GOMBE, TANZANIA — After the news finally made it to Gombe, chimps gathered around to celebrate the life of Jane Goodall, the ethologist whose groundbreaking work revolutionised understanding of chimpanzees.
In a nod to her decades-long bond with the primates, the chimps organised a symbolic “swing-off” ceremony in the forests of Gombe Stream National Park, where Goodall first began her observations in 1960.
The event featured chimp troops, with handlers simulating natural behaviors: hoots and calls echoing through the canopy, fruits shared among participants, and vines adorned with ribbons in Goodall’s honor.
“This is how Jane would have wanted it,” said Dr. Anthony Collins, director of the Jane Goodall Institute’s Gombe research center.
Chimps are also known to respond death with depression and aggressive behavior, leading to a group of chimps who dislike Jane Goodall to fling shit at the chimps celebrating her life.
Goodall, who turned 91 in March, has been a tireless advocate for chimpanzee conservation since her early days in Tanzania. Her discoveries — including evidence of tool use among chimps — challenged scientific assumptions and inspired global efforts to protect endangered primates.
At publishing time, a chimpanzee, known for creating portrait using chimp poop, has created a portrait of Jane Goodall.