Many people claim that in today's society, no one is striving to preserve nature, when environmental heroes are working right under our noses. Ordinary people, for their own reasoning, take action through their own methods to create a better world for a particular species, ecosystem, or even the entire planet. Dr. Jane Goodall is an ideal example of this type of hero. This ethologist has dedicated her life to the study and protection of chimpanzees and other primates. Responsibility for the environment of the future is a truly essential quality in all human beings, and Goodall clearly displays this environmental conscientiousness. Learning about the life and work of Dr. Jane Goodall would benefit everyone that cares about our planet Earth because she has been, and still is a leader in the fight to protect chimpanzees from today's development, and she supports wildlife conservation for ecosystems all around the world.
Dr. Jane Goodall's life reflects a clear passion and interest in the environment. Valerie Jane Morris-Goodall was born in England on April 3, 1934. As a young child, she was enthralled by the world around her, constantly exploring the insects and plants in her own backyard. While visiting Africa during her late teens, she met Louis Leakey, who hired her as a secretary for one of his anthropological digs. She returned to England, but reappeared in Africa in 1960 to study chimpanzees in the Gombe Stream Reserve. During her time at Gombe, she made some amazing discoveries that generated a new understanding of our environment: chimpanzees use tools for their own purposes, something only humans were thought to be capable of. Also, chimpanzees fight long-term wars between communities, and they have lasting family relationships, meaning parents and siblings care for one another throughout their whole lives. Goodall's passion and determination led to her amazing discoveries that changed the world's perception of the capabilities and lifestyles of primates.
Dr. Jane Goodall's work has certainly not gone unheeded. She has received countless awards, medals and recognitions, such as the Medal of Tanzania, the Kyoto Prize, and the National Geographic Society's Hubbard Medal. She has also been appointed a Dame of the British Empire (the equivalent of becoming a Knight), and has been selected as a United Nations “Messenger of Peace”. Although Goodall is no longer researching in Africa, she is still working; today, she travels approximately 300 days a year, giving lectures and encouraging youth to act on behalf of species that cannot. She also manages the Jane Goodall Institute for Wildlife Research, Education and Conservation, an organization she founded in 1977. Dr. Jane Goodall clearly and consistently displays environmental integrity and dedication by taking positive, responsible action for the environment of the future.
Dr. Jane Goodall is an obvious representative of environmental heroes in our society. She is a dedicated individual, spending all of her time researching, travelling and presenting on behalf of chimpanzees. She is a passionate human being, who has loved the environment since her childhood, and she seems to have a special connection with her research subjects, calling them by name rather than by number. Through her discoveries and presentations, she has changed the scientific world superlatively. For these reasons, Dr. Jane Goodall's story is a truly inspiring one from which everyone can learn.
It takes true keenness for an individual to make a difference in today's world. One has to find something they love, and do everything they can to preserve it. In Dr. Jane Goodall's case, the thing she loved most of all was the environment. Goodall committed her life to this worthy cause. Every day, she helps to create a world that is environmentally sound for all species, including humans. By learning about Dr. Jane Goodall and her breakthroughs, people of all ages can discover how they, too, can make a positive impact on the world around them.
