Who Am I?

Growing up, Jane loved being outside and watching animals. Her father gave her a stuffed toy chimpanzee called Jubilee, and this was how she began to love primates. More than anything, she wanted to travel to Africa to see the animals that lived there. But Jane’s family didn’t have enough money to send her to Africa – or even to college. So, Jane trained as a secretary and got a job. Jane’s mother always said, “If you really want something, you’re going to have to work hard . . . don’t give up.” And Jane didn’t – she eventually became a primatologist and anthropologist, gained a degree in natural sciences, and is considered the world’s greatest expert on chimpanzees.

What Am I Known For?

Her work and research required many hours of painstaking observations and gathering information as she studied behaviour in primates. Primatology was a male-dominated field of study at the time, so Jane had to work extremely hard to prove her worth. Today, about 50% of primatologists are women, thanks to Jane’s encouragement of young women to enter the field.

Jane is relentless in her passion for protecting primates and their habitats. She also established the Jane Goodall Institute in 1977. It focuses on community-based conservation and development programs in Africa. She has received numerous awards and recognition for her work, including being named a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2004.

Jane is positive that we will overcome challenges such as climate change and biodiversity devastation. Aged 90, she is still travelling the world, espousing the need for hope – a hope spelt out in four reasons: the amazing human intellect, the resilience of nature, the power of young people, and the indomitable human spirit.

Photo: Avalon/Bruce Coleman Inc / Alamy Stock Photo