could transform how we connect with wildlife, making conservation an immersive, participatory experience.

Monetizing virtual interactions with wildlife may fund science and habitat protection, blurring lines between digital and real.

Exploring digital identities for wildlife in the metaverse could forge emotional bonds, aiding global conservation efforts.