Jane Goodall - The Legend

Jane Goodall (rather Jane 'All Good') is a woman of great character and patience, a woman of grace - A living legend whom I admire immensely. She visited Delhi in January 2007 as part of the British Council sponsored 'Wildscreen International Wildlife & Environmental Film Festival'. Though I could not attend her lecture, I asked my friend Amitangshu, who got to attend the event, to take her picture and video-record her lecture.

She spoke about her journey to study the chimps in East Africa. How in the summer of 1960, when she was 26 years old, she arrived on the shore of Lake Tanganyika in East Africa to study the area's chimpanzee population.

At that time, it was unheard of for a woman to venture into the wilds of the African forest, but for Jane Goodall the trip meant the fulfillment of her childhood dream. Jane’s work in Tanzania would prove more successful than anyone had imagined.

Her favorite books as a child included The Story of Dr. Dolittle, The Jungle Book and the Tarzan series. By the time she was 11, Jane dreamed of going to Africa in a time when it wasn't thought the proper thing for a young woman to do. But Jane's mother Vanne told her, "Jane, if you really want something, and if you work hard, take advantage of the opportunities, and never give up, you will somehow find a way."

What her mother said is amazing. It can make any child be a the most accomplished person in life.

Below are photographs that depict Jane Goodall's life and mission. All the photographs and captions are taken from the Animal Planet website:
http://animal.discovery.com/fansites/janegoodall/jane/bio/slideshow.html

The First Chimp

When she was just over a year old, Jane's father gave her a toy chimpanzee named Jubilee, which she still has to this day.

Jane's Tea Party

Jane entertains her stuffed toy animals. As a child Jane's favorite books included The Story of Dr. Dolittle, The Jungle Book and the Tarzan series.

Puppy Love

Even as a child, animals were an important part of her young life.

The Right Stuff

In Jane, Dr. Louis Leakey, the legendary paleontologist, found the right person for the job. He needed someone with maticulous observational skills and a lot a patience.

Mother and Daughter

British officials refused to let a young woman venture into the African jungle by herself, so Jane took along a companion, her mother Vanne.

Getting Close from Afar

Once in Gombe observing the chimpanzees proved difficult and they fled when Jane tried to get close.

Patience, Patience

After a few months, the chimpanzees began to accept Jane's presence in their world.

Patience Pays Off

A male that Jane called David Greybeard was the first to venture into her camp.

Life's Work

Jane Goodall's work in Gombe was has become one of the longest uninterrupted field studies of any animal species in its natural surroundings, and research continues there to this day.