The biggest challenge that environmentalists face is that they still barely know anything about the living world that everyone depends upon. Slowly but surly over hundreds of years of experimentation an observation that understanding becomes greater. But the anthropocentric ideals that have made human race so successful are beginning to unwind. Jane Goodall's research on chimpanzee behavior in the 60's was monumental in understanding the human psyche because they are the closet living relatives to humans. Through her research she discovered that learning also plays a key role in a chimpanzee's way of life. Females chimps nurture young for at least 5 years and in that time the young learn from their elders and gain necessary survival skills through "Observation Imitation and Practice". It has been observed that chimpanzee also have been able to adapt the use of tools in this way. Populations from different geographic regions have been able to create and use tools to suit their own unique needs. Chimpanzees create complex family groups in which a unique personality within every individual this is what she calls a sort of a primitive culture. "In chimpanzee society we find many examples of compassion, precursors to love and true altruism. Unfortunately they, like us have a dark side to their nature, their capable of extreme brutality even a kind of primitive war and these aggressive behavior for the most part are directed against individuals of the neighboring social group." These observations reinforce the fact that we are so deeply connected to the earth. The ecocentric values that lay in the center of indigenous culture for thousands of years are once again being reassured by scientific research.
Citations:
"Jane Goodall helps humans and animals live together" courtesy of www.ted.com
Photo:
www.janegoodall.org
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