Jane Goodall: An International Symbol for Worldwide Harmony

Certain individuals simply never give up. While it’s acceptable to quit at times — and sometimes even the right choice — let Dr. Jane Goodall serve as an inspiration: Occasionally, you’ll have an ambitious dream, and rather than dismissing it as unrealistic, you pursue it relentlessly.

The journey won’t be simple, of course. You’ll face bureaucratic hurdles: Some will insist your mother accompany you, while others will belittle and dismiss your most innovative efforts. And just when you’ve accomplished your initial goal, reaching the pinnacle of success, you’ll realize your original dream, though noble, has evolved. Armed with newfound knowledge, your vision expands, becoming more ambitious and challenging. Yet, you press on regardless.

Continue this relentless pursuit well into your later years, never losing momentum, and you might even find yourself in the running for a Nobel Peace Prize.

Early Life

Jane Goodall’s unwavering determination appears rooted in her early self-awareness and insistence on pursuing her passions. As a child, her father gifted her a stuffed chimpanzee, which she carried everywhere despite its intimidating appearance. From a young age, she was fascinated by observing and documenting animals, dreaming of a life among Africa’s wildlife, writing about them professionally. Her mother, a novelist herself, encouraged this unconventional ambition, even in the 1940s, when such aspirations were rare for middle-class English girls.

Unable to afford college after finishing school, Goodall took on various jobs in London until a friend invited her to Kenya. Without hesitation, she left her job, worked as a waitress to save for the trip, and eventually set sail for Africa. While there, her friend recommended she meet Louis Leakey, a paleontologist and curator at the Coryndon Museum in Nairobi, who was studying primates to gain insights into early humans. Leakey hired Goodall as his assistant and later tasked her with researching primates in England and fundraising for a groundbreaking study on wild chimpanzees in Tanzania’s Gombe Stream National Park.

Gombe Stream Research Centre

In July 1960, 26-year-old Jane Goodall established her field station at Gombe, which would later become the site of the longest continuous wildlife research project in history. Initially, British authorities were hesitant about a young woman conducting such work alone, so Goodall’s mother, Vanne, accompanied her for the first few months. For two years, Goodall observed the chimpanzees daily, gradually earning their trust. Her approach involved closely watching and mimicking their behaviors, meticulously documenting every detail in her field journal.

During this period, Goodall made two groundbreaking discoveries about chimpanzee behavior: she was the first to witness them hunting and consuming small mammals (previously thought to be herbivores), and she revealed that chimps used modified grass stems and sticks as tools to extract termites from their nests. These findings were so revolutionary that Leakey arranged for her to earn a Ph.D. from Cambridge University based on her research. Remarkably, she became one of only eight individuals to receive a Cambridge doctorate without first obtaining an undergraduate degree.

In 1964, Goodall married Hugo van Lawick, a Dutch wildlife photographer sent by Leakey to document her work. Their son, "Grub," born in 1967, spent his early years at Gombe with his parents. After her divorce from Lawick in 1974, Goodall married Derek Bryceson, Tanzania’s national parks director, in 1975. During this time, she published books like "In the Shadow of Man," which faced criticism from scientists for naming her research subjects (e.g., "David Graybeard") but became a global bestseller, translated into 48 languages. As she continued her work, Goodall observed the devastating effects of deforestation and mining on the chimpanzees’ habitat, forcing them into increasingly confined areas.

The Jane Goodall Institute reports that over 1 million wild chimpanzees roamed Africa a century ago, but today, their numbers have dwindled to just a fifth of that figure. Recognizing this alarming decline, Goodall shifted her focus in the 1980s from studying chimpanzees to actively safeguarding their habitats. In 1977, she established the Jane Goodall Institute, dedicated to fostering harmony between human communities and wild chimpanzee populations in Africa. Additionally, the Roots and Shoots program empowers young people globally to drive positive change in their communities. At 85, Goodall dedicates roughly 300 days each year to traveling and advocating for Africa, chimpanzees, and environmental conservation.

Hope for the Future

Despite witnessing the devastating impact humans have on the planet, Goodall remains optimistic about the future, as she expressed in a 2017 New York Times op-ed:

In 2019, Goodall was recognized as a nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize and was honored on the TIME 100 List, which celebrates the world’s most influential individuals.

"I can think of no one more deserving of the next Nobel Peace Prize," writes Myron Shekelle, a research associate at Western Washington University’s Department of Anthropology and the author of the petition nominating Goodall. "Humanity faces unprecedented challenges: the dual crises of Global Climate Change and Biodiversity Loss, both rooted in environmental exploitation. Jane Goodall’s unparalleled efforts to foster harmony between humans and nature have laid the foundation for peace among people. She stands as the global symbol of peace."

What title will you earn by the time you reach 85?

Discover the inspiring story of Dr. Jane Goodall in her book "Reason for Hope: A Spiritual Journey." Mytour recommends titles we believe you’ll enjoy. If you decide to purchase, we may earn a share of the sale.