WHO IS JANE GOODALL? ALL ABOUT THE WOMAN WHO LIVED WITH CHIMPS

Who is Jane Goodall? Learn all about this anthropologist

From childhood, Jane Goodall discovered her passion for nature, and despite being over 80 years old today, she remains a passionate advocate for its protection and conservation.

With more than half a century of experience under her belt, she has managed to revolutionize our perception of chimpanzees and has forced us to rethink the concept of what it means to be human. Goodall points directly to our species as responsible for the degradation of the planet and the loss of biodiversity.

 

Jane Goodall and nature

Jane Goodall, born in 1934 in the city of London, grew up in an environment surrounded by animals, which awakened in her an immense love for nature from an early age. In fact, her first encounter with chimpanzees was completely fortuitous when, at the tender age of 2, she received a stuffed animal of this species as a gift. At that time, he did not yet know that this innocent toy would mark his destiny in a significant way.

His favorite books at the time were Tarzan and The Jungle Book, and he dreamed of being able to write his own animal stories someday.

Driven by her ambition, Jane Goodall decided to embark on an adventure to Mombasa, Kenya, at the age of just 22. It was here that she had the opportunity to meet renowned anthropologist Louis Leakey, who quickly recognized Goodall’s potential and decided to involve her in a groundbreaking study of a group of wild chimpanzees. What was initially planned as a six-month investigation has spanned more than 60 years to the present day.

The goal of this project was to understand the behavior of a group of chimpanzees inhabiting the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika, a remote region that offered countless opportunities for discovery. This idea excited Jane Goodall, who did not hesitate for a moment to head for that place, where she pitched her tent in the middle of the jungle and began her research.

First Steps

The first days of the study were marked by the chimpanzees’ rejection of human presence in their natural habitat. As time went by, the animals began to adapt to Jane Goodall’s presence, which gave her the opportunity to obtain the first results of her research.

Goodall’s exhaustive research and rigorous approach revolutionized the scientific community. She succeeded in shedding light on a world that until then was completely unknown and wild. Her studies revealed valuable information about the social structure of chimpanzees, their foraging patterns, hunting and warfare between primate groups.

One of Goodall’s most significant discoveries was observing how chimpanzees made and used tools. He found that they broke thin branches from trees, removed the leaves and used them to obtain food from termite mounds. This finding challenged the previous belief that chimpanzees were exclusively herbivorous animals, revealing their omnivorous nature, similar to that of humans.

As time went on, Goodall’s findings became crucially important in generating awareness and empathy for the importance of protecting animals and their ecosystems.

Through her talks and lectures, Goodall invites us to reflect on our actions and transform them towards more biodiversity-friendly practices, with the aim of building more sustainable societies. Her work constantly reminds us of the importance of living in harmony with nature and protecting it for future generations.

APPS TO HELP THE ENVIRONMENT: TECHNOLOGY AND SUSTAINABILITY📱

Jane Goodall, A Woman Scientist

 

In 1965, Jane Goodall was awarded an honorary doctorate in ethology, the science that studies animal behavior. However, this important academic achievement was met with skepticism from her male colleagues in the scientific world.

That same year, her first article was published on the cover of National Geographic, which marked the beginning of greater exposure for her work due to the relevance of her research. This led to Goodall’s work gaining more exposure than that of her mentor, Louis Leakey. Although Leakey recognized the value of Jane’s work, he knew that she needed an academic degree to be taken seriously in the scientific community. He therefore convinced several professors of Goodall’s worth and supported her to pursue a Ph.D. at Cambridge University.

In 1965, she finally obtained her honorary doctorate in ethology, despite the doubts and skepticism she faced in the scientific world. However, she had full confidence in her contributions and demonstrated it in her writings. Goodall, a woman with no formal credentials at the time, revolutionized the field of biology and has become one of the most influential scientists of the 21st century.

Beginning in 1986, Jane Goodall became actively involved in environmental activism to raise awareness of the urgent need to change our relationship with the natural environment and its ecosystems.

Throughout her career, Goodall has written more than 26 books, published seventy articles and participated in numerous films that have provided a new perspective on animal behavior and contributed to our understanding of the environment. Her extensive and rigorous work has led her to receive honorary doctoral degrees from 45 universities around the world.

Today, despite her advanced age, Jane Goodall continues to be an active figure through her “Roots & Shoots” program, which aims to promote social and environmental improvement actions among thousands of young people in more than 138 countries.

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