The Great Apes

[Rage2277]

*This image is copyright of its original author

“Laid Back” by @thomasdmangelsen :
‘For most of my adult life I’ve known and admired Jane Goodall and her late husband Hugo van Lawick’s work in National Geographic magazines, films, and books they have done. I have always dreamed of going to what is now called Gombe National Park, on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, in Tanzania, where Jane and Hugo did much of their studies of chimpanzees. Jane went there as a young woman of 26, in 1960, to study and do research on chimpanzees. Now in it’s 58th year, it’s the longest research study of wildlife in the world.
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Although Jane and I have been good friends for nearly twenty years, this past June was the first time I was able to go with her to Gombe, where it all began. It was and will remain one of the most memorable times of my life. Walking in her “footsteps” and experiencing some of Jane’s favorite places like the “Peak”, the “Waterfall,” and of course observing and photographing my first chimps, many of whom are descendants of those Jane studied and knew so well, was simply magical.
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Going to Gombe gave me an even greater appreciation for Jane’s fortitude, passion, respect, and the sacrifices she made then and continues to make today, not only to save chimps and all wildlife and wild places, but to better understand ourselves, and what we must do to preserve our tiny planet as we know it. Thank you Jane!
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“Laid Back” is one of three new Limited Edition prints of chimpanzees debuting at tomorrow’s artist reception at the Jackson Mangelsen - Images of Nature Gallery. If you’re in the area, I hope to see you there!  @safarious Reply