Research & Technology

Head Above the Rest: Gabo, Leader of Gombe’s Chimpanzee Research Team

October 05, 2020 — It’s hard to miss Gabo Paul Zilikana. Nearly a foot taller than most of his fellow field assistants in Gombe, Gabo is a gentle giant and master storyteller who is beloved by everyone. Known for his calm demeanor, cool confidence, and welcoming company, Gabo makes everyone feel at home, even as he breezily hacks through […]

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Double the Fun: Baboon Twins Born in Gombe

August 25, 2020 — An extremely rare event has just taken place in Gombe National Park.  For the second time in Gombe history, an olive baboon has given birth to twins.  Until this spring, baboon twins have only been seen once at Gombe since Dr. Jane Goodall’s arrival in 1960.  Since 1967, we have recorded 271 different females who have given birth,  but only one female was observed to produce […]

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GOMBE 60: Honoring 60 Years of Discovery, Innovation, & Hope

July 13, 2020 — Happy World Chimpanzee Day! On this very special occasion, we are also honoring a supremely special anniversary: Tuesday July 14, 2020 marks the 60th anniversary of Dr. Jane Goodall’s research on wild chimpanzees in Gombe, Tanzania and 60 years of continuous studies through JGI and research partners: Gombe 60! Here are a few ways you […]

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Highlights of Major Research Learnings From 2019

June 15, 2020 — Gombe’s transformative research is as dynamic and insightful as ever. In 2019, six decades after it first began, daily routine observations of chimpanzees, known as the B-Record, continued alongside studies of chimpanzee mothers and infants, adolescent females, and vocalizations as well as research including health, other species and more.    Through a Window: Chimpanzees and OurselvesIn 2019, the JGI team conducted 716 daily chimpanzee focal follows; 74% of these follows were more than 8 hours (81% at Mitumba, […]

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GOODALI: Gombe’s Brand New Baby Boy!

February 03, 2020 — Isn’t it wonderful when all the stars align? On days like this, from the moment you wake up, the day just keeps getting better and better. It is a dream in itself to sleep on the shores of Lake Tanganyika in Western Tanzania. At dawn, a chorus of birds blends with the soft sound of […]

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12 Days of Gombe

December 22, 2019 — You might be familiar with Gombe as the famed location of Dr. Jane Goodall’s earliest discoveries on chimpanzee behavior and the 60 years of ongoing research through the Jane Goodall Institute – but did you know that it is home to a wonderful variety of other species as well? This Holiday Season, we’re celebrating 12 […]

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Chimpanzees, Culture and Spirituality

December 17, 2019 — “Chalchiuhtlicue” meaning, “she of the jade skirt,” was the name given to a water deity by the ancient Aztecs in the 15th century. The goddess symbolized “the purity and preciousness of spring, river, and lake water that was used to irrigate the fields” (The Met Museum). Human beings have been worshiping nature for centuries – […]

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How Jane Changed Science Forever

December 17, 2019 — In 1960, Jane Goodall transformed our understanding of what differentiates humans from the rest of the animal kingdom through the observation that chimpanzees make and use tools. This groundbreaking moment has been referenced time and time again, but what can we learn from Jane’s earliest findings and writings on the subject, and what we continue […]

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A New Era of Discovery in Gombe Thanks to Disney Family Trust

October 17, 2019 — On Thursday, October 10, The Walt Disney Family Museum hosted a celebration to honor the achievements of Dr. Jane Goodall at the museum’s historic location in the Presidio of San Francisco. The evening was made even more special with an announcement made by Kirsten Komoroske, Executive Director of The Walt Disney Family Museum for a […]

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Leakey and Goodall: Scientists Who Changed How We Define ‘Human’

August 07, 2019 — Dr. Jane Goodall’s journey to Gombe nearly 60 years ago to study wild chimpanzees may seem like a simple story, but it was the result of a lot of hard work and dedication. Many details of the path Jane took to get to Gombe are often eclipsed by her groundbreaking discoveries and subsequent activism, but they […]

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