Chimps We Know
How it Started
In 1960, Jane Goodall arrived at the Gombe Stream Reserve in what was then Tanganyika. She was sent by Louis Leakey to study the behaviour of our closest living relative, the chimpanzee. In her early years at Gombe, Jane found that chimps share behaviours and emotions once thought to be unique to humans. Chimps make and use tools for a variety of purposes, are capable of reasoned thought and problem solving, and show emotions such as joy and sadness, fear and despair, love and empathy. They also show true altruism and have vivid personalities.
Jane was initially accompanied by her mother, Vanne (pronounced "Van") Goodall, because British authorities were so shocked at the thought of a young girl going to live with animals in the jungle that they initially refused to grant permission for such an outrageous idea. They eventually agreed that she could go with a companion. Her mother volunteered–and made an invaluable contribution to the long-term project with her simple clinic (four poles and a roof) administering basic medical aid to the local fishermen. This established excellent relations with the local people, which have stood Jane in good stead ever since.
It took many months before the chimps got over their initial fear of the strange white ape that so suddenly appeared. At first they ran off even if she was on the other side of a narrow valley. Eventually one adult male, whom Jane named David Greybeard, lost his fear. He even went to her camp to feast on oil palm nuts, and help himself to some bananas. His calm acceptance of Jane convinced the other chimps that all was well.
Throughout almost 40 years of continual observation of the chimps–and baboons (Papio anubis)–in the park, Jane and her fellow researchers and assistants have maintained a philosophy of non-interference (except for administrating medication to sick chimps when possible) and building of trust between themselves and the individuals they study. A great deal of behavioural and demographic data has been collected on the chimps of three communities: Kasakela, Kahama (now annihilated) and Mitumba. Undergraduate students, graduate and postdoctoral researchers and field assistants have all contributed to the wealth of knowledge gained from this extraordinary long-term study.
Today the long-term monitoring of the known chimpanzees and baboons is carried out by a highly skilled team of Tanzanian field assistants. Only three or four non-Tanzanians are there at any one time, including the field director, Dr. Anthony Collins. The deputy director, Shadrack Mwenyema, is a native Tanzanian.
References
Goodall, Jane. 1971. In the Shadow of Man. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.
Goodall, Jane. 1986. The Chimpanzees of Gombe: Patterns of Behavior Boston: Bellknap Press of the Harvard University Press.
Goodall, Jane. 1988. My Life with the Chimpanzees New York: Byron Press.
Goodall, Jane. 1990. Through a Window: My Thirty Years with the Chimpanzees of Gombe Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.
Another Well-Deserved Tribute to Fifi The Jane Goodall Institute World Report. Volume III, pp. 6-8.
