Gombe Stream Research Center at 65: How 65 Years of Chimpanzee Research Changed Science, Conservation, and Our Understanding of Ourselves

Every World Chimpanzee Day on July 14, we celebrate not only our closest living relatives in the animal kingdom—but also one of the most important places in the history of science and conservation: JGI’s Gombe Stream Research Center in Tanzania. This year marks 65 years of continuous research at Gombe Stream Research Center—the world’s longest-running wild chimpanzee study, driving groundbreaking discoveries in primatology, chimpanzee behavior, and wildlife conservation.

It all began in 1960 when a 26-year-old Jane Goodall arrived in what is now Gombe, Tanzania. What began with a young woman and a notebook has evolved into one of the world’s longest-running, technology-driven wildlife studies—reshaping how we understand chimpanzees and other primates, the natural world, and what it means to be human.

Now, 65 years later, Gombe’s story continues to unfold—a journey of curiosity, persistence, and innovation. With over 165,000 hours of behavioral data collected by more than 200 researchers and field assistants, Gombe has helped uncover insights on everything from chimpanzee community health monitoring to ecosystem biodiversity. To mark this milestone anniversary, we’re looking back at three defining scientific eras, each building on the last and revealing the complexity of our closest living relatives: the wild, intelligent, and deeply social chimpanzees.

*Note on dates:
Although Dr. Jane Goodall first observed many of these groundbreaking chimpanzee behaviors as early as 1960, as is typical in science, it often takes years of careful study, data collection, and peer review before findings are officially published in scientific journals. So while some of these behaviors—like tool use or meat sharing—were seen early on, the papers detailing them came out later.

Throughout this blog, all research will be referenced by its publication date, which may not reflect the exact year the behavior was first observed in the field.

Gombe Scientific Era 1: Groundbreaking Beginnings (1960s–1980s) — Tools, Hunting, and Social Discovery

This era revealed chimpanzees as toolmakers, hunters, meat sharers, and even warriors—behaviors that, at the time, were believed to be uniquely human. Jane Goodall’s early field observations upended these assumptions. In 1960, she witnessed chimpanzees stripping leaves from twigs to fish for termites, a landmark discovery that marked the first recorded instance of non-human tool use in the wild (Goodall, 1964). Later, she documented chimpanzees hunting colobus monkeys and sharing meat with one another—suggesting complex cooperation and social reciprocity (Goodall, 1986). These findings painted a far more nuanced picture of chimpanzee societies—capable of deep bonds, collaboration, and conflict.

Long-term studies also reshaped our understanding of gender roles in animal societies. Male chimpanzees were found to stay in their birth groups while females dispersed—a pattern known as male philopatry (Pusey, 1979). Even more surprising was the discovery of female-led infanticide (Pusey et al., 2008), revealing darker complexities in chimpanzee society.

Together, these discoveries redefined our understanding of what it means to be human—and showed just how rich, complex, and sometimes uncomfortable the realities of chimpanzee life can be.

Research highlight: Jane’s early observations and subsequent research from Gombe scientists revealed that chimpanzees hunt, share meat, use tools, and pass down local traditions — discoveries that helped launch modern field primatology and reshaped how we understand apes and ourselves.

Gombe Scientific Era 2: Expanding Horizons (1990s–2000s) — DNA, Disease, and New Technology

As new technologies emerged in the late 1990s and early 2000s, JGI researchers began asking deeper questions and developing new, safer methods of data collection. By 2001, genetic analysis using fecal samples (Morin et al., 2001) allowed scientists to examine genetic markers—such as those indicating parent-offspring or sibling relationships—and trace kinship among chimpanzees. This kind of analysis revealed surprising divisions between communities that aren’t apparent through behavioral observation alone—and significantly, these insights emerged without interfering with the chimpanzees’ natural behavior.

Around the same time, advances in virology led to one of the most globally significant discoveries: the identification of SIVcpz—the simian virus most closely related to HIV-1 (Keele et al., 2006). This finding established a direct link between chimpanzee health and human pandemics, expanding the relevance of Gombe research far beyond primatology and wildlife behavior.

Meanwhile, long-term behavioral studies continued to challenge and refine our understanding of chimpanzee social dynamics. Researchers found that dominant females had greater reproductive success (Pusey et al., 1997), that tool learning begins earlier in females (Lonsdorf et al., 2004), and that males who shared meat experienced less harassment (Gilby, 2006). These insights deepened our understanding of the complex social lives and developmental differences within chimpanzee communities.

By the 2000s, researchers were also looking outward—using satellite imagery to monitor environmental changes around Gombe. Remote sensing data (Wilson et al., 2007) revealed alarming trends in habitat loss and disease spread, placing chimpanzee survival within a broader conservation and landscape context.

Research highlight: Noninvasive DNA and hormone collection revolutionized field biology, allowing scientists to measure kinship, stress and disease risk – all while preserving the wild nature of the chimpanzees they studied.

Gombe Scientific Era 3: Observations into Conservation (2010s–2025) — Conflict, Conservation, Community Insights

This most recent era of Gombe research—spanning from the 2010s to today—has been marked by an integrated approach that combines behavioral observation, genetic data, and long-term monitoring to inform broader conservation strategies. By connecting how chimpanzees live, interact, and reproduce with the broader challenges they face, researchers are uncovering what it truly takes to support their survival in the wild.

For example, studies revealed that while high-ranking males father more offspring, lower-ranking males also succeed through persistence and strategic social bonds (Wroblewski et al., 2009), demonstrating that there is more than one path to reproductive success. Sexual coercion was shown to give aggressive males a reproductive edge (Feldblum et al., 2014), while females actively avoided inbreeding by steering clear of close relatives (Walker et al., 2017), showing a sophisticated level of reproductive decision-making.

One of the most critical findings of this era came from a landmark 2014 study (Wilson et al.), which provided definitive evidence that chimpanzees engage in organized intergroup conflict. This behavior had long been observed in Gombe, but some critics argued it might be a result of human disturbance. The 2014 study debunked that idea by documenting similar patterns across multiple chimpanzee communities, firmly establishing intergroup aggression as a natural part of chimpanzee social life.

By understanding the complex interplay of genetics, behavior, and social structure, conservationists are better equipped to design strategies that ensure the survival of not just individual chimpanzees, but the integrity of their communities, social bonds, and culture.

Research highlight: Gombe’s long-term lens showed us the complexity of survival – that evolution is not just about dominance but also about cooperation, strategy and adaptation to a changing world.

The Future of Gombe Stream Research Center: Continuing Legacy in Primate Research and Conservation

For 65 years, the forests of Gombe have buzzed with discovery. From Jane’s first observations that shattered our assumptions about what it means to be human, to the ever-evolving science that connects behavior, health, genetics, and conservation—each era has deepened our understanding of our own human nature, the lives of chimpanzees, and the other abundant species who call Gombe home.

Behind every breakthrough are the passionate researchers and field teams who ask bold questions and listen closely to the answers nature provides. As we celebrate this milestone, we invite you to meet some of these remarkable individuals in our upcoming “Voices from Gombe” blog, and to support JGI’s work as a Gombe Science Hero, or contribute directly to JGI’s mission.

Right now, your donation can have double the impact thanks to our special matching campaign—every gift you make will be matched dollar-for-dollar, helping to advance vital research and conservation efforts.

Because the story of Gombe is still being written—and we can’t wait to see what the next chapter holds.

🔗Learn more about becoming a Gombe Science Hero.

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