Goodall: Pioneering Conservationist

Jane Goodall was a British scientist known for her research on chimpanzees. She studied the animals for many years in the East African country of Tanzania. Her discoveries changed the way chimpanzees are studied and understood. 

She was born on April 3, 1934, in London. She was interested in animals from a very young age and she used to beg her mother to read or tell her stories of animals. At 11, she dreamed of living in Africa's wildlife. To earn money to travel to Africa, she left school at age 18 and began working. At age 23, she arrived by boat in Kenya. She soon became an assistant to Louis Leakey, a famous scientist. Through her observations, Goodall changed many ideas about chimpanzees. She saw a chimpanzee make a tool, which it used to get food. 

Scientists had believed only humans were toolmakers. She also found that chimpanzees eat both meat and plants. Finally, Goodal observed that each chimpanzee had a distinct personality and emotions. Except for short absences, she remained in Tanzania until 1975. In 1977, she founded the Jane Goodall Institute for Wildlife Research, Education, and Conservation. She traveled all around the world teaching about the importance of protecting the land and animals. She died on October 1, 2025, in Los Angeles, California. 

The first time I learned about Goodall was when I was in the roots and shoots team of my school, which was a part of the curriculum. I was really impressed with her work, knowing all about her hard work. As a person who loves animals as much as she does, I couldn't say no to helping out in everything.  As I dove deeper into her work, I was fascinated with all of the things she did. She made people understand chimpanzees in a whole other way. In roots and shoots, you don't only get to learn about Goodall, you can learn about the other things like vermicompost, natural resources, the 3 R’s (reduce, reuse and recycle). 

We had a project where we had to make a plant pot out of anything as long as it has the 3 R’s. I had made it out of plastic bottles. And our teacher had to select a few people to go to the programme at the British School in Lalitpur, where Goodall was a guest. I was so delighted to meet Goodall. We had also brought our projects to showcase for her. I didn't really get to face her but she gave an amazing speech. When she walked in, she was an old woman wearing a sweater and holding a chimpanzee stuffed animal. I thought it was cute! She explained everything about the roots and shoots team and about her studies.

I also learned that national geography had asked her to write for their cover story and the photographer that was assigned to do the work fell in love with her and they got married. She was an amazing woman and a pioneering conservationist. We will miss her.

Aarohi Adhikari,

A 6th grader student 

Akshara School, Kandaghari, 

Kathmandu