Meet Jane Founder. Activist. Icon. In July 1960, at the age of 26, Jane Goodall traveled from England to what is now Tanzania and ventured into the little-known world of wild chimpanzees. Equipped with little more than a notebook, binoculars, and her fascination with wildlife, Jane Goodall braved a realm of unknowns to give the world a remarkable window into humankind’s closest living relatives. Through nearly 60 years of groundbreaking work, Dr. Goodall has not only shown us the urgent need to protect chimpanzees from extinction; she has also helped to redefine conservation to include the needs of local people and the environment. Today she travels the world, speaking about the threats facing chimpanzees and environmental crises, urging each of us to take action on behalf of all living things and the planet we share. Join Jane’s Peak Society When Jane Goodall entered the forest of Gombe, the world knew very little about chimpanzees, and even less about their unique genetic kinship to humans. She took an unorthodox approach in her field research, immersing herself in their habitat and their lives to experience their complex society as a neighbor rather than a distant observer. She came to understand them not only as a species, but also as individuals with emotions and bonds. Dr. Jane Goodall’s discovery in 1960 that chimpanzees make and use tools is considered one of the greatest achievements of twentieth-century scholarship. Her field research at Gombe transformed our understanding of chimpanzees and redefined the relationship between humans and animals in ways that continue to emanate around the world. On the path to becoming the world’s leading ethologist and environmentalist, Dr. Jane Goodall helped to redefine conservation. In 1977, she founded the Jane Goodall Institute to support the research in Gombe and scale up the protection of chimpanzees in their habitats. In the late 1980s, it became clear that Gombe was only part of the solution to a much bigger, rapidly growing problem of deforestation and declining chimpanzee populations across Africa. Knowing that local communities are key to protecting chimpanzees, she advocated for an approach to conservation that recognizes the central role people play in the well-being of animals and habitat. In 1991, when a group of young people confided their own deep concerns, she invited them to co-found Roots & Shoots, a program at work with young people in more than 50 countries to foster the informed generation of conservation leaders our world so urgently needs. Today, Dr. Jane Goodall travels around the world, writing, speaking and spreading hope through action, encouraging each of us to “use the gift of our life to make the world a better place.“ As a conservationist, humanitarian and crusader for the ethical treatment of animals, she is a global force for compassion and a UN Messenger of Peace. An Inspiring Journey I had been told from school onwards that the best definition of a human being was man the tool-maker – yet I had just watched a chimp tool-maker in action. I remember that day as vividly as if it was yesterday. Dr. Jane Goodall Events with Dr. Jane Dr. Jane in Action Stay connected with Jane’s in-person and online events. Events & Bookings Dr. Jane in the News Dr. Jane Cosmic Pictures to Distribute Science North’s JANE GOODALL’S REASONS FOR HOPE New York, NY. (September 17, 2021) – Cosmic Picture is proud to announce it will distribute JANE GOODALL’S REASONS FOR HOPE, an exciting new giant screen film currently in production with the talented team at Science North, an interactive science museum in Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. and Northern Ontario’s most popular tourist attraction. Jane Goodall’s […] Read More Dr. Jane An Urgent Call to Action from the Jane Goodall Institute at COP15 As the world comes together for COP15, we send our encouragement and gratitude to all the compassionate organizations and advocates who are working tirelessly to protect the world’s biodiversity. We urge the leadership of all countries to uphold your commitments and adopt a robust post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. Our descendants are counting on us. Biodiversity […] Read More Dr. Jane Dr. Goodall’s Message for World Oceans Day 2022 For World Oceans Day 2022, Jane shares her wonderful knowledge about oceans with us, and inspires us to look around for the good news stories and wonder – of which there is plenty. Thank you, Dr. Goodall! For more messages from Jane, visit our Youtube page. Read More
