Kid Reporter Charlie Kadado had the chance of a lifetime to sit down with esteemed anthropologist, Dr. Jane Goodall, for a one-on-one interview to discuss her amazing and groundbreaking work with chimpanzees.

Dr. Goodall was a young woman when she first ventured into the jungles of Tanzania to study the habits of chimpanzees, finding that they had many human-like qualities. Beside the fact that Dr. Goodall conducted this research at a time when virtually no women were in the field, her early research was also criticized by anthropology experts who scorned her use of names instead of numbers for the chimps she studied, and scoffed at the fact that she described them as having personalities.

Over time, Dr. Goodall has become the most highly-respected expert on chimpanzees. When asked about what inspired her to begin her studies in the first place, she cited both her mother, who encouraged her to pursue her dreams, and books like The Story of Dr. Doolittle and Tarzan of the Apes.

“And so, I fell in love with the Tarzan that I read about and he went and married that other stupid, wimpy Jane. But I was 10, and I decided I would grow up, go to Africa, live with animals and write books about them,” said Dr. Goodall.

To see the entire three-part video interview where Dr. Goodall discusses her early research, her organization for young people (Roots & Shoots), and her hopes for the future of conservation efforts, you can visit www.scholastic.com/goodall. To see all of the Scholastic News Kid Reporters’ stories, check out www.scholastic.com/kidspress!