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| Source: National Geographic |
Dr. Jane Goodall is a British primatologist, anthropologist,
conservationist, and UN Messenger of Peace. Jane has extensively researched
chimpanzees, lectured at several large universities between 1971-2002, has
written several books for adults and children, and is a recipient of numerous
awards on her work. She received a Ph.D. in Ethology at Cambridge University in
1966. Jane got into Cambridge University without getting a bachelor’s degree first
with the help of Louis Leakey. Before he got her into Cambridge, Louis Leakey sent
her to the Gombe Stream National Park at Tanzania in 1960, where Jane lived among
and studied wild chimpanzees.
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| Source: National Geographic |
Jane observed the behavior and won the trust of the once
little-understood chimpanzees. One of Jane's discoveries was that chimpanzees eat
meat, where they were first thought to be vegetarians. Additionally, Jane observed
that chimpanzees makes and uses tools. She observed chimps constructing a
fishing tool out of a palm frond and using it to fish out termites in a termite
mound. “Up until that point, anthropologists saw tool-making as a defining
trait of mankind. When Jane wrote Louis Leakey of her discovery, he replied: ‘Now
we must redefine ‘tool,’ redefine ‘man’ or accept chimpanzees as humans’”
(JGI). Jane, also, found that chimpanzees are, as Jane said, “just as awful” as
humans. While she observed them, there was a war that broke out between two
groups of chimps, the Kasakela and Kahama males, which was started by the Kasakela
males. “Their strategy was simple: hunt
the enemy down, one at a time, attack them brutally, and leave them to die of
their wounds. Within four years, they eliminated all seven Kahama males and at
least one of the females” (JGI). These were just a few of her many discoveries
while studying the chimpanzees. She continued in the field until 1986, right after she published her scientific book titled The Chimpanzees of Gombe.
Jane founded the Jane Goodall Institute in 1977. It is an international
nonprofit that builds on Jane’s research and humanitarian work to make a
difference for all living things, especially the famous chimpanzees at Gombe.
Jane is still advocating for the welfare and conservation of endangered species. As the Jane
Goodall Institute’s website says, “Today, Jane’s work revolves around inspiring
action on behalf of endangered species, particularly chimpanzees, and
encouraging people to do their part to make the world a better place for
people, animals, and the environment we all share.” She presents public lectures
and inspires students all over the world, as well as meets with governments
about conservation issues. Jane developed important programs in Africa at the Jane
Goodall Institute to protect the environment, species, and people. One program
is the Roots and Shoots program, which is a “youth-led community action and
learning program” where young people in a community generate resolutions for huge
challenges (JGI).
For more information about Jane Goodall and the Jane Goodall
Institute, please visit the Jane Goodall Institute website.
References
The Jane Goodall Institute. Retrieved June 24, 2014, from http://www.janegoodall.org/
Kayla,
ReplyDeleteI thought your profile of Jane Goodall was a good read. Jane Goodall has the perfect name for the work that she has done in the preservation of species. Her selfless desire to understand animals and the fact that she worked so closely with chimpanzees to understand their behavior is an inspiration to people that given the desire to learn about something, there should be no limit set in attaining such a goal. Without the inspiration and dedication of people such as Jane, there would be less desire to protect species and we would likely be on a much quicker path toward the destruction of habitats.
I had no idea that this kind of information on chimps was only discovered in the 60's, I figured we had known that they eat meat and use tools like humans for quite a while now. Nonetheless, I find it really interesting how many traits are shared between humans and chimps. It makes me wonder how closely related we actually are.
ReplyDeleteThat’s pretty amazing what Jane was able to accomplish! It’s always amazing to read how humans can coexist on such an intamiate level with wild animals. I also never knew that chimps would eat meat! That’s pretty interesting. Stories like this always remind me of when I went to zoo camp as a child. When they received new tiger cubs the trainers would actually take them home to take care of them. They made a bound that lasted for a while; however, ultimately they had to separate themselves due to the tigers becoming too large. It’s still an awesome story to hear about how people can integrate themselves with wild animals!
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