Science & Technology

Chimpanzees, Culture and Spirituality

April 01, 2026 — “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 – […]

How Jane Changed Science Forever

April 01, 2026 — 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 […]

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

April 01, 2026 — 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 […]

Now we must redefine man, or accept chimpanzees as…humans?

April 01, 2026 — When Jane Goodall first witnessed Gombe chimpanzee David Greybeard fishing for termites by manipulating blades of grass in 1960, the line between humans and other animals suddenly became blurry. Tool use was no longer uniquely human, leading Dr. Louis Leakey, Jane’s mentor, to famously say, “Now we must redefine tool, redefine man, or accept chimpanzees as human.” We know that chimpanzees are […]

Dr. Elizabeth Lonsdorf Is Taking Chimpanzee Research to the Next Level

April 01, 2026 — Dr. Jane Goodall started research at Gombe Stream National Park in 1960, and the discoveries made by Jane and researchers who followed have redefined our understanding of and relationship to chimpanzees as our closest living relatives. The legacy she left at Gombe continues today through JGI and other institutions thanks to the efforts of scientists […]

Changing of the Chimp Matriarchal Guard in Gombe

April 01, 2026 — Gremlin, her three adult daughters, and their offspring, have dominated the female hierarchy of the Kasakela community in Gombe, Tanzania, in recent years. It is not uncommon to find two, three, or even all four of these females and their families foraging together peacefully through Kakombe Valley in the heart of the Kasakelan’s range. With […]

Chimps in Gombe Teach Us So Much…What About Monkeys?

April 01, 2026 — Gombe, Tanzania, is often recognized for the chimpanzee research and discoveries initiated by Dr. Jane Goodall in the early 60s that changed the way we understand our closest living relatives. This incredible legacy of knowledge and science is continued by the Jane Goodall Institute, and is home of the longest running wild chimpanzee study in the […]

The Forest is Calling – Answering the Call is Our Only Hope.

April 01, 2026 — The forest is calling, can you hear it? It’s been a long time since you’ve listened – really listened – to its call. What is it saying? It’s a faint mummer, but if you try you can still hear it’s message: It’s saying that our endless consumption and reliance on new technology is silencing ecosystems, […]

JGI Jungle Journals: Dangerous Encounter with Dog Pack in Gombe

April 01, 2026 — Even within the relatively secure borders of Gombe National Park, the safety of the chimps and other wildlife can be threatened by the presence of human activity and settlements near the park boundary. Encroachment for firewood, hunting, and mushrooms have been an problem in the past, but with the conservation and humanitarian efforts of JGI […]

Best of 2018: ‘Rise of the Warrior Apes’ Wins Top Doc Film Awards!

April 01, 2026 — The culmination of over twenty years of chimpanzee research, Rise of the Warrior Apesis a visually and emotionally stunning documentary. The award-winning film follows a specific community of chimpanzees living in Ngogo, Uganda through their daily lives. By the end of filming in 2016, the group was comprised of over 200 chimpanzees, more than five […]

Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE (1934-2025)

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Chimpanzees, Culture and Spirituality

How Jane Changed Science Forever

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

Now we must redefine man, or accept chimpanzees as…humans?

Dr. Elizabeth Lonsdorf Is Taking Chimpanzee Research to the Next Level

Changing of the Chimp Matriarchal Guard in Gombe

Chimps in Gombe Teach Us So Much…What About Monkeys?

The Forest is Calling – Answering the Call is Our Only Hope.

JGI Jungle Journals: Dangerous Encounter with Dog Pack in Gombe

Best of 2018: ‘Rise of the Warrior Apes’ Wins Top Doc Film Awards!