Having spent much of her life advocating conservation of the chimpanzee population in Tanzania, famous British primatologist Dr Jane Goodall is still a popular figure among Tanzanian conservationists, tourists and researchers interested in nature protection.
Her commitment in conservation has earned her a place among the prominent conservationists and scientists who had devoted their lives advocating protection of the delicate environment in Tanzania and Africa as a whole.
And for her efforts Dr Goodall, famed in Tanzania as Mama Sokwe, was recently recognised by US, receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom from retired President Joe Biden in early January.
This is one of the highest civilian awards in the United States, given to individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the security, interests or peace of the country, or who have had a significant cultural or societal impact. The award is in recognition of her lifelong commitment that she had devoted to the natural world and to fostering a global movement for its protection.
President Biden described Dr Goodall as “a woman whose discoveries redefined humanity’s understanding of its place in nature” and praised her for “turning science into a mission of hope, compassion, and action for all life on Earth.”
In her acceptance speech, Dr Goodall reflected on her extraordinary journey and the global community of supporters who have embraced her mission. With characteristic humility, she emphasised the importance of collective effort.
“This medal is not just for me. It represents the countless individuals around the world who have dedicated their lives to protecting our shared home. Together, we can create a future of harmony for all living beings,” she said.
Her words were a poignant reminder of the urgency to address environmental challenges and a call to action for individuals, governments, and organisations worldwide.
Dr Goodall’s influence goes far beyond her scientific achievements. She has authored numerous books, including “In the Shadow of Man”, “The Chimpanzees of Gombe” and “Reason for Hope”.
Her documentary, “People of the Forest,” documents the years she spent with chimpanzees in Gombe Stream, currently Gombe National Park.
Her role as a United Nations Messenger of Peace, a position she has held since 2002, has amplified her voice on the global stage. She continues to advocate for sustainable development, ethical treatment of animals, and policies to combat climate change.
In honouring Dr Goodall with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Biden not only celebrated her extraordinary contributions to science and conservation, but also reaffirmed the importance of her mission, The Jane Goodall Institute, at a time when the planet faces unprecedented environmental challenges.
At the age of 26 years, in July 1960, Jane Goodall arrived and camped in the Gombe Forest in western Tanzania, on the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika, to research chimpanzees.
She had arrived in Nairobi in 1957, where she me the renowned paleoanthropologist Dr Louis Leakey, who encouraged her to research chimpanzees.
Dr Leakey was looking for a researcher to study chimpanzees in the wild, to provide evidence of the biological relationships between humans and the great apes in their natural habitats, other than studies carried out on those in zoos and wildlife research gardens.
So, in Gombe, Goodall documented their social behaviours through their daily lives in the forest, their familial bonds, emotional expressions and sometimes conflicts.
She learned the chimpanzee language, which enabled her to communicate with them through signs, says James Mrisho, a retired wildlife officer who worked in Gombe National Park between 1975 to 1980.
“She could communicate with the chimpanzees through a voice that they recognised and would quickly respond then follow her,” Mrisho says.
