FREE ESSAY ON JANE GOODALL

JANE GOODALL

Jane Goodall 
May 19, 2001
Jane Goodall is one of the world's most admired women, acclaimed scientist, and
conservationist (www.nationalgeographic.com). The work that she does is called ethology,
which is the study of animal behavior. Such a successful woman has numerous admirable
qualities. She has contributed greatly to society as well as to the animal kingdom. Her
research paved the way for countless primate studies, and has changed the way many people
view chimpanzees. Trying to narrow down only three admirable qualities about her is
difficult, since she has so many. To me, her most admirable qualities are her patience
and persistence to understand animals, her research involving chimpanzees, and her
contributions she has made to the world by establishing various institutions.
Studying chimpanzees is not an easy task. Subsequently, Jane Goodall made it look as
simple as doing everyday activities. When she started the research, the chimpanzees fled
from her in fear. It took many months for her to get close to them. With patience and
persistence, she searched the forest everyday, deliberately trying not to get too close
to them. Everyday she did this for many months. On some days Jane would observe the
chimpanzees through binoculars from a peak overlooking the forest, just so she wouldn't
disturb their natural behavior. Gradually over a long period of time the chimpanzees
became accustomed to her. At this time, she would be able to move up to them and just sit
there and study them. She believed that this was her breakthrough in her research. Jane
tells us "I must find a way to watch free, wild animals living their own, undisturbed
lives. I wanted to learn things that no one else knew, uncover secrets through patient
observation. I wanted to come as close to talking to animals as I could
(www.nationalgeographic.com)." To be able to have such patience and persistence is
remarkable. 
Jane's scientific discoveries have laid the foundation for all future primate studies.
Her interest was studying the chimpanzees to gain insight into humans' evolutionary past.
Her observations have changed the way researchers and everyday individuals view
chimpanzees. Jane had observed chimpanzees making and using tools for different reasons,
such as using straws for extracting termites from nests. Her studies have showed many
similarities between humans and chimpanzees, this discovery had amazed the world. The
longer her research continued, the more it became obvious how like people chimpanzees
really are. Some people believed that her research would last only a few months, however
it has become the longest field study on any animal species in their natural surroundings
(www.janegoodall.org).
Jane Goodall has made tremendous contributions to society as well as to the animal
kingdom by establishing various institutions. These institutions have brought
conservation, and wildlife awareness to chimpanzees. In 1977 Jane founded The Jane
Goodall Institute for Wildlife Research, Education and conservation. She has established
chimpanzee sanctuaries for the care and rehabilitation of orphaned chimpanzees in four
African countries (www.janegoodall.org). This institute was also founded to provide
ongoing support for field research on wild chimpanzees (www.janegoodall.org). Jane
created a program of the Jane Goodall Institute called Roots & Shoots in 1991. This
program addresses the obvious issue of the need for kids in schools to have an
understanding of their environment and wildlife. It is a program that involves the groups
that participate in three kinds of hands-on activities. One, to make the environment
around them better, two, to show that they care about the human community around them,
and finally things that make the world a better place for the animals around them
(www.janegoodall.org).
Jane Goodall has become world famous from her research, lectures, articles, best selling
books, and her successful wildlife programs. She's currently teaching and encouraging
young people to appreciate the conversation of chimpanzees and all creatures great and
small (www.janegoodall.org). She's a great role model and has changed the way people view
chimpanzees. Jane has devoted her entire life the work of conservation and wildlife. How
can someone not admire such a self-sacrificing person? From her patience and persistence,
to her breakthrough research, to the institutions she has founded, this woman has made
her childhood dream become a reality and made me along with countless individuals admire
her life long work and her life long dream. 
Bibliography
Goodall, Jane. 1971
In the Shadow of Man.
Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. 
Goodall, Jane. 1986
The Chimpanzees of Gombe: Patterns of Behavior
Boston: Bellknap Press of the Harvard University Press. 
Goodall, Jane. 1988
My Life with the Chimpanzees
New York: Byron Press. 
Goodall, Jane. 1990
Through a Window: My Thirty Years with the Chimpanzees of Gombe
Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company
www.Janegoodall.org
www.nationalgeographic.com