Author: Ashley Sullivan

Genetically, chimpanzees and humans share 98.6% of our DNA, and our behaviors are more than a little alike as well. 60 years ago, our previous understanding of our relationship to the rest of the animal kingdom was forever redefined by the one and only Dr. Goodall. Since 1960, research in Gombe, Tanzania has been evolving and growing, much like our two chimpanzee and human lineages from their early shared branch. Insights from Gombe help us to better understand ourselves, what is ancient versus what is unique in primates, as well as to reveal our similarities with the rest of animalkind.…

All of the chimpanzees of Tchimpounga have a different story – many are tragic, and almost all result in a rescue from either the illegal bushmeat or exotic pet trade. Many years ago, a diplomat received a chimpanzee as a gift. Luckily, this diplomat was aware that keeping a chimpanzee as a pet is a dangerous and inhumane practice. Unsure of what to do, he brought the chimp to the Brazzaville zoo in the Republic of Congo in 1991. At that time, the Jane Goodall Institute was collaborating with the Brazzaville zoo to care for the many chimpanzees that the…

When you have a cold, it’s pretty safe to say you likely have access to the resources you need to feel well again soon and not become a major threat to the human population. But what if all the medication and information on human health wasn’t as accessible or thoroughly researched as it is? For wildlife, and particularly for endangered primates, transmission of disease is often a bigger deal than the “common cold”, and information is far less available. When species are in trouble for a number of reasons, including illegal logging, poaching, and climate change, the addition of an…

Imagine, as you might often do, crouching down next to a young Jane Goodall amidst the brush of the forests of Gombe, hearing the crunching of leaves in the human-like hands of our closest living relatives, the wild chimpanzees. For John Crocker, this is not an exercise of imagination, it is the story of his life. In his youth, John Crocker was a student under Dr. Jane Goodall observing the internationally recognized chimp families of Gombe at all hours to gain integral insights into the behaviors of our great ape cousins. His depth of valuable insight from only an eight…

Shy, Kind Jack In 2013, a car came to Tchimpounga sanctuary which held two wooden boxes. In one box was a chimpanzee named Doudou, and in the other box was Jack. The two chimpanzees came with ropes and chains around their necks, and were very hungry and afraid. Quickly, the JGI staff started their work to heal these chimps emotionally and physically from the damage the people of their past had inflicted. Caretaker Jean Aimé took care of them both during their quarantine period. The sensitivity and affection of this experienced caregiver greatly aided the emotional recovery of these chimpanzees…

In times of gladness and times of sadness, we often look to the words of the wise for guidance, clarity and invigoration. It is through the written and spoken language of great thinkers and movers that we have been brought to new elevations of thought and movement. Dr. Goodall, regarded as one of the most groundbreaking scientists in human history, is also (and perhaps most importantly) a sensational storyteller and motivator. Jane, an ordinary woman from Bournemouth, England, has an extraordinary gift for sharing truth and universal human-ness – or rather, truth found in a profound human’s vision of the…

The year was full of stories – good, challenging and everything in between. GFAN stories are those fueled by hope, which inspires us all to take action. We’ve collected some of our and your favorites from this year, helping us to better understand our world, other species, other people, and what we can each do to make a huge positive impact. Explore these stories to get inspired for a year of hope, joy, passion and action in 2018! Jane Says Dr. Jane Goodall’s Message for Peace Why I Became a Vegetarian (And Why We Should All Eat Less Meat) Wayne Lotter:…

This is the story of a very special chimpanzee named George, and his long journey to his new home. Unfortunately, like thousands of other chimpanzees, George was stolen from his forest home and family for the illegal pet trade. Life for chimpanzees in Angola often very bad; the law protecting chimpanzees from the illegal trade is not sufficiently enforced, and many chimpanzees are stolen from the wild to become “pets” in the homes of illegal private owners. Luckily, when George was taken to a veterinary clinic by one of these illegal owners, he was confiscated and rescued by Dalene Dreyer,…

The holidays are a feast for the senses: the lights, the music, the warmth…and the actual feasting! It is a time to share and give, and most fundamental to those acts is the sentiment, as much as it is the food itself. As we gather together to share meals with our loved ones and nourish our souls with joy and eating, it is just as important that our choices are nourishing our sense of what is right. Together and individually, we have the choice of what kind of impact we want to make, especially when it comes to what we…

You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make. – Dr. Jane Goodall Every day we live, we have the choice of what kind of impact we want to make. Choosing to eat differently does not have to be a complete upheaval in order for it to be completely revolutionary! In the spirit of that sentiment, we are asking every individual to consider the impact of a meat-based diet and the commercial meat industry…