1. Unique and Individual Personalities

At the time of Goodall’s research in Gombe, insufficient research was devoted to the study of Chimpanzee behaviour and community structure. The common belief was that only humans had distinct minds and personalities. On the other hand, animals like Chimpanzees were viewed as bundles of stimulus and response and it was morally impermissible to discuss the presence of animals’ mind and personalities. However, Goodall’s research observed Chimpanzees to have unique and individual personalities through behaviours like hugs, kisses, pats on the back, and even tickling. These were what humans considered to be actions that distinguished us from the animal kingdom back then. 

2. Tool-making

While observing David Greybeard feeding at a termite mound, Goodall watched him repeatedly place stalks of grass and twigs into termite holes. Upon removal, the twigs and leaves were covered with clinging termites. Goodall also witnessed Greybeard stripping leaves off twigs from trees to make the twigs more effective in gathering termites. Goodall recognised that Chimpanzees were engaging in the primitive beginnings of tool-making that allowed them to effectively “fish” for termites. Goodall’s findings had stirred quite a commotion among scientists, as it was a time where humans had set ourselves apart from the rest of the animal kingdom as superior beings who had the unique ability to create tools. In response to Goodall’s revolutionary findings that contradicted the widespread belief of “Man as Toolmaker”, Louis Leakey’s declared how “We must now redefine man, redefine tool, or accept chimpanzees as human.” –  Jane Goodall’s interview with Claudia Dreifus from Science Times (Nov 15, 2010).

3. Myth of Passive Vegetarians 

   Did you know? The Chimpanzees at Gombe kill and eat as much as one-third of the Colobus population in the park each year!

   

   Chimpanzees eating a Colubus monkey.

Contrary to the affectionate and loving behaviours within the Chimpanzee community, Goodall also witnessed the aggressive nature of the Chimpanzees where they systematically hunt and devour smaller primates like Colobus monkeys. She had observed a hunting group isolate a Colobus monkey high in a tree and strategically block all possible exits. After one Chimpanzee captured and killed the Colobus monkey, each member of the hunting group returned to their troop with different parts of the carcass, where begging behaviours were rewarded with access to the carcass. Once again, this major scientific find challenged previous beliefs of Chimpanzee diet whom scientists believed to be passive vegetarians. 

4. Aggression of Female Chimpanzees

Female Chimpanzees have long been thought to be the less aggressive sex compared to their male counterparts. Back in 1976 however, Goodall witnessed how a pair of mother and daughter Chimpanzees, Passion and Pom, had killed and devoured at least three Chimpanzee infants in Gombe. Goodall herself even had to intervene to prevent the death of another Chimpanzee by shouting and throwing sticks at them. This shocking revelation further revolutionised the contemporary knowledge of Chimpanzee diet and feeding behaviours.