The ‘White ape’ comes to Kyalami

As she walked in she greeted all with the sounds her beloved chimpanzees use to greet each other.

“It is a distance call to say ‘hello’,” Dr Jane Goodall explained.
From there it was just a fascinating afternoon with one of the most renowned and revered primatologists.

Her visit to Kyalmai Country Club on 30 June was part of the Jane Good Institute and her Roots and Shoots project.

The previous day she visited Montecasino where the film, Chimpanzee, was screened. Goodall teamed up with Disney to promote the film in order to raise money to protect the chimpanzee population and during the opening weekend Disney donated a portion of ticket sales to Jane’s “See Chimpanzee. Save Chimpanzees” programme.

The donation went to the Jane Goodall Institute through the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund.

Today, Goodall’s work revolves around inspiring action on behalf of endangered species, particularly chimpanzees, and encourages others to do their part. The Jane Goodall Institute works to protect the famous chimpanzees of Gombe National Park in Tanzania, but recognises this can’t be accomplished without a comprehensive approach that addresses the needs of local people who are critical to chimpanzee survival.
She is is on the road more than 300 days a year, giving lectures or talks on nature conservation.

Her love for Africa stemmed from Tarzan of the Apes, a book she still holds dear.
Today she quips that Tarzan married the wrong Jane, but her work at Gombe came natural after the adoring the book and arriving on the continent at 26 years old.

Tarzan married the wrong Jane

From being part of a chimp pride, and eventually ousted, to gaining a doctorate degree without any graduate degree and experiencing social hierarchies of primates first hand, Goodall presented a look into the world of primates.

“Chimpanzees are so similar to us, their brain anatomy is almost identical and we can get the same diseases,” she explained.

“When I first approached my chimps they saw me as a white ape, and I needed to start from the bottom of their social hierarchy to gain their trust.”

Her inspiring stories from Gombe allows others in city’s such as Johannesburg to experience a world that is nearly the same while completely different.

The Jane Goodall Institute South Africa explained her visit as a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet the chimp doctor.

Details: www.janegoodall.co.za