These were not chimpanzees that attracted my daughter to Jane Gudoll. These were chickens.
This, it would seem, is a small biographical detail in comparison with international awards awarded the respected primatologist: when she was 4 years old, the young Dr. Gudoll was accused of collecting eggs on her grandmother's farm.
She later told the interviewers that this task caused the amazing and curiosity that formed her career. Where did this egg come from? Can she wait a long enough to find out? Why were some chicken in fear when she approached, and if she sat very motionless, will they become more comfortable?
Why did we write this
With the world recalling Jane Guddlle, I again asked my daughter why she was so interested in the primatologist. Answer: Dr. Goodoll “understood something true, that no one else learned.”
When my Lydia was the same age, she also was responsible for the collection of eggs. She went with her slightly older sister, Madlin, in their degreased dresses and dirty boots, through the imperious land to our random chicken family. We adopted a collection of abandoned roosters, who in some way roamed our property, and I pulled the chicken from the neighboring farmer to save their company. My girls learned what made the chickens to download, which made them thicken, who wanted a hug (very few), and who seemed happy to hang out with us (many).
Dr. Gudolla also had to grow, her dog, and wrote that he taught her about other forms and their ability to intellect, communication and love.
Our puppies were Karu and Sky.
Neither Dr. Goodoll, nor my daughters wondered if these creatures had personality or felt emotions.
I did not surprise when, being a fifth grader, Lydia chose Dr. Gudolla for the subject of her “biographical project”. She spent weeks surrounded by a bunch of books from the library, everywhere, notes, violently making notes and sometimes moan about how, damn it, she can get all this information into one hard narrative. (She also noticed her mother.)
But the first proposal of her first paragraph continued to cause disappointment.
“Jane Gudoll watched things that no one else saw,” she wrote.
The teacher-teacher, who somehow turned out to be responsible for editing a dozen 10-year-old children, returned tender criticism. What were the scientific results of Dr. Gudolla? She asked. Can Lydia give examples? My daughter in the fifth grade did everything possible, but the second draft was equally vague. As an expert, a resident, I tried to help.
I write about the environment, rhythm, which often includes studies of animals and other scientific results. There are discovering eyes of research, documenting methods with which other species solve problems, demonstrate sympathy and decipher the riddles-growing area, largely under the influence of Dr. Goodol. Not so long ago I wrote The history of the cover For the monitor magazine about moral issues caused by our growing understanding of animal consciousness, as well as prolonged issues on how to measure the experience of creatures with completely different sensory systems.
Of course, I suggested my daughter, she could mention some studies, some studies, some facts that Dr. Goodol presented to the world.
Lydia sighed.
It was two years ago. This week, with the news about the passage of Dr. Gudolla, I again asked my daughter about this project. She remembered why Dr. Goodol took her like that? I asked.
“She understood something true that no one else recognized,” answered a clearer seventh grade. “She knew that the animals were difficult, that they had feelings, emotions. And she was ready to fight for this truth. “
According to her, she tried to explain in this previous essay, it was that Dr. Goodoll saw the truth that the “experts” around her could not or did not recognize.
It was clear when the chimpanzees were sad when they were satisfied, when they were angry, the scientist wrote. It was clear that they earned names. And it resonated with my daughter. In the end, she saw this truth in her backyard.
Later in his life, Dr. Gudoll told the interviewers about how people can go astray when we are combating intelligence, first of all. Heart, she would say, just as important. Our intelligence can bring us in amazing directions. But great power is love.
In 1991, Dr. Gudoll founded roots and shootsEnvironmental network that gives young people tools for both identifying and work solve the problems that they see In their own communities. Today, both of my daughters say that they want to start the chapter in their school. They are inspired by Dr. Goodol. Not for her awards, or documentary films, or even her excellent lectures, books, as well as the impact on how we practice science.
They are motivated by it because she showed the power of climbing trees and looked after chickens and loving dogs; She showed how trusting love can contribute to creativity to help the world.
