jane goodall
“A Brief Summary on the Research and Influence of Dr. Jane Goodall”
Jane Goodall is a famed English primatologist and ethologist . More than forty-five years of studying chimpanzee, or Pan Troglodyte, interactions in the wild has helped her become the world’s most famous expert on the animal. This paper will start with how Goodall began researching chimpanzees along with her alternative research methods, we will then delve into what are considered the three most important discoveries made by Goodall. Next we will examine other important discoveries, concluding with an examination of how Goodall’s research and work changed the scientific community and changed the world’s perception of chimpanzees.
Goodall’s natural curiosity and love of animals brought her to Africa where she began her career as the personal secretary of the paleontologist/ anthropologist James Leakey. Goodall soon left for the Gombe National Park to begin studying chimpanzees, Homo sapiens’ closest living relatives, for Leakey under the pretense that they would reveal information on how our ancestors behaved (Crain, 2009). With much patience, her distant observations became close interactions with the wild chimpanzees.
Because Goodall lacked university training, some of her methods of field research were unconventional. For example, she distinguished the chimpanzees by giving them names like “Flo” and “Satan,” when at the time numbering subjects was the norm (Crain, 2009). Application of individualized and carefully chosen names helped to show how the chimpanzees had unique and discernable personalities, much like their human counterparts.
One important discovery made by Dr. Goodall was that, on occasion, chimpanzees would hunt and eat meat. Prior to this discovery it was widely believed that chimpanzees were vegetarian. Since then chimpanzees have been witnessed, by Dr. Goodall and many others, actively hunting and killing red colobus monkeys. (Stanford, 1995) Another discovery was the
Jane Goodall is a famed English primatologist and ethologist . More than forty-five years of studying chimpanzee, or Pan Troglodyte, interactions in the wild has helped her become the world’s most famous expert on the animal. This paper will start with how Goodall began researching chimpanzees along with her alternative research methods, we will then delve into what are considered the three most important discoveries made by Goodall. Next we will examine other important discoveries, concluding with an examination of how Goodall’s research and work changed the scientific community and changed the world’s perception of chimpanzees.
Goodall’s natural curiosity and love of animals brought her to Africa where she began her career as the personal secretary of the paleontologist/ anthropologist James Leakey. Goodall soon left for the Gombe National Park to begin studying chimpanzees, Homo sapiens’ closest living relatives, for Leakey under the pretense that they would reveal information on how our ancestors behaved (Crain, 2009). With much patience, her distant observations became close interactions with the wild chimpanzees.
Because Goodall lacked university training, some of her methods of field research were unconventional. For example, she distinguished the chimpanzees by giving them names like “Flo” and “Satan,” when at the time numbering subjects was the norm (Crain, 2009). Application of individualized and carefully chosen names helped to show how the chimpanzees had unique and discernable personalities, much like their human counterparts.
One important discovery made by Dr. Goodall was that, on occasion, chimpanzees would hunt and eat meat. Prior to this discovery it was widely believed that chimpanzees were vegetarian. Since then chimpanzees have been witnessed, by Dr. Goodall and many others, actively hunting and killing red colobus monkeys. (Stanford, 1995) Another discovery was the
Citations: A Champion for Chimps. (2012). Scholastic News -- Edition 4, 74(21), 4-5. Retrieved September 12, 2013, from connection.ebscohost.com Crain, W. (2009). Jane Goodall. Encounter, 22(1), 2-6. Retrieved September 15, 2013 from connection.ebschost.com Milius, S. (2013). A different kind of smart: Animals ' cognitive shortcomings are as revealing as their genius Retrieved September 12, 2013, from connection.ebscohost.com Quammen, D 129. Retrieved September 15, 2013 from connection.ebschost.com Stanford, C September 15, 2013 from connection.ebschost.com Thirty-five years of insight into our closest kin 110. Retrieved September 15, 2013 from connection.ebschost.com Uhlenbroek, C 205(2748), 28-29. Retrieved September 15, 2013 from connection.ebschost.com