Birthday: April 3, 1934
Who is Jane Goodall?
Jane Goodall is formerly known as Baroness Jane Lawick-Goodall, an English anthropologist and primatologist, and considered the world’s leading expert on the study of chimpanzees. She is also famous for her sixty-year research about forest chimpanzees' family and social interactions since her first visit to National Park Gombe Stream in Tanzania during the year 1960.
Jane Goodall is also the founder of the Shoots and Roots program and the Jane Goodall Institute. She had worked hard on animal welfare and conservation while trying to alleviate environmental issues that negatively impact their existence.
She had served the project of nonhuman rights as a board member during its 1996 founding. In 2002, Goodall was acknowledged as the UN Peace Messenger and an honorary constituent of Future World Council.
Five Facts About Jane Goodall
- There has been a David Greybeard chimp carving on the bark of Life Tree at the theme park of Disney World Animal Kingdom. Next to the tree is a beautiful plaque to honor the chimp expert, Jane Goodall.
- In 1977, Jane Goodall founded the Goodall Institute.
- In 1962, Jane Goodall took a long break from the forests of Africa so she could earn her degree at Cambridge University.
- Jane Goodall married twice, and she had a child named Hugo.
- She communicates with chimpanzees through calls, sounds, body language, touch, and meaningful facial expressions.
Inspirational Quotes from Jane Goodall
- “There will always many things in the world that are worth fighting for. A lot is beautiful and people have been exerting efforts to reverse harm and alleviate suffering. A lot of young people are dedicated to earning a better place in this world. These truths inspire and give us enlightenment that it will never be too late for people to change things if only we become responsible for our part.”
- “Here are the people, the smartest species that might have ever lived. But how is it possible for them to destroy the planet that we have?”
- “For me, humans’ cruelty can be the worst form of sin. If only we accept the fact that living creatures have feelings, then by contemplating our cruel acts, we would surely be guilty.”
- “I think being empathic is extremely essential and if only our kind heart and smart brain work well together, we can achieve our fullest potential.”
Jane Goodall’s Biography
Early life
Born in London and on the 3rd of April, 1934, Jane Goodall had an innate passion for animals. Her mother was a creative author, and her father was an entrepreneur. Growing up, she dreamt that someday, she might travel to Africa so she could see her most favorite animals.
She always loved to be a forest adventurer as she loved animals so much, particularly chimpanzees. Because she badly wanted to travel to Africa, she aimed to save a lot of money for it during her adolescence and young adulthood. She invested her time and effort to work in different jobs, like being a waitress and secretary.
Education and Career
Jane Goodall actually had no formal education and training when she began her first research about chimpanzees in the year 1960. Her lack of education and experience allowed her to discover her unique ways of data collection and observation. She began recording the behaviors and reactions of chimpanzees in a very systematic approach. When she met Loius Leakey, a British archaeologist, she was offered a job that entails studying chimpanzee behavior.
It is when she went to Tanzania’s Gombe National Park to observe the animal. She spent another 40 years to study chimpanzees further. During those years, she discovered a lot of fascinating facts about not only chimpanzees but also many other animals. Then, in the year 1962, Loius Leaker sent Goodall to Cambridge University since she had no degree at that time. After earning a degree in Cambridge, she also studied at Newnham College and earned an ethology Ph.D.
Discoveries
Jane Goodall learned so much about the nature of chimpanzees. During her extensive research, she was able to gather some relevant discoveries. Jane discovered that chimpanzees use tools like grass to catch and eat termites. She also witnessed a chimpanzee removing leaves from tree twigs to transform them into an instrument.
Jane also knew that chimpanzees are meat lovers. Yes, they hunt other forest animals and eat their meat. They usually hunt with their packs to trap hard to catch preys. Before she discovered this, scientists only thought that chimpanzees are only herbivores.
Awards and Publications
Jane Goodall had written several books and articles that talk about her adventurous experiences throughout her journey with chimpanzees. These publications include Forty Years in Gombe, The Chimpanzees in Gombe, and the Man’s Shadow. She received honors and acknowledgment for her humanitarian and environmental works. She was also named the United States Peace Messenger in 2002.
Jane Goodall won several awards for humanitarian and environmental works, which includes the J. Paul Wildlife Conservations Award, Award for the Living Legacy, Life Science’s Benjamin Medal, and Eco Hero Prize in Disney. There were plenty of documentaries to tribute Jane’s works and accomplishments, including the publication Among the Wild Chimps and Life of the Legend Jane Goodall.
Legacy
Her endless dedication toward her studies paved more way for more researchers to generate new ideas. A lot of scientists nowadays are aiming to support her claims and discoveries. Her publications and documentaries show how purposeful her journey was and how beneficial it is in our present world.