The ethologist is known and recognized all over the world. His research on chimpanzees is a milestone in scientific life, and his nature and environmental protection movement (Roots & Shoots), which covers about a hundred countries, gives hope to millions of people. We salute 90-year-old Jane Goodall with personal accounts of meetings with her.
We asked conservationists, volunteers of the Hungarian Jane Goodall Institute and readers of Turista Magazine to share how their personal and/or reading experiences related to Jane Goodall inspired them in life. The received writings clearly show that Jane’s personality goes well beyond her work in zoology, nature conservation and environmental protection, as many see the renowned researcher as a kind of spiritual leader. “Everyone’s grandmother”, an “icon”, a “role model” for girls and women, a “true person”. What could be the secret of Jane’s magical power, who appears on the stage of packed stadiums with the energy of a rock star, while having an encouraging word for everyone with the kindness of an elf? Hopefully, the answers will emerge from the reports provided below.
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Photo: Pál György Gadó
A girl in the wilderness
As you know, Jane was only 26 years old when, following her passion for animals in the wild, she came to Gombe, Tanzania, where she began researching chimpanzees in the wild. His groundbreaking observation that chimpanzees make and use tools shook the scientific world to its foundations and forever rewrote the relationship between humans and the animal world. All this success was achieved by a young girl without a university degree alone in the African wilderness. It’s no wonder that Jane Goodall’s pioneering work on ethology sparked the curiosity of many children who still instinctively marveled at nature, and her books probably inspired millions of people to become primate researchers.
Veronika Gáspár, one of the volunteers of the Jane Goodall Institute in Hungary, put it this way: “Since I can remember, I have loved animals and after Steve Irwin, I first became acquainted with the name and work of Jane Goodall. He was the one who introduced me deeper and deeper into this world. I remember the moment when my parents gave me my first book by him: “Do you still have animals?” His writing has been one of my favorites ever since. It is because of him that I decided to become an ethologist – and although it did not turn out that way, my love for animals has not changed one bit”.
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Photo: Buttercup Balogh
But it is clear from the answers at this point that it is not only about nature conservation and zoology, but about something much more. “I’ve always wanted to work with endangered animal species, but over the years I’ve lost my motivation more than once, as mass extinction often seems unstoppable.
However, Jane Goodall is HOPE with a capital letter for me – I have had the opportunity to listen to her lectures three times so far, and after all of them I have come away bright-eyed and ready for action.
He has incredible strength, he can move crowds, and if it weren’t for him, I might not be a conservation biologist protecting species and habitats, but I would have given up the fight a long time ago,” writes Renáta Szarvas.
And, of course, the work of Jane Goodall left a deep impression on the members of our editorial team. Judit Tóth, who also conducted an interview with the researcher, puts it this way: “Since I was a university student, Jane Goodall has been one of my great role models. As a first-year biology student, I could have imagined a life like hers, somewhere in Africa. All this remained a dream, but my admiration for this fantastic man has not faded since then”.
Every little thing you do counts, or when Jane truly lives again
After the research she started in Africa was continued by her students (to this day, it is the world’s longest continuous research documenting the behavior of living animals), Jane became an ambassador for nature and environmental protection. He plunged into this with blazing force: according to the 2017 National Geographic documentary, the researcher had not spent more than three weeks in one place since 1986 (until the film was completed). Its aim is to awaken people’s sense of personal responsibility. The Jane Goodall Institute, a global organization founded in 1977, assists in the implementation of her lectures.
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Photo: Pál György Gadó
Jane’s tremendous energy is well presented in the writing of Pál György Gadó (Sas-hegy Védő Egyesület), who met her in 2019 while planting trees on Sas-hegy. “Not on the beautiful dolomite rocks at the top of the mountain, but at the bottom of the mountain, whose littered thickets have been turned into a real oak forest by professional conservationists a few years ago. Jane’s arrival was enthusiastically received by children and adults alike, she was nice and looked… tired. During the long eulogy in Hungarian, I pondered how he could handle this many trips, whether it was worth the carbon dioxide and the effort. Then he got a word – and he didn’t say a word. He heard the chimpanzees’ hoots of welcome, and in an instant all the children and adults raised their heads. He switched to human language, talked about destruction, things to do, and especially hope, and planted a pear tree.
When she could talk to the young – and not so young – Jane really lived again.
It was a great experience for me to be able to make a 29-second video interview with him. He didn’t have to explain long, he knew exactly what we expected from him. His eyes sparkled, enchanted by his composure. He talked about Eagle Mountain and hope. Jane’s little wacky tree is still blooming by the path.”
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Photo: Buttercup Balogh
On this occasion, our colleague Judit Tóth also met him: “That August day was oppressively hot, we hid in the shade of a tent from the hot sun. As I sat down next to him on the carpet spread on the grass, I could feel him and see in his every movement that he was very tired. He could have managed to finish the interview as soon as possible with a few canned sentences, but he answered all the questions at length. Since then, I often remember two of his famous sentences, which he told me at the time, and which I have made a kind of personal motto: “Every little action counts. Every single day, every single minute, anyone can do something to make the world a better place.”
Our existence depends on protecting nature
Jane Goodall now speaks to millions of people indirectly, and a particularly important element of her work is the connection between nature conservation and environmental protection. In Budapest, not only can we find her name next to the mentioned vaccorfa, but also Józsi, one of the Caspian angry skiers of Sas-hegy, was named in the spirit of Jane by the environmental educator and colleague János Kremnicsán. “For the 18th year now, I have been doing my environmental education and attitude shaping work in the Sas-hegy nature conservation area of the Danube-Ipoly National Park Administration. Already in 2008, a two-meter-long Caspian angry glider appeared before our eyes, which was a sensation because, according to the Academy of Sciences, this highly protected reptile had already disappeared from this habitat. My colleague has read almost all of Jane’s works, and in order to share this great discovery with our visitors as clearly as possible, he told us to give it a name, since this is how Jane was able to bring her favorite chimpanzees closer to her readers. Since then, Józsi, the angry glider, has been one of the main show elements of our educational trail tours.”
Environmental educator Dr. Szilvia Jankainé Németh met Jane in May 2023, also as an employee of the aforementioned DINPI, and she definitely wanted to get close to her. “I thought a lot about what I could give him. Something personal, Hungarian and valuable. I decided on a small English/Hungarian Pilinszky volume, published 20 years ago, covered in beautiful black velvet, which was waiting for this day on my bookshelf. I wrote a few lines, signed it and hoped that I would have the opportunity to hand it over. It worked!” Although Szilvia no longer works for the Administration of the Duna-Ipoly National Park, she promotes the Roots and Shoots “Roots and Roots” movement in the Esztergom area as a volunteer.
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Photo: Judit Tóth
According to Diána Tislér, Jane Goodall is a real example for everyone, “but especially for those of us who are involved in shaping attitudes towards nature conservation, to make everyone understand that our existence depends on the protection of nature! And to not give up despite indifference! Jane Goodall is a real example for me, even if it is very difficult, I will pick up one of her books…
His latest book is a real spiritual refreshment! He taught me to never give up, even when it feels like the whole world is deaf.
All my respect goes to him!”
Jane’s endless love and attention touches everyone
If Jane has such an impact through her books and lectures, we can only imagine what it would be like to feel her personal radiance up close. András Zakar, the horticultural director of FőKERT, for example, was in this fortunate situation. “I have been inspired by his ideas since I was a child. His positive attitude, his trust in the future generation, the calmness and wisdom that emanates from his being and above all the endless love he has for nature. From the smallest living thing to our living planet itself. I was very excited to meet him, I almost didn’t believe that this would happen in my life. Meeting and talking to him was an experience of a lifetime. It confirmed that all the work I do at the Main Garden is important and that we are moving in the right direction. Increasing biodiversity, reinvigorating the urban environment, increasing the capital’s green areas and rethinking their function are essential. Jane surprised me: after the tree planting (afforestation) together, I thought I could no longer have contact with her, but she wrote me a letter that we have been guarding ever since. In the letter, I received further encouragement and a promise that we will continue to think together at our next meeting.”
But Jane not only wrote a letter addressed to one of the leaders of the Main Garden, Vanda Nánási, another volunteer of the Jane Goodall Institute, also received a message from him, which is a big deal considering how many people Jane meets around the world (even if it’s a secretary write these letters). “When I would have had the opportunity to meet him in person at the study trail named after him in 2023, I had just graduated, but I managed to make it to his ELTE lecture in the afternoon, so I decided to write him a small personal message and give it to him. At the end of the performance, I had to fight my way through the security guard, and then one of his attendants took the message from me. I wasn’t sure she would get it, but two months later I got an email: Dear Vanda! You wrote me a note – no idea when. I just found it. You promised to help make the world a better place, and I am just hoping that you are doing just that? Don’t ever give up!”
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Photo: Judit Tóth, Boglárka Balogh
The already mentioned Veronika Gáspár’s dream also came true last year. “We didn’t just meet, but we talked a bit and he even held my hand. I didn’t think someone would have such an impact on me, but the way he held my hand, as gently as a grandmother, was really touching. The fact that a picture was taken of this is especially wonderful. If that wasn’t enough, he even dedicated his latest book to us.
Jane Goodall is a real miracle, a bit of everyone’s grandmother, who tries to set an example for the younger generation.
It was one of the most important moments of my life and I will be forever grateful for it!”
Jane Goodall, the unique individual
Nevertheless, I think Réka Gubacsi’s formulation may be closest to Jane Goodall’s heart, since in her eyes all living beings are truly equal and worthy of protection and love:
Jane Goodall is such a unique, infinitely loyal and special individual among humanity, who is and will be on Earth by no accident until she fulfills her mission of saving the Earth.
We couldn’t have greeted the eternally young researcher deeply respected by the editors of Turista Magazin on the occasion of his 90th birthday with a more beautiful closing sentence!
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