While not everybody has the opportunity to spend their life researching and advocating for nature the way Jane Goodall has, her life serves as an example of the profound cumulative impact years of small actions can have upon the world around us.
Born Valerie Jane-Morris-Goodall on April 3, 1934, she had a passion for animals and Africa from a young age, keeping a stuffed chimpanzee named Jubilee instead of a teddy bear. After moving to Kenya in 1957 she began working as a secretary for paleontologist Louis Leakey, before being sent to London in 1958 to study primate behavior. In 1960, she went to Gombe Stream National Park to perform field research: a challenging move for a young woman in a field largely dominated by men, but one that launched a lifelong study of the behavior of chimpanzees which over decades led to big changes in the way humans view the world of animals.
Goodall’s small actions began early in her career: instead of numbering the chimpanzees she studied, she gave them names. Her observations showed the primates were highly intelligent and not driven solely by instinct. They displayed individual personalities and emotional connections, they worked together, used tools, and even waged war. Her efforts eventually led to her being accepted as a member of a chimpanzee troop for nearly two years.
As an extension and continuation of her research, she has authored over two dozen books and founded multiple organizations that support chimpanzee research and conservation, in addition to serving the surrounding communities and empowering them to live better lives. She now spends most of her time traveling and advocating for chimpanzees and the environment, on the road nearly 300 days a year.
Her activism extends to her lifestyle as well: as a vegetarian, she advocates for the lives of farm animals, calling for humans to extend them genuine love, respect, and help. She speaks often about the impact of climate change upon the natural world and has formed numerous coalitions with other environmentalists and animal protection advocates. Goodall’s work has not gone unrecognized: she has been the recipient of countless honors and awards from governments, institutions, schools, and charities. In 2002 she was named a United Nations Messenger of Peace and in 2004 was named a Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.
While her life seems like an unending series of success stories, it truly is a lifelong collection of small actions made in service to the world around her. By staying true to her passion for animals and the environment, she has continued to make a positive impact in her field and beyond.