Ecological Thinkers and Activists

Who is Jane Goodall?

Jane Goodall was born on April 3, 1934, in London, England. Goodall’s fascination with animals began in childhood due to her early exposure to nature. This would later go on to cement her career in nature and wildlife. Although she did not have access to high education early in her life. Her knowledge, curiosity and passion gave her what she needed in order to become the person we know today. As an adult, Goodall took a journey to Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania. Although she did not have much formal training in primatology. She decided to begin her study of the chimpanzees in this are with remote rainforests. Her methods which were dubbed unconventional and caused scrutiny back then included but was not limited to living among the animals and closely observing their behavior. This allowed her to gather unique and profound insights into their lives as she got to see and observe them in their natural habitat. Goodall’s discoveries at Gombe led to several groundbreaking theories. One of her most notable contributions was being able to identify that chimpanzees use tools in their daily lives. An example being sticks, to extract termites from mounds. Her discovery at the time challenged the prevalent idea that tool use was one of the defining characteristic of human beings. While in Gombe, Goodall also observed complex social behaviors from the chimpanzees. This included but was not limited to expressions of empathy, alliances, and even warfare among the various chimpanzees and their communities. This discovery of hers furthered our understanding of chimpanzees intelligence and emotional depth which we now are aware of thanks to Goodall. Aside from her scientific research, Jane became and still is an extremely passionate advocate for conservation and animal welfare.  She founded the Jane Goodall Institute, which among other priorities has a focus on wildlife research, conservation, and educating the public. The Institute’s Roots & Shoots program is one that was created in order to empower young people globally to engage in local and international community service. Goodall’s advocacy efforts have extend to numerous global issues. With an emphasis on the importance of sustainable living and the interconnectedness of all species including humans in nature. From the start of her career till now, Goodall has received numerous awards and accolades for her work. Some examples being the Kyoto Prize in Basic Sciences and her being named a UN Messenger of Peace. Her autobiography, titled “In the Shadow of Man,” and her other writings have inspired countless individuals across the globe to pursue careers in science and conservation. Jane Goodall’s legacy is one of extreme immense impact on both science and conservation. Her groundbreaking work has not only educated us and enriched our understanding of primates. But, has also inspired many global efforts to protect the environment and wildlife. Goodall remains a life long advocate for a peaceful coexistence between humans and nature.

Relevant links Jane Goodall: 

https://janegoodall.ca 

https://janegoodall.org 

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