The Jane Goodall Institute

ABOUT JANE

What is Jane doing now?
At any given moment, Jane Goodall is most likely on an airplane. She travels an incredible amount of the time, giving lectures, visiting zoos and chimpanzee sanctuaries, and meeting young people involved in her Roots & Shoots environmental education program. "Dr. Jane," as many children call her, spends most of her time carrying her message of conservation and vision of cooperation all around the world. She is not able to spend much time at the Gombe Stream Research Centre, site of more than 40 years of study on wild chimpanzees. The time Jane is able to spend there with the chimps is precious and invigorating.

How did Jane survive in the Gombe forest?
When Jane was sent to Gombe, many people were skeptical. The risks in such a study were great. Would the chimpanzees attack Jane if she got too close to them? What if the local people did not approve of her? What if she got sick? Or never saw a chimpanzee? For many months, the chimpanzees would flee whenever Jane approached. She eventually found a mountaintop, "the Peak," where she could watch them through her binoculars. She would sometimes spend days on the Peak, bringing only tins of food and coffee. Jane always said that she had her father's constitution, the ability to go long periods of time without food or drink. Jane ate as little food as possible to stretch her initial funding as far as it could go. She was patient, and took time to gain the chimps' trust. When she discovered that chimps make and use tools and eat meat, she knew she would have the funds she needed. You can read the story of Jane's years at Gombe in her books, In the Shadow of Man and Through a Window.

Will Jane write me if I write to her?
Jane enjoys hearing from people interested in chimpanzees and in her work. She receives hundreds of letters and answers as many as she can, particularly letters from children. Those she can't find the time to answer she passes along to colleagues who respond on her behalf.

ABOUT CHIMPANZEES

What is happening at Gombe? Who is the newest chimp baby?
To find out more about what is happening at Gombe, please visit the JGI News Center. The News Center will give you updates on the events at Gombe and any new births or findings about the chimps.

How can I get a chimp as a pet?
We appreciate your interest in chimpanzees and your love of animals. However, the best way to help wild animals is to leave them in the wild, where they belong. Though they are cute and cuddly when they are young, chimpanzees do not make good pets. They are wild animals, and when they mature, they can be destructive to homes, furniture, and backyards. They are strong and potentially dangerous. People who have had chimps for pets try to find ways to get rid of them when they get older and stronger. Usually, they end up in medical research programs. Please read Chimpanzees Don't Make Good Pets.

How many chimps are left in the wild?
At the turn of the century, at least one or possibly closer to two million chimpanzees were present in 25 countries across West and Central Africa. Now, only four countries have significant populations of chimpanzees, and probably no more than 150,000 chimpanzees are left across all of Africa. Habitat loss, bushmeat hunting, and poaching for infants are the three major causes for the decline of chimpanzees in the wild.

I'm working on a report and I have a question about ...
Please look through our website before contacting JGI. If, after doing that, you still have a specific question, please be in touch with one of the individuals listed on our contact page.

What do I do if I know of a chimpanzee in a deplorable/inhumane/illegal situation?
Thank you for wanting to help a chimpanzee in crisis. If you know of a chimp that you believe is being mistreated, please contact the Jane Goodall Institute. We can refer you to an agency appropriate for the chimp's situation. Visit JGI Around the World for the JGI office nearest you.

Are human beings descended from apes?
Humans are not descended from chimpanzees, gorillas, or any other ape. But, if we believe in evolution, then we can imagine an ape-like, human-like creature that lived millions of years ago - a common ancestor to modern humans (Homo sapiens) and modern chimpanzees, gorillas, and so on. Louis Leakey sent Jane Goodall to Gombe because he believed the behavior that is shared by humans and chimpanzees today might have been present in the common ancestor and, probably, the Stone Age hominids whose fossils he discovered.

ABOUT JGI

How do I become a member of JGI?
Becoming a member is very easy. You can Join online using our secure membership form, or you can simply print and complete the membership form found on our membership page and send it along with your membership contribution to the address written on the form. For those outside of the United States, find the JGI office nearest you in our Contacts section for more information. As a member of JGI, you will receive a JGI Window decal, bi-annual JGI membership newsletters, and a JGI membership pin. Your annual membership fee will help to support the work that the Jane Goodall Institute does through Roots & Shoots, Chimpanzee Sanctuaries, Gombe Research, ChimpanZoo, and other projects.

What is the JGI-USA office like?
We are located in Arlington, Virginia, just a few minutes away from the United States capital, Washington, D.C. Full-time staff, interns, and volunteers work to keep the day-to-day operations of JGI going. In the office, you will find many pictures of Jane Goodall, chimpanzees of Gombe and in sanctuaries, awards Jane has received, and some beautiful wildlife artwork. We also have a library full of references on ethology, Jane's work with chimpanzees, and archives of her lecture tours around North America.

I want to work for JGI. What job opportunities are available?
We welcome job applicants for staff, intern, and volunteer positions posted in the Work With Us section of our web site.

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