Celebrating Dr. Jane Goodall

April 10, 2025

Dear Subscriber First Name,

Last Thursday, Dr. Jane Goodall celebrated her 91st birthday. Her groundbreaking work is deeply intertwined with Tanzania, particularly with the chimpanzees of Gombe National Park—her favorite place. The descendants of the chimpanzees she studied for years still roam the dense rainforests of this small park. Above, you see one of her cherished chimps, Gremlin—a true matriarch—carrying her youngest, Goodali, on her back.

Dr. Jane continues to visit Gombe, and her small house there is open to visitors. Standing in her study, with the notes from her most recent visit still on the desk, is a humbling experience. Her home serves as a testament to the decades of dedication she’s given to understanding chimpanzees and her hope to inspire others to care for the planet and its creatures.

It seems that as Dr. Jane grows older, she only picks up the pace. There is still so much to do. She travels tirelessly around the world, sharing her vision of hope everywhere she speaks. Her heart has always belonged to the individual. This was evident from the beginning of her research when – contrary to the scientific conventions of the time – she named chimpanzees rather than numbering them. It’s no surprise that Dr. Jane has the rare ability to make anyone she meets feel truly special. Instead of blaming or fighting those who lack a sense for conservation or even destroy the environment, Jane has repeatedly found ways to win their support for her cause. Some critics argue that this approach has at times resulted in “greenwashing,” but, in the end, Dr. Jane has accomplished remarkable things this way. One example is the Tchimpounga sanctuary in the Republic of Congo, which was financed by Conoco Inc.

Dr. Jane is a gifted storyteller. Her stories bring her messages across in ways that are memorable and accessible to all. Here’s one such story: Dr. Jane believes deeply in the power of children to change the world for the better, and she empowers them through her “Roots and Shoots” program. During a fundraiser last year in Dar es Salaam, she shared the story of a group of children in war-torn eastern Congo who wanted to plant trees on a deforested hill. Local authorities insisted that soldiers accompany them for their safety. When they reached the clearing, the children began digging while the soldiers stood by, watching. The eroded ground turned out too hard for them to dig in. Feeling helpless, the youngest girl began to cry. One of the soldiers, moved by her despair, put down his rifle, picked up her spade, and began to dig. Soon after, all the soldiers were digging.

Dr. Jane has inspired generations, not just with her boundless, optimistic enthusiasm, but through her selflessness, humility, and unmaterialistic nature. Her mother, Vanne, shared a story with the National Geographic reporter Peter Miller that perfectly captures this humility. When Jane’s tunic began to wear thin on the back, Vanne told her, “Look, Jane, you have to have a new tunic.” Jane responded, “Why?” “Because the back of your tunic is going through. It’s getting threadbare.” “I’m not having a new tunic. It’s a waste of money. Nobody looks at my back view. They look at my front.”
Did you notice that in the photo of Dr. Jane and Anna above, she’s wearing the same tunic that National Geographic photographed her in nearly 30 years ago (below)? Point proven? 😉

May this remarkable person continue to inspire us for many more years!

Tuko pamoja!

Conrad

A Subtle Nudge:

Alongside sharing stories and insights, I also curate bespoke African adventures. If you ever feel the call to experience the featured places in person, you’ll find more details about my tailor-made safaris on my website: www.shaukuafrika.com

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