- Jane Goodall achieved her childhood dream to live with and study chimpanzees in Africa
- She made groundbreaking discoveries about chimpanzees, including their use of tools and their aggressive nature
- Goodall now travels the world to fight for various causes
- Chimpanzees are fascinating to her because they are similar to humans in many ways, including biologically
- She emphasizes that chimpanzees should not be kept as pets and can become dangerous as they grow older
- Goodall faced criticism for giving her chimps names instead of numbers for scientific objectivity
- She demonstrates chimpanzee vocalizations, including a coughing sound to indicate not sharing food
- The interview ends with Goodall thanking the interviewer and engaging in playful vocalizations.

For our series People Who Think Good, John Oliver sits down for a banana with Dr. Jane Goodall, one of the world's foremost experts in chimpanzees.

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Across the broad expanse of history, there have been billions upon billions of idiots, as well as a handful of smart people.

We interviewed some of the latter group for our ongoing series, Great Minds, People Who Think Good.

This week's People Who Thinks Good, Jane Goodall.

In her 20s, Jane Goodall achieved her childhood dream, to live with and study the chimpanzees in Africa, to whom she gave exotic names.

she had no formal training or even an undergraduate degree, but the discoveries of this daring young woman revolutionized our understanding of these primates, starting with this bombshell.

The chimpanzee is actually modifying a natural object to suit it to a specific purpose, thus making a tool.

That's right, chimps were making and using tools, albeit pretty crappy tools for a pretty disgusting purpose.

Chimpanzees, like humans, have a dark side to their nature.

Yes, Goodall was also the first to show that these peaceful forest vegetarians...

-...were actually meat-eating assholes who frequently engaged in chimpy-chimp-on-chimp chimpside.

After decades in the field, Goodall now spends her time traveling the world to fight for a variety of causes, with occasional interruptions to speak with a not-so-smart person.

Dr Jane Goodall, thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me.

You are widely recognised as 1 of the great experts on chimpanzees.

What makes them particularly so fascinating to you?

I think because they're so like us and you know we now know biologically we share 98 plus percent of our DNA with them, blood system, the immune system, the structure of the brain, it's all almost the same.

And then for me, of course, it's the behaviour.

The fact that they have personalities, they have emotions like happiness, sadness, fear.

They communicate with kissing, embracing, holding hands, patting 1 another on the back, shaking the fist.

I can't even say they're bad pets, because they're not pets.

Well, I mean, they're nice acquaintances, housebound friends.

They're very cute and sweet and cuddly when they're little.

And why do people have their face bitten off?

Focus on the fact that when you dress them up, they're so funny.

At no point in your time living amongst chimpanzees did you think about pulling out a little monocle and a top hat and a silver tray and training them to bring you a cold drink?

No point did I think any such ridiculous thing.

Well then we shall disagree for the rest of our lives.

They were not without their initial criticisms.

For instance, 1 point of contention was that you gave your chimps nicknames.

To be scientific, I should have given them numbers.

What's the scientific argument for not giving them names?

So if you give them a name, you're treating them like people.

to throw some names at you, and I want you to say if you think they would be a good name for a chimp or a bad name for a chimp.

Poo throw at people that I think need poo thrown at them.

Jane, who do you think needs poo thrown at them?

I mean, I'm gonna pick somebody like Hitler cuz he's gone

Puthrow Hitler is an amazing name for a chimp.

Now, while you were living with them, you learned that chimps had specific vocalisations.

Well, if I'm eating something, Like, you know, and you want some.

HE COUGHS HE MIMICS COUGHING No, you don't say that.

Jane Goodall, thank you so much for taking the time.


Speaker 0: Of the world. We'll be right back.

Speaker 1: Across the broad expanse of history, there have been billions upon billions of idiots, as well as a handful of smart people. We interviewed some of the latter group for our ongoing series, Great Minds, People Who Think Good. This week's People Who Thinks Good, Jane Goodall.

Speaker 0: Whoo! Whoo! Whoo!

Speaker 2: In her 20s, Jane Goodall achieved her childhood dream, to live with and study the chimpanzees in Africa, to whom she gave exotic names.

Speaker 3: Hello, Mike. At this point,

Speaker 2: she had no formal training or even an undergraduate degree, but the discoveries of this daring young woman revolutionized our understanding of these primates, starting with this bombshell.

Speaker 0: The chimpanzee is actually modifying a natural object to suit it to a specific purpose, thus making a tool.

Speaker 2: That's right, chimps were making and using tools, albeit pretty crappy tools for a pretty disgusting purpose. But she also found something else.

Speaker 3: Chimpanzees, like humans, have a dark side to their nature.

Speaker 2: Yes, Goodall was also the first to show that these peaceful forest vegetarians... -...were actually meat-eating assholes who frequently engaged in chimpy-chimp-on-chimp chimpside. After decades in the field, Goodall now spends her time traveling the world to fight for a variety of causes, with occasional interruptions to speak with a not-so-smart person. Dr Jane Goodall, thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me.

Speaker 3: Well, thank you for inviting me.

Speaker 2: You are widely recognised as 1 of the great experts on chimpanzees. What makes them particularly so fascinating to you?

Speaker 3: I think because they're so like us and you know we now know biologically we share 98 plus percent of our DNA with them, blood system, the immune system, the structure of the brain, it's all almost the same. Just our brain is bigger. And then for me, of course, it's the behaviour. The fact that they have personalities, they have emotions like happiness, sadness, fear. They communicate with kissing, embracing, holding hands, patting 1 another on the back, shaking the fist.

They use tools.

Speaker 2: Is that what makes them such great pets? Pets?

Speaker 0: They're the worst

Speaker 3: possible... They're not pets. I can't even say they're bad pets, because they're not pets.

Speaker 2: Well, I mean, they're nice acquaintances, housebound friends.

Speaker 3: They're not. And what happens? They're very cute and sweet and cuddly when they're little. And what happens when they're 567? And why do people have their face bitten off?

Speaker 2: Don't focus on that, though. Focus on the fact that when you dress them up, they're so funny.

Speaker 3: No, they're not.

Speaker 2: What about a chimpanzee butler? No. At no point in your time living amongst chimpanzees did you think about pulling out a little monocle and a top hat and a silver tray and training them to bring you a cold drink?

Speaker 3: No point did I think any such ridiculous thing.

Speaker 2: Did you ever put a hat

Speaker 0: on them? No. You never

Speaker 2: put a hat on them? No. You never put a hat on a chimpanzee? No. I refuse to believe that.

Speaker 3: Well then we shall disagree for the rest of our lives.

Speaker 2: OK, fair enough. Let's talk a little about your methods. They were not without their initial criticisms. For instance, 1 point of contention was that you gave your chimps nicknames. Why did people criticise that?

Speaker 3: Yeah, well not nicknames, names. Just names.

Speaker 2: Just actual names?

Speaker 3: Yeah, well, I was... To be scientific, I should have given them numbers.

Speaker 2: What's the scientific argument for not giving them names?

Speaker 3: Because it's more objective. So if you give them a name, you're treating them like people.

Speaker 0: I'm going

Speaker 2: to throw some names at you, and I want you to say if you think they would be a good name for a chimp or a bad name for a chimp. Ready? Jessica Chimpson. Yeah. Dr Ben Annapil, MD.

Too long. Fair enough. How about this is a little simpler. Poo Throw Wilson. LAUGHTER Right?

Speaker 3: Yeah, that's fine.

Speaker 2: OK, that's good.

Speaker 0: I'm going

Speaker 3: to poo throw somebody else.

Speaker 2: Where are you going there?

Speaker 3: Poo throw at people that I think need poo thrown at them.

Speaker 2: Jane, who do you think needs poo thrown at them?

Speaker 3: Well, I'll give an example. I mean, I'm gonna pick somebody like Hitler cuz he's gone

Speaker 1: right

Speaker 3: Puthrow Hitler great

Speaker 2: Puthrow Hitler is an amazing name for a chimp. Fantastic. Now, while you were living with them, you learned that chimps had specific vocalisations. Can you tell me a little about that?

Speaker 3: Well, if I'm eating something, Like, you know, and you want some. Yeah.

Speaker 2: And you

Speaker 3: come up to me. Right. You might beg, just like that. Yeah. But I don't want to give you any, so...

HE COUGHS Pretty obvious. HE COUGHS HE MIMICS COUGHING No, you don't say that. You say... You say...

Speaker 4: HE MIMICS COUGHING Chain. Chain. HE COUGHS Hey.

Speaker 0: HE COUGHS You... HE CHUCKLES

Speaker 3: I ain't giving you any? I don't like you. Oh,

Speaker 2: don't take it down that much. Dr. Jane Goodall, thank you so much for taking the time.

Speaker 0: Thank you. It's endlessly beautiful to listen to.

Speaker 2: Thank you. You're more than welcome.

Speaker 3: I should do it 2 ways. And you've been good.

Speaker 0: Ah, ah. Oh. Ah, ah. Oh. That's some good.

Ah.

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Dr. Jane Goodall Interview: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)