00:00A trailblazing scientist, she pioneered the close study of chimpanzees in the wild
00:04and went on to become one of the world's most prominent environmental activists.
00:09Conservationist Jane Goodall has died at the age of 91.
00:13As well as her groundbreaking observations, she also drew the public into the wild,
00:18partnering with the National Geographic Society to bring her beloved chimps into their lives
00:24through film, TV and magazines.
00:26Well, for more on her life and legacy, we're joined now by Pierre Cantar,
00:30president of the Jane Goodall Institute here in France.
00:33Thanks so much for being with us on the programme this evening, Pierre.
00:37Jane Goodall, she's credited with...
00:40Thanks for being with us.
00:41So, Jane Goodall, she's credited with revolutionising science.
00:46It's a big claim. Tell us, how exactly will she be remembered?
00:49And for you, what were her most groundbreaking achievements?
00:52I think that she, I mean, there's, you know, many, many achievements that Jane did during her life.
01:02Of course, she's well known for having the first one to be discovering that chimps were actually making tools and using tools.
01:13And that was not, you know, the only capability that was for human beings, but only animals.
01:23And of course, you know, furthermore, we've discovered much more about animals and their capability.
01:30But she's, you know, been an explorer, she's been a scientist, and then she became an activist to play a huge role during all those years for the environment, for people and for peace in general.
01:51And how will she be most remembered, then, as a tireless advocate, as you say, for the protection and restoration of the natural world?
02:00I think so.
02:01I think so.
02:02I think that she's not only a primatologist, she's been acting for environment globally.
02:09And of course, as you know, she's united, she was united nation messenger of peace.
02:15So, I think that a lot of scientists around the world, a lot of environmentalists, you know, sees her as a guide and for all those years.
02:28And I think that she will be remembered as, you know, a very famous environmentalist.
02:36That's what we think.
02:37And of course, you know, for what she has done in terms of protecting the environment, setting up an NGO, having people on the ground, trying to focus on education of the younger people.
02:53So, she's done so much that I think that she will be environmental for the whole, all those things that she's done in her life.
03:05And while we're always hearing so much bad news when it comes to the environment, climate change, global warming, but Jane, she really tried to balance those realities with a message of hope, didn't she?
03:17It wasn't all doom and gloom for her.
03:21Yeah, absolutely.
03:21I think that was, you know, something that she was very happy to do is she was always trying to pull people in the right direction.
03:35So, with a very positive message, basically saying that, you know, if everyone acts, that those acts all together can actually make change.
03:47And it's, you know, not necessarily always too late, although, you know, there is so much pressure on the environment and so on.
03:54And actually, the groundwork that we do in many countries, but mostly in Africa, proves that, you know, with specific actions, including people, including, you know, all the ecosystem, it works.
04:17And actually, we can, you know, reforest areas, we can regenerate the environment and so on.
04:23So, it's, she's always had that very positive message and that message forwarding it to, you know, the Roots and Shoes programs, which is the educational program that she's been working on for 30 years now.
04:36And she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, also by former U.S. President Joe Biden.
04:42Talk to us a little bit about the very many civilian awards and honours she received during her lifetime, Pierre.
04:47I think that she has so many awards that she's been given during all her careers that, you know, would take a lot of time.
04:59But, yes, she's been recognized for so many things and for not only environmental actions that she's very well known from the public for,
05:13but also for her actions towards people, towards peace.
05:20And with the NGO, the Jane Goodwill Institute, you know, we act, we have the Peace Day, we have different type of actions,
05:30but which goes beyond purely pure environmental activist work.
05:36Pierre, we'll have to leave it there for now, but thank you so much for being with us on the program this evening.
05:40We do appreciate your time. That is Pierre Cantar, president of the Jane Goodwill Institute here in France.
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