Before visiting with the chimpanzees at the Ngamba Chimpanzee Sanctuary ( https://ngambaisland.org/) I wanted to read Jane Goodall's My Life with Chimpanzees. I bought a used copy on eBay and intended to read it on one of the 3 planes that it took to travel from Tampa to Entebbe. Sadly, Jane Goodall died the day I set out on my journey to Uganda.
I very much enjoyed reading about her childhood - and how literature (like Dr Doolittle, Tarzan, The Jungle Book) kindled her passion for becoming an ethologist. "I wanted to learn things that no one else knew, uncover secrets through patient observation. I wanted to come as close to talking with animals as I could, to be like Dr. Doolittle. I wanted to move among them without fear, like Tarzan."
I loved reading about her persistence and perseverance - and how she came to be a researcher with Louis Leakey. About her observations of the chimpanzees and scientific research. And how passionate she was about sharing her research with the general public as well.
This edition that I was reading was geared towards young people - and what an inspiring message of hope! I actually did not know about Roots & Shoots (!) - and now I need to find out if there are chapters in the Tampa Bay area.
I could not agree more with her message that each of us must realize that we can each make a difference - that we must seek to make a positive difference in our communities.
I have since bought more of her books on eBay that have been shipped to my home in Florida. So I will be able to continue learning from Jane Goodall after I return home from Africa. (And I hope my daughter will read My Life with Chimpanzees over winter break. All young people should!)
 |
| finished reading the book on the boat ride over to the island sanctuary |
 |
No comments:
Post a Comment