The Roots and Shoots of Jane Goodall

Whether or not you are interested in conservation, you have heard of the woman who lived with chimps: Jane Goodall. It is therefore fitting that her newest documentary composed of the oldest footage is called ‘Jane’. Simple but effective. Just like the documentary, with its stunning visuals shot in the 1960’s. It follows Jane Goodall’s adventures in the natural beauty of Tanzania’s Gombe Natural Park, her short visits in the UK, and her life in the Serengeti with her then husband Hugo van Lawick and their son. ‘Jane’ is not only visually breathtaking but it is also emotionally touching to witness Jane’s connection with the chimps, especially Flo’s family.

However, her adventures are not all fairytale worthy. Violence and loss seem to be entrenched in both the human and animal world. It is clear that there are many similarities between us and them. Sometimes, shockingly so – materialistic greed or a separation in community fueling conflict. A fact that Jane was told to “play down…because people were worried that violence in humans would be seen as inevitable”. Still, the chimps, as many other animals, have a high (emotional) intelligence and Jane describes the first moment she was accepted as “magical”.

The screening of the documentary in avant-premiere by the United Nations CineONU in partnership with the Jane Goodall Institute Belgium and UN Environment on December 5 at the Cinema Galeries in Brussels was followed by a Q&A session with Dr Jane Goodall in person. Though she had viewed the film before, she said she was still emotional about seeing the beautiful footage that had been tucked away in the National Geographic archives for over 50 years. When asked whether the chimps cared about her emotions or feelings, Jane responded with a clear no. She added that these animals were still wild, unlike our pets that we have domesticated and therefore care more about our feelings.

When questioned about the potentially positive role zoos can play in conservation, Jane said that there seems to be a perception that “the wild is the best for chimpanzees”. This is only true if the “area is protected”. The wild has so many threats from human activities, such as poaching and logging, that animals are sometimes better off in a zoo. The wild is “not the blissful paradise we think it is”. However, there are also zoos that “should be shut down”.

In regards to environmental activism, she believes it has changed. There is an ever-growing need for conservation and to work with the youth, as she does through her ‘Roots and Shoots’ programme. In her eyes, “it is desperately important to work with youth at this time”. She added, “if our young lose hope then our Earth is finished”. But, Jane didn’t diminish the importance of the older generations. She claimed that if there is no change, “do we really have the right to children or the right to be proud parents”? Luckily, she added that everyone can make an impact, even if the action seems small, like walking instead of driving. “We have a choice as to what sort of difference we want to make to this Earth and it’s a choice we face every day”. But, a little can go a long way.

Although, “we are at a grim time for conservation” – with Trump opening the Arctic Refuge for drilling – it is also the “most exciting time for anyone wanting to study animal behavior”. “There is so much we are finding about the natural world”. There is a reason to work hard and to not lose hope in the work.

As concluded by Jane Goodall: “we live in a wonderful world, we must stop destroying it”.

Author: Celia Afande