Author: Maxine Laberge

Across the internet, in photos, on magazine covers and jewelry pieces, we see the elephant honored and admired by animal lovers around the world. If you have ever had the chance to watch baby elephants splashing around with their mother in a pond, you have probably fallen in love these remarkable beings. Unfortunately,  for most of us the only time we likely have ever interacted with elephants is during a visit to the zoo. As it is so important to connect with animals that we may never have the chance to see up close, it’s a gift to be able…

It’s finally time to set the record straight: As much as we all love monkeys, Dr. Goodall’s studies and the work of the Jane Goodall Institute have primarily focused on chimpanzees, not monkeys. Now, I know your next question is probably, “But aren’t chimps the same thing as monkeys?” and the answer is, they are not! So what’s the difference and why does it matter? Monkeys, chimpanzees, and humans are primates. Primates are mammals that are characterized by their advanced cognitive development and abilities, grasping hands and feet, and forward-facing eyes, along with other characteristics. Some primates (including some great…

Earth Day is finally here! Every year on April 22nd, we celebrate our shared planetary home, the birth of the modern environmental movement, and take action to protect natural resources and species. Earth Day is so much more than that, and there are so many ways to get involved! Watch Dr. Goodall’s Google Doodle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8v9MvManKE Matthew Cruickshank was the lead artist (Doodler) on the project, a graphic designer, illustrator and animator, who has worked with Disney and Warner Bros. He shares, “What a joy to collaborate with Jane Goodall on Earth Day. I can think of nothing more important than…

College is rough. Most of my time May of 2017 was spent inside the library at all hours of the day studying for finals. Earlier in the semester I had decided that I was getting bored of my Public Relations major and that I would add a Business Administration major to my degree, just to make the last year and a half of college more interesting.  2017 ended up being much more interesting than I ever imagined. It was the year I decided to add a second major, the year I met Jane Goodall in the parking lot, and the…

IT’S ALMOST HERE! At long last, the new National Geographic documentary JANE by Brett Morgen is coming to you! On March 12th at 8/7 c JANE premieres as a commercial free simulcast on National Geographic and Nat Geo Wild and it’s going to blow you away. JANE, a mesmerizing film directed by Brett Morgen with musical score by Philip Glass, showcases over 100 hours of never before seen footage of Jane Goodall’s early years in Gombe in the 1960s, and has us all feeling closer than ever to Dr. Goodall’s magical time in the forest with the wild chimpanzees. All…

Once a top dog in the southwestern United States, the Mexican gray wolf is now one of the most endangered subspecies of wolf in the world. In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, thousands of Mexican gray wolves (also known as “el lobo” or “lobos”) prowled around central Mexico, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. In the 1970’s, they found the last 7 Mexican wolves in the world. With stats like these it’s no wonder that the Mexican gray wolf is considered to be one of the most endangered land mammals in the world. But there is hope! Today, their numbers…

Every day people ask me, “How can I  help Jane Goodall?  In general, people are looking to jump on the first plane to Africa in order to do whatever it takes to protect chimps and the habitats that they live in. Truthfully however, the best way to get involved with Jane’s work is by making an impact in the places closest to you, like your own community. Believe it or not, you don’t necessarily have to work for the Jane Goodall Institute to join Jane’s team… All over the world, there is a network of hardworking, every day people just…