Kathmandu:

World famous Primatologist and animal conservationist Dr Jane Goodall who is in Nepal for a short visit met with the media at a press conference at British Council on November 5. Appointed as a UN Messenger for Peace in 2002 Dr Goodall became well known all over the world for her work with chimpanzees in Tanzania in 1960. She is in Nepal to raise awareness to stop the export of Nepali monkeys to overseas for use in research laboratories.

“The way the animals are treated in such laboratories makes me sick,” said Dr Goodall at the press conference. She further talked about her work, “When I first went to South Africa I didn’t know much about animal study. Later when I did my PhD in Cambridge I learned a lot of things like animals should be given numbers and not names. Today we have come a long way to make science recognise that animals have emotions and minds.” While talking about conservation she pointed out that community based conservation needs to be encouraged.

Before the press conference Dr Goodall had an interaction programme with the domestic workers being tutored by the volunteers of Roots and Shoots an educational programme of Jane Goodall Institute.

Dr Goodall who is on her second visit to Nepal added, “On my first visit I met amazing young

people and I realised that this is a country where a youth programme could grow.”

The country coordinator of Roots and Shoots, Manoj Gautam and John Fry, Country Manager of the British Council Nepal were also present at the event. Fry said, “She is one of the most

accomplished scientists of our age and is one of the very best communicator’s about science, someone who inspires action from people, especially the young.”

Dr Goodall is also scheduled to speak at a talk programme at Patan Museum Courtyard at 10 am on November 6. (Open for public and entrance is free)