Jane Goodall is a historical woman that has taught human beings not only about chimpanzees, but human nature as well. This primatologist held on to a dream from childhood that advanced into reality. Jane quietly and patiently observed chimps in Africa, and then recorded their every move. Many important discoveries came about because of this. Jane Goodall has remarkably changed the perception of chimpanzees and humans alike.
Despite the fact that Jane Goodall’s family was always on the move, her childhood was exciting. She owned a few animals that she would frequently observe, and record what they did. According to an online source, Jane always seemed to have an interest in all kinds of animals (Early Days 1). When Jane was a child she and her friends formed an Alligator Club with their own magazine. They would record what the saw with diagrams, and sometimes the inside of bugs (Goodall 18). Jane also owned a dog named Rusty that she adored more than anything else. She liked to see what Rusty would do in certain situations, and would even put clothes on him every now and again (Goodall 22). She also had the encouragement of her mother as a child. Her mom always pushed her to go as far as she could, and never give up. She was the one who bought Jane the two children’s books that really got her interested in wild animals, Tarzan and Dr. Dolittle (Early Days 1).
An author writes that when an invitation came in 1960 to visit a friend in Kenya, Africa, she immediately quit her job in London (Facklam 41). There she met Louis Leakey, a famous archaeologist, who gave her a secretarial job. Leakey could see Jane’s fascination in the African animals, and asked her to join him and his wife in a dig for bones at the Olduvai Gorge (Facklam...
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... in National Geographic, “…I left the Gombe Stream Research Center in the able hands of a new generation of scientists and dedicated Tanzanian field staff who now follow a generation of chimps (831A).
All in all, Jane Goodall has shown the world many inspirational thoughts and ideas about the human world compared to the animal world. Without her people would not know how some things that are thought of as advanced are really quite primitive. Humans now have an understanding on how cavemen might have survived, as well. In addition, an online source informs everyone that much of Goodall’s current work is carried on by the Jane Goodall Institute for Wildlife Research, Education, and Conservation (Jane Goodall 3). She has been an influence on many, especially women. She has proven with patience and some determination that simple discoveries can be altering to society.
Dr. Goodall is a well-known British primatologist who has discovered a substantial amount about primates in her many years of research. She has written numerous books, including one that we will be going into depth about called, “Through a Window.” Her book contains personal experiences, research findings, and even pictures to help the readers visualize her scientific breaking moments from her thirty years with the chimpanzees of Gombe. She states that there is are minor differences, and several similarities between humans and the chimpanzees. We will discuss these differences and similarities through their social behavior, intellectual ability, and emotions. To conclude, examine Goodall’s research to adopt what her findings can tell us about our early ancestors, and whether or not her study coincided to the steps of scientific methodology.
Inside the chimp habitat, I noticed a sign which read: Look here for a “zoo” born! When I saw it, I recalled that earlier during the day, a senior docent named Rhonda who worked with the gorillas had told me that there was recently a newborn chimp. She said to look very closely to find the baby because the mother was extremely protective of it. She had also mentioned that the newborn’s furless skin would be very pink. At first, I looked very keenly for the small new chimp who had just been born this year, but I couldn’t find it. I finally spotted the baby after I moved to a different position to view the chimps from the open air viewing area. The infant was just as Rhonda had described it: nestled in its mother’s arms as she shielde...
When most people think of Texas legacies they think of Sam Houston or Davy Crockett, but they don’t usually think of people like Jane Long. Jane Long is known as ‘The Mother of Texas’. She was given that nickname because she was the first english speaking woman in Texas to give birth.
Many women scientist upheld and defended their positions as learned, scientific individuals. Marie Meurdrac, a French scientist, in a foreword to a publication stated clearly that women’s and men’s minds, if thought in the same manner would hold no difference.(Doc 2) Similarly, Dorothea Erxleben understood and explained why men and women alike look down on her for studying science because they feel that it is an insult.(Doc 9) Her experiences as a female scientist led her to truly grasp why her persecutors acted as they did towards her although this document shows no signs that she thinks the same. Maria Sibylla Merian, a German entomologist, discussed some of her scientific practices that encompass her dedication and fascination with science.(Doc 5) Another example of this whole-hearted dedication comes from Marquis...
Jane Goodall is a woman who has and still does work with chimpanzees in Tanznia, South Africa. The first time she went to Tanzania was in July 14, 1960 when she was just 26 years old.
Crickett Sanz, Dave Morgan, & Steve Gulick. "New Insights into Chimpanzees, Tools, and Termites from the Congo Basin." The American Naturalist 164.5 (2004): 56-581. Article. 25 April 2014.
In his book, Planet Without Apes, Stanford introduces readers to apes, shows why the apes are endangered, how similar we are to apes, and why we should protect the apes. He does so in nine chapters – “Save the Apes”, “Heart of Darkness”, “Homeless”, “Bushmeat”, “Outbreak”, “In a Not-So-Gilded Cage”, “The Double-Edged Sword of Ecotourism”, “Ethnocide”, and “May There Always be Apes”. Stanford strategically chooses the name Planet Without the Apes, as a parody of the Hollywood franchise, hoping such a title would capture potential readers’ interests. Stanford does not simply tell us why we need to save the apes – he brings us on a journey with the apes and by the end of the book, we feel compelled to save the apes.
...eportedly the chimpanzee became an endangered species in 2002. Vital funds for zoo affiliated research and field work should be found elsewhere, because fooling around with another's life – human or animal – is not ours to manipulate.
Jane Goodall is the most appreciated primatologist. A primatologist is someone who researches primates, which consists of apes, monkeys, and chimpanzees. She did most of her work in Tanzania. The famous artist, Pamela S. Turner, has lived everywhere in the world. When she was living in Japan, she heard the story of the dog Hachiko. When she went back to the United states, Turner was inspired to write her first book: Hachiko. The True Story of a Loyal Dog. According to both Goodall, and Turner, humans and animals share some qualities. Goodall thinks that we share the trait of intelligence, while Turner believes we share the quality of loyalty.
If women lack intelligence and cannot be a scientist, then what should they be? If they can’t act intelligent, then how should they act? Woman should stick to their society roles and stay away from thinking the way a male is expected to think. A woman thinking scientifically is considered to be thinking like a man (Keller 77). Keller’s statement explains that science is considered to be a male subject. It is not appropriate for females to think scientifically. Women then begin to get treated differently because they are not meeting society’s
Our earliest ancestors are primates. They are our closest relatives which is why we can see our behavior’s and practices in them. If we observe them we can get a better understanding of them and us, human beings. But unfortunately we all don’t get the chance to see a Primate right in our backdoor. So the best thing I could do for my observation was to visit them at the zoo.
Chimpanzees are part of the non-human primate group. Though we share a common ancestor, evolution has pushed us in different directions. However this common ancestor causes humans to be curious about these creatures. As discussed in Jane Goodall’s video Among the Wild Chimpanzees we were once considered to be human because of our use of tools but once we observed these non-human primates using tools, this perception was changed forever. The question now at hand is if having the chimpanzees that we study in captivity makes a difference between studying wild chimps. These interesting creatures can be found naturally in the rainforests of Africa.
Vergano, D. Scientist scratch the surface of chimp communication. USA Today. April 6. 2006. Retrieve Mar 20 from
She first gained recognition in 1948 for discovering a 16 million year old fossilized cranium of a hominid thought to be the missing link, one she called "Proconsul". But she only found it and named it.
Did Jane Goodall’s research find the evidence about chimp’s tool making? Is the human the only species able to make the tool? How do you correlate this with human culture?