The Story of Jane Goodall: An Animal Hero
Jane Goodall was born in England in 1934. From a very young age, she loved animals. She spent hours watching chickens on her grandmother's farm and read books about animals in Africa. Her dream was to live with animals in Africa and write about them. Many people told her it was not a good job for a girl, but Jane did not listen. She was determined to follow her dream.
When she was 23 years old, Jane traveled to Kenya, Africa. She met a famous scientist named Dr. Louis Leakey. He saw that she had a special way with animals and believed in her dream. Dr. Leakey asked Jane to go to Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania to study chimpanzees. She had no scientific degree, just her passion and a notebook.
Jane's first months in Gombe were very difficult. The chimpanzees were afraid of her and ran away when she came near. Jane was patient. She watched them from a distance every day, slowly gaining their trust. She gave the chimpanzees names instead of numbers, like Fifi and David Greybeard.
One day, she saw something amazing. She watched David Greybeard take a small branch, strip its leaves off, and use it to get termites from a termite mound. Before this moment, scientists believed that only humans could make and use tools. Jane's discovery changed science forever. It showed that chimps are much more intelligent than people thought. This was a very important finding.
For over 60 years, Jane has lived and worked to help chimpanzees. She has traveled all over the world to teach people about them and about how we need to protect our planet. She started a program called "Roots & Shoots" to teach young people to care for the environment and for animals.
Jane Goodall's life shows us that one person can make a huge difference. She followed her heart and proved that passion and hard work can lead to amazing discoveries. She is a true hero for animals and for our world.
Vocabulary List
These words will help you understand the story. Tap the speaker to hear each word.
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determined
Having made a firm decision and not allowing anyone to change it.
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passion
A very strong feeling of love or enthusiasm for something.
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notebook
A book of blank pages for writing notes.
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gaining
Obtaining or getting something.
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trust
A belief that someone is honest and will not harm you.
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branch
A part of a tree that grows out from the trunk or from another branch.
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strip
To remove all the leaves from a plant or tree.
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termites
Small insects that eat wood and live in large groups.
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discovery
The act of finding something for the first time.
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intelligent
Having the ability to learn and understand things easily.
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finding
A piece of information that is found after a study or search.
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chimpanzees
A type of large ape from Africa.
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protect
To keep someone or something safe from harm.
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environment
The natural world, including the air, water, and land.
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patience
The ability to wait calmly for a long time.
Comprehension Questions
Answer these questions about the story of Jane Goodall.
- What was Jane Goodall's dream when she was a child?
- What did Dr. Louis Leakey ask Jane to do?
- What did Jane do to gain the chimpanzees' trust?
- What important discovery did Jane make about David Greybeard?
- What is the purpose of the "Roots & Shoots" program?