Caryn Asherson
SED 625SC
Dr. Rivas
December 13, 2006
Conference Paper
The 2006 Chimpanzoo Conference: A Program of the Jane Goodall Institute
The 2006 Chimpanzoo conference was hosted by the Los Angeles Zoo
and Botanical Gardens from September 29 to October 1. The overall theme was
“War of the Worlds: Chimpanzee Protection versus Chimpanzee Exploitation.”
The chief mission of the conference was to compare and contrast the life
experiences of legally protected captive chimpanzees living in a zoo with the life
of exploited privately owned (pet, entertainment, or laboratory) chimpanzees.
Furthermore, the goal was to define the existing legal protection for chimpanzees
and to discuss the current problems with these laws and how to take action to
improve the protection of chimpanzees.
Jane Goodall made a presentation regarding her groundbreaking work
with wild chimpanzees that started forty-seven years ago in Tanzania. She
discussed the foundation of the Jane Goodall Institute and how she established
Roots and Shoots, a program that inspires people of all ages to make a
difference in the world. She acknowledged the dangers chimps face outside of
captivity, including destruction of their natural habitat and commercial meat
hunters. She is striving to increase legal safeguards that would protect
chimpanzees that are in private ownership.
A major strength of this discussion was that it was given by the foremost
expert in primate research today. This gave remarkable credibility to the claims
being made. Furthermore, Jane Goodall gave a history of her research
explaining that she was almost sent home after the first six months of her study
because the research grant that enabled her to carry out her studies was about
to run out. Just before she was forced to go home, she was the first to discover
that chimps used tools. Before that, scientists thought humans were the only
species to use tools. This revolutionary discovery paved the way for her lifelong
research. By relating this personal story to her audience, she seemed to be
forming a relationship with her listeners. She spoke in a relaxed, non-technical
way as if she was having a conversation with a friend over lunch. This informal
approach inspired listeners to take up her cause.
Since Jane Goodall is a renowned primatologist and one of the major
pioneers of primate research, it is not surprising that I had difficulty finding any
weaknesses in her presentation. She made an excellent argument against the
use of chimpanzees for research in medical laboratories. However, one
suggestion that I have for future conferences would be to include speakers who
represent the side of the medical laboratories, as well as those opposed to the
use of chimpanzees in labs. By allowing a representative from the health
industry to share the purposes and benefits of using the chimpanzees for
research, any cause for bias would be removed.
As a teacher, I am always trying to demonstrate to my students that they
can make a difference. They can choose the impact that their actions will have
on the world. This lecture inspired me to teach my students that they can make
small changes that will add up and lead to big changes. I am equipped with
knowledge on how to encourage my students to become conservationists. I
received information on beginning a Roots and Shoots chapter in my school.
The goals of the program include making the world a better place for people,
animals, and the environment. It encourages students to give back to their
community. I teach about ecology and endangered species and getting my
students interested in the plight of the chimpanzees can ultimately lead to
discussions about the environment and the ability of the students to protect it.
This lecture left me feeling well prepared to urge my students to recognize their
personal responsibility to effect change through their actions.