Roots & Shoots
Jane Goodall is famous for her work on chimpanzees. She decided to go to Africa after reading Doctor Dolittle and Tarzan’s books. When she was 11 years old, she knew she would somehow end up in Africa to live with animals, study them, and publish books about them. To understand animals, Goodall advises us to watch and observe their behavior. She also said, “It is important that you take notes and ask questions.”
Chimpanzees and humans have a lot in common. They learn much in their childhood like us, and chimp families are very close, often helping one another. They can also feel sad, happy, afraid, and angry.
Chimpanzees are generally friendly, but they can be cruel. For example, the males patrol their territories, sometimes attacking chimps from another community. However, they are also capable of showing compassion. A three-year-old chimp named Mel lost his mother and was left all alone, but a 12-year-old male chimp named Spindle took care of him. “He let him ride on his back and share his nest at night.”