Conversations Remembering Dr Jane Goodall's science and her humanity
Oct 2, 2025
In a heartfelt tribute, Jane Goodall, the iconic primatologist and conservationist, reminisces about her groundbreaking work with chimpanzees. She explains how her research revealed their complex social behaviors, tool-making abilities, and even their capacity for laughter and grief. Jane shares vivid memories of Gombe National Park and the challenges she faced in gaining the trust of her subjects. She discusses the critical threats to wildlife today, emphasizing the importance of nurturing a sustainable relationship between humans and nature.
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Breaking The Human–Animal Barrier
- Jane argues the barrier between humans and animals was partly arrogance and partly fear, which blocked understanding of animal minds.
- Recognising personalities and feelings in animals makes mistreatment harder to justify.
Gaining A Chimp's Trust
- Jane describes gaining a young chimp's trust and physically grooming him after months of patience in the field.
- She felt astonished by the warmth and coarse hair of a wild male who allowed intimate contact.
Tool Use Redefined Humanity
- Tool use by chimpanzees forced scientists to redefine 'tool' and rethink human uniqueness.
- Jane waited to observe repeated termite fishing before presenting evidence to skeptics.
