Transcript:

In 1960, Jane Goodall arrived in Kenya, and with the help of paleontologist Louis Leakey , began her lifelong study of chimpanzees in Tanzania's Gombe National Park. I'm Jim Metzner and this is the Pulse of the Planet.ambience, Gombe ReserveGoodall: The first thing I had to do was to convince the chimpanzees I wasn't, in fact, such a terrifying object as they thought at first. It took a very long time before they let me get close. And during that time, through my binoculars, I was able to start learning something about their complex behavior.Dr. Jane Goodall.Goodall: Throughout the whole thirty years, there have been amazing observations. The first one was when I observed chimpanzees in the wild, not only using objects as tools, but actually making tools. Up to that time it was the definition of our species that I learned at school, 'Man the Toolmaker.' So Louis Leakey made his now famous remark, 'Now we must redefine "tool" redefine "man" or accept chimpanzees as humans.' Then there was the fact that chimpanzees sometimes hunt cooperatively, and eat meat and share the flesh. And I think perhaps the most fascinating thing over the whole 30 years, has been to follow the development of these amazing long term, friendly, supportive bonds between family members which last right through a life-span of fifty years or more.On those days when I can be back at Gombe, I like to throw myself into the research: get up very early in the morning when it's still dark; go to the place where a group of chimpanzees has made their nest for the night; stay with them either all day, or for as much of the day as I can keep up with them; picking out one particular individual and writing down everything he or she does until it's evening.This archival program is part of our thirtieth anniversary celebration. If you want hear more, check out our podcast.