Jane Goodall, the Chimpanzee's Mother

What animal comes to mind when you think of Jane Goodall? Everyone would say they are chimpanzees. Having lived with chimpanzees tenaciously for more than 40 years as a primatologist, she is considered one of the best research on chimpanzees in the world. Let's find out about Jane Goodall, a true chimpanzee mother who has devoted her whole life to the happiness of chimpanzees?

 

Turning Point of Life

Jane Goodall was born in London, England. She loved animals since she was young. Her dream was to live with animals when she was 10. Was it ever since Jane Goodall was attracted to the charm of animals and nature? After graduating from high school, she became increasingly desperate to protect and preserve the complex relationship between animals that form ecosystems and nature, actions that define various species, and the precious heritage of nature. Then, research on chimpanzees, which she began to meet Dr. Louis Leakey, changed Jane Goodall's life.

So, what is a chimpanzee?

Chimpanzees are genetically closest to humans. They are about 98 percent identical to humans! Chimpanzees are valuable living cultural heritages, which evolved from our common ancestors in the past.

 

Stunning Discovery in Chimpanzee Research

She lived in a chimpanzee habitat in Africa with her mother. Chimpanzees' habitat is home to a variety of environments, ranging from dense rainforests and open savannas. However, it is also a place to constantly cope with unpredictable weather and wildlife hazards.

At first, the chimpanzees did not welcome them. As they are wild animals, they were violent and cautious, so they hid them for a long time. However, Jane Goodall continued to observe and interact with them. They tried to adapt their environment to the chimpanzee's rhythm and respect even their boundaries. This would have been an opportunity for chimpanzees to realize that Jane Goodall is a being who does not harm them and to accept her as a part of their social environment over time. Her true curiosity and patience with the chimpanzee's life were able to melt the chimpanzee's heart.

Interactions and observations with chimpanzees give Jane Goodall a new discovery not seen in previous wildlife research. It was that chimpanzees use tools like humans. This smashed the point of view that distinguishes between animals and humans, "Only humans can use tools." However, Jane Goodall was surprised by the fact that the resources of the tools used vary depending on the characteristics of the living environment, not just the tools. Chimpanzees used sticks to search for insects or termites in hard-to-reach wood gaps, or rocks to break the hard shells of nuts and fruits. In addition, they temporarily made umbrellas with leaves to avoid rain or made bedding to rest.

 It was also found that different communication patterns and social behaviors were present in different chimpanzee communities. This showed that the cultural traditions of chimpanzees, like humans, have been handed down from generation to generation.

 

Conservationist, From the Love of Chimpanzees

Jane Goodall brought the data she had collected from her research on chimpanzees to England. Jane Goodall, who had never attended college, received a doctorate from Cambridge University with the data.

Around this time, innocent chimpanzees began to be captured due to reckless jungle development and poaching. This resulted in a decrease of 200 million chimpanzees to 150,000 in 50 years. Jane Goodall stepped forward and did everything in her power to rehabilitate chimpanzees so that they could return to their habitats, either in captivity or rescued in difficult situations. Due to this, she decided to start a campaign to protect animals. Afterwards, she founded the Jane Goodall Institute, which worked hard for wildlife research, education, and conservation.

 

Love for Animals in a Lifetime

Jane Goodall is still active in strong and active environmental activities, preaching the importance of the chimpanzee's existence and the global environment. Living close to chimpanzees and experiencing their world in person brought Jane Goodall an unforgettable experience. The process of understanding the chimpanzee's life and habitat made all of Jane Goodall's challenges worthwhile. To Jane Goodall, chimpanzees were lovely animals. Their playful antics, gentle family love, and personality were one of the great joys Jane Goodall gained from observing them. To Jane Goodall, chimpanzees were a reminder of the beauty and complexity of the natural world. No one can match her for the authenticity of animals and the environment shown throughout her life.