Jane Goodall’s 90th birthday is today, April 3, 2024. To mark the occasion, Goodall sat down with Mongabay Founder and CEO Rhett Ayers Butler at his home in California.
Jane Goodall turns 90 today. For the past few weeks, the world has been marking her birthday in a variety of ways, from a unique 90-dog salute on a beach in Carmel, California, symbolizing her life-long commitment to animal welfare, to galas in fancy ballrooms in the world’s biggest cities with global business and political leaders.
Goodall’s contributions to science and our perception of animals have been substantial. Prior to her work, the line separating humans from animals was distinctly drawn and heavily guarded by the scientific community. Goodall’s meticulous observations blurred these lines, revealing the profound complexities of chimpanzee societies. She was the first to document chimpanzees making and using tools, a behavior that was thought to be exclusively human.
The other is the harm we’ve done to the natural world: the disappearing forests, the loss of biodiversity. They can start by questioning their purchases: Where was it made? Was it harmful to the environment? Was it cruel to animals, like those from factory farms? Does its low cost come at the expense of fair wages or entail slave labor? If so, they shouldn’t buy it.
But if you had the power to establish a new global tradition or annual event to foster a deeper connection to nature and wildlife, what would it look like?: The key is understanding and experiencing nature. People won’t rally to protect what they don’t know. That’s why it’s crucial to engage children with nature as early as possible. There are countless stories of young people who’ve never had the chance to immerse themselves in nature, to touch the earth, to explore a river or a stream.
It’s beneficial for the effort to save our planet if people care about what I say because they care about me. From the beginning, I made a vow to myself and my family: “In every talk I give, I strive to never say ‘um’ or ‘uh’ because I find it difficult to listen to people who do.” It seems people are afraid of silence.: To build off that, what would you say you most want to be remembered for?First, starting Roots and Shoots and giving people hope, especially young people, and getting them involved in the natural world.We’ve come a long way since I got my start.