By Sukhdev Chhatbar
Renowned primatologist, Dr. Jane Goodall, has spent over six decades studying chimpanzees, informing global understanding of primates, man’s closest relatives, as well as environmental conservation. Reflecting on her work in Gombe, Tanzania, in an exclusive interview with The Arusha News (please see pages 8 and 9), she notes that while chimpanzee behaviour has remained largely consistent, scientific understanding has evolved.
THE ARUSHA NEWS EXCLUSIVE
“We can now ask deeper questions about whether behaviours are inherited or learned,” she says. However, she warns that the once vast forests connecting Gombe to Burundi and Rwanda have been drastically reduced due to the expansion of human settlements.
One of the biggest challenges facing conservation today, Dr. Goodall stresses, is habitat destruction caused by poverty. Inspiring young people lies at the core of Dr. Goodall’s mission. As she approaches her 91st birthday next month, Dr. Goodall remains tireless in her advocacy, travelling for over 300 days a year to raise awareness.
Still, Dr. Goodall’s unwavering optimism shines brightest. “My hope is in young people,” she says. “They are already changing the world, growing into compassionate leaders who will shape a better future.”
