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A R T I C L E S Palm Beach Post, March 15, 2001 Goodall: Dream for Chimps Becoming Reality New chimp facility founded by former student of renowned primate researcher By Jim Reeder Palm Beach Post Staff Writer 'It's been a long hard battle to get scientists to admit chimps are like us not just physically, but mentally as well.' - Jane Goodall, A director of Save the Chimps FORT PIERCE -- Scientist Jane Goodall brought her campaign to save chimpanzees to Fort Pierce Wednesday, touring the future retirement home of 21 chimps. Goodall, known through books and National Geographic television specials for her 40 years' work in Africa, is a director of Save the Chimps in western St. Lucie County. "I see a dream that's become reality," Goodall said after touring the cages and the island where chimpanzees will play. "I'm very happy with what I see." The 21 chimps used during early days of the space program or for other medical research will arrive during the next two months when construction is complete. They've been imprisoned in 5-foot-by-5-foot cells," Goodall said. "They don't know how to behave as real chimpanzees." She said they'll have to learn to socialize with other chimps and even to climb on the towers and other structures in the outdoor play area.. "It's been a long hard battle to get scientists to admit chimps are like us not just physically, but mentally as well," Goodall said. "They have feelings like happiness and despair. "They communicate with kissing and embracing," she said. "They have a dark side to their nature like we have." She said more than 95 percent of a chimpanzee's DNA is like that of humans. "They are so like us in the composition of their blood," she said. "First people said we're different because we can communicate, but they can too. "They said we can make tools, then we learned the chimps can too," Goodall said. "Now people say surely we're different because we have a soul. "We can't prove we have a soul," she said. "If we do have one, we can't prove chimps don't. "There isn't a sharp line dividing us from other animals." Structures for the chimps to climb are being build of heavy poles on the outdoor play area. Some are built to shake like a tree limb, and all will be connected by ropes for the chimps to swing on. Goodall said that as a child she liked animals and books like Dr. Doolittle and Tarzan. "I wanted to go to Africa because I thought I would make a better Jane for Tarzan," she said, laughing. Goodall met with reporters and invited guests Wednesday. She said she may be back in September to see the chimps in their new home. | |||||||||||||||
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