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Gombe and Beyond: Celebrating 55 Years of Dr. Goodall’s Pioneering Research with Wild Chimpanzees

 

July 14, 2015 marks the 55th anniversary of the first time Dr. Jane Goodall set foot in what is now known as Gombe Stream National Park and launched her pioneering research with wild chimpanzees.

Over five decades ago, Dr. Goodall begin a research project unlike any other … one that has taught us so much about our closest cousins in the animal kingdom, and continues to teach us today.
Gombe Stream National Park is home to the most famous chimpanzees on earth. Because of Dr. Goodall and the dedicated researchers that have become involved since she first arrived at Gombe, the lives of these chimpanzees have been documented, photographed, filmed and put out on the public stage, perhaps more than any other wild creature ever.
The research that Jane started over fifty years ago, is as vibrant as ever, and now plays an important role not only to continue helping us understand chimpanzees, but also informing the Jane Goodall Institute’s conservation efforts in Western Tanzania, and even in some ways across the entire chimpanzee range.

Chimpanzees Bahati and her baby Baroza at Gombe National Park, Tanzania.
Chimpanzees Bahati and her baby Baroza at Gombe National Park, Tanzania.
Dr. Jane Goodall scans the tree tops for looking for chimpanzees in Gombe National Park on  July 14, 2010, the 50th anniversary o fher arrival at Gombe.
Dr. Jane Goodall scans the tree tops for looking for chimpanzees in Gombe National Park on July 14, 2010, the 50th anniversary o fher arrival at Gombe.
Young researcher Jane Goodall with David Greybeard, the first chimpanzee to lose his fear of her when she began her studies in Gombe Stream Chimpanzee Reserve in Tanganyika.
Young researcher Jane Goodall with David Greybeard, the first chimpanzee to lose his fear of her when she began her studies in Gombe Stream Chimpanzee Reserve in Tanganyika.
Trackers Iddi and Samson study chimpanzee Titan in Gombe National Park, Tanzania
Trackers Iddi and Samson study chimpanzee Titan in Gombe National Park, Tanzania
Zinda fishing for termites
Zinda fishing for termites

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