When Jane Goodall began studying a group of chimpanzees in what is now Gombe National Park in Tanzania in 1960, many scientists believed that only humans were capable of rational thought. With her observations, the British woman proved the opposite when she noticed traits and behaviors in the animals that are familiar to humans – both good and bad.
Goodall owed her position to the British-Kenyan anthropologist Louis Leakey. Her family didn’t have the money to finance her studies. Nevertheless, she wanted to make her childhood dream come true. She worked as a secretary and waitress before setting off on her first trip to Africa, where she met the researcher.
With courage and a lot of patience
Leakey, impressed by her knowledge and enthusiasm, commissioned her to research a group of chimpanzees on the shores of Lake Tanganyka in northern Tanzania. Initially accompanied by her mother, Goodall braved all weather and dangers such as poisonous snakes for months to get close to her research subjects – initially in vain. The chimpanzees ran away. But little by little the animals got used to the sight of her, and she soon became part of their community.
Bild: National Geographic/Hugo van Lawick
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Bild: National Geographic/Hugo van Lawick
The “participant observation” method proved more successful than anything previously attempted. Her best friend became David Greybeard, a good-natured male animal who was the first to dare to come near her. Goodall observed Greybeard as he poked a termite burrow with a stick, catching insects. When she reported this observation to Leakey, he telegraphed back: “Now we must either redefine man or redefine tool.”
Until then, the use of tools was considered the most important distinction between humans and animals. Goodall also observed affectionate behavior, hugging, touching as well as sadness in the monkeys.
She often cites the children’s book series Doctor Dolittle and Tarzan as inspiration for her childhood desire to live in the wild among animals. She jokingly says she was disappointed because Tarzan chose the wrong Jane. She herself married the wildlife filmmaker Hugo van Lawick, whose recordings contributed significantly to her fame. The marriage broke up following ten years. She later married the director of Tanzania’s national parks, Derek Bryceson, who died in 1980.
To this day, Goodall is committed to species and environmental protection and, even in his old age, tours tirelessly around the world to awaken people with lectures.