Dr.Jane Goodall
(Photo: Michael Neugebauer)
Born in 1934 in London, England, Jane Goodall became interested in animals and Africa very early in life by reading the books of Tarzan and Dr.Doolittle. At the age of 26, she went to Africa at the invitation of the famous anthropologist and paleontologist Dr.Louis Leakey. She began her landmark study of chimpanzee behaviour at the Gombe Stream Chimpanzee Reserve in what is now Tanzania. Jane immersed herself in their habitat, virtually lived with them, and gave them names instead of numbers. She came to understand the chimpanzees not only as a species, but as individuals with personalities, complex minds, emotions, and long-term bonds. Her research findings, most notably her discovery that chimpanzees make and use tools, revolutionized the field of primatology and redefined the relationship between humans and animals.
Jane earned her Ph.D. from the Cambridge University in 1966 and continued her work at Gombe. In 1977, she established the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI), which is still a global leader in the effort to protect chimpanzees and their habitats. The Gombe research is one of the longest-running field studies of any species. JGI has built on the community-based conservation promoted by Jane Goodall. In 1991, Jane founded Roots & Shoots with a group of Tanzanian students. It is a programme that connects more than 150,000 young people in nearly 100 countries, empowering them to take action to make the world a better place for people, animals, and the environment. Jane has also encouraged many women to enter the field of primatology.
Through her numerous books and talks, Jane Goodall has raised the global public awareness of chimpanzees (our closest genetic relatives) and of the need to save them from extinction. She continues to travel around the world speaking to adults and children about the environmental crisis and the threats faced by wildlife.
Jane Goodall is the recipient of numerous awards including the Medal of Tanzania, Japan’s Kyoto Prize, UNESCO 60th Anniversary Medal, and the Gandhi/King Award for Nonviolence. She is also a Dame of the British Empire and the recipient of France’s Legion of Honour. She is also a UN Messenger of Peace. A number of documentaries have been made on her life and work.
Jane Goodall remains hopeful of a better future for all beings. She emphasizes the interconnectedness of all living things and the collective power of individual action. She says, “Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference.” Here are Jane Goodall’s tips for how to better care for our planet:
- Think about the small consequences of the choices you make: What you buy, what you eat, what you wear. Millions of ethical choices will make a huge difference.
- Eat less or preferably no meat.
- Plant a tree or give money for trees to be planted.
Afterword: You can watch Jane Goodall talk about why she thinks animals are not to blame for the current pandemic in this May 2020 interview.
As humans, we are required to be sensitive and ensure that we care for this planet as intelligent custodians. Choices that we make have to be done in such a way that we disturb our environment as little as possible. These are some of the lessons from Jane Godall’s work and what comes out from her interactions on the You Tube. How is it possible to achieve or act to ensure sustainability of the environment and nature? This requires a great deal of sensitivity in our everyday living and practising not to use or consume what we don’t need. Frugal living, I suppose.