Any Primatology course starts with the name of Jane Goodall and ends with her name. I heard the name of Jane Goodall when I was in my O Levels. Growing up I chose the file d of natural sciences for me and became more familiar with her work in Primatology and her contribution to the science in general.

To make you understand about the importance of her work, it would be sufficient to say – SHE LITERARY CHANGED THE MEANING OF BEING HUMAN! Jane Goodall has spent all of her life in understanding the orangutan societies and the complexity of their interaction with each other. She has also worked with anthropologist Louis Leakey and her work is instrumental in uncovering the mysteries of “Lucy”. Her remarkable discoveries include the use of tools by primates. It was thought that only humans are capable of using tools. She compared the effects of bereavement on humans and primates and how we can learn the coping techniques by observing primates. I can still remember my amazement as I read her work on “Grooming Session of Primates”. She has worked extensively on copulating habits of primates. The work is ground breaking and is essential to understand the complex human sexual behavior and that human sexual behavior is nearer to that of Chimps rather than gorillas or orangutans.

Today Jane Goodall would deliver a lecture with the title “Hope for Animals and Their World: How Endangered Species Are Being Rescued from the Brink” at Interior Department’s headquarters.

Jane Goodall