1. Dr Jane Goodall is Coming to Australia in 2017!

We are thrilled to announce that in June 2017, Dr Jane Goodall will be returning to Australia! We are still working on the schedule, but Dr Jane’s visit will be full of inspiring events, Roots & Shoots gatherings and support for animals, people and our shared environment in Australia and aboard. The best way to stay in touch in by following us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter or better yet, become a JGIA member and get exclusive early bird access to tickets to see Dr Jane Goodall live. We can’t wait to share Dr Jane’s message of hope with you all!

2. JGIA AGM, Annual Report and New Membership Structure

Firstly, a big thank you to all of our members who attended our AGM earlier this week. We hope that you found it informative and enjoyed it as much as we did. A special thanks goes to Cameron Kerr, CEO of Taronga Zoo, for his thoughtful and inspiring presentation on his recent visit to JGI’s Tchimpounga Sanctuary. Secondly, with a big year ahead, we are pleased to share our Annual Report with all of our supporters as well as the launch of our new membership program! There are three tiers of membership with benefits such as access to earlybird tickets, special offers, AGM invites, dedicated updates, JGIA gifts and recognition in our Annual Report. To be the first to get news and tickets, plus other special offers become a member today.

 

 

 

 

 

3. A King Dethroned at Gombe

In the primate world rank is everything and the fight to be on top is key for access to mates and food. At Gombe, Ferdinand, 24, ironically named for the peace-loving bull, is the alpha male of his group. He has maintained his position by intimidation, threats and surprise attacks including biting and marking all his rivals with a tell-tale scar on their backs. However, this warrior chimpanzee and Gombe’s alpha of eight years has recently been toppled from his rank position by none other than his nephew, a 19-year old male named Fudge. In the last two years, Ferdinand’s aggressive form of leadership left him few friends. Meanwhile, the majority of adults have formed a large subgroup, where younger males have been maturing and gaining strength. In October, Fudge made his move by attacking Ferdinand with support from the rest of the troupe. After a struggle, Fudge emerged victorious and Ferdinand withdrew to lick his wounds and mend his pride. Since then, Fudge has been cemented as the new alpha with many displays of dominance on his part and
submissive approaches from his group. So now the question is, how long will Fudge reign?

Ferdinand grooming another chimpanzee          Ferdinand’s nephew Fudge

4. Zara Goes Wild for Chimpanzees in her Edge Pledge

One of our JGIA Directors, Zara Bending has certainly been a good sport this month and has completed her Edge Pledge. Zara, a Doctoral candidate at Macquarie Law School and Lecturer at the Sydney Institute of Business and Technology, spent a full week wearing animal onesies, each representing an endangered species. She tutored as a turtle, lectured as a lemur and chatted as a chimp, all to raise an amazing $1500 for JGIA! To join Zara, sign up for your own fun Edge Pledge and watch this space for future JGIA Edge Pledges.

5. Happy Holiday Season from JGIA

Last, but certainly not least, from all of us at JGIA, and all of the JGI chapters and Roots & Shoots groups worldwide, we want to wish you a very safe and peaceful holiday season with your loved ones. We also want to thank you for all that you do to help us make this world a better place and encourage you to give the incredible gift of Chimp Guardianship this Christmas. Your gift will change the future for injured and orphaned chimpanzees cared for at the JGI’s Tchimpounga Rehabilitation Center.  Sadly as a result of the illegal wildlife trade of chimpanzees, we now have more than 120 chimpanzees at our sanctuary. By becoming a Chimp Guardian, you are contributing to the daily care and attention of these chimpanzees and guaranteeing them a healthy and safe life. Thank you again and best wishes for a healthy and happy 2017!

1. Join #LabelMe and Vote for Palm Oil Labelling

A big thank you to all the students across Australia who have been posting to social media or sending us their #LabelMe pictures. Through this campaign we are hoping to solve the problem of palm oil labelling. Currently palm oil can be labelled more than 200 different ways making it almost impossible for you to shop ethically or look for certified sustainable palm oil (CSPO). Uncertified sustainable palm oil contributes to the deaths of more than 1,000 orangutans a year as their habitat, and that of elephants, tiers and rhinos are destroyed through unsustainable palm oil production. And now chimpanzees are also at risk as palm oil plantations are increasingly moving into Central Africa as demand by food manufactures increases. This November, Australian and New Zealand governments will be voting on whether to make palm oil labelling mandatory on all food products. Roots & Shoots’ #LabelMe campaign is raising awareness for the vote and the importance of palm oil labelling for animals, people and our shared environment. Post your #LabelMe pic on Instagram or Facebook and tag us @janegoodallau to help spread the message and sign the petition.

2. Happy 100^th Birthday to Taronga Zoo

Congratulations to Taronga Zoo on celebrating 100 years on October 7th. We were thrilled to be a part of the celebrations with JGIA CEO, Nancy Moloney, JGIA Board Members, Mark Richardson and Simon Duffy as well as Global JGIA Board Member and Founding JGIA CEO, Polly Cevallos, present. We hope that you were able to join in the celebrations with Taronga’s special parade through the city, and if not, keep watch for special events throughout the centenary year. Happy birthday to our Taronga friends, humans and animals alike!

3. JGIA Celebrates World Animal Day

On October 4, we honoured World Animal Day. With a mission to raise the status of animals in order to improve welfare standards around the globe, we shared messages and good wishes from both Dr Jane Goodall and JGIA. Each year World Animal Day grows through events large and small, so we hope you will join us in sharing the importance of this day and everything it aims to achieve going forward.  #WorldAnimalDay

Disclaimer: Dr. Goodall and the Jane Goodall Institute do not endorse the handling of wild chimpanzees.

4. Claire goes Crimson for the Cause

Our brave Roots & Shoots NYLC member Claire completed an Edge Pledge to fundraise for JGIA. She put herself on the edge by asking people to vote for one of three challenges: dying her hair an outrageous colour, wearing the same outfit for a month or not talking for a week. Claire raised $250 for JGIA in exchange for dying her hair bright pink! You can watch the fun here. Since completing her pledge, Claire has been made an Edge Pledge ambassador and the online volunteer coordinator. Well done Claire! We’d love you to join Claire in completing your own Edge Pledge for JGIA – sign up here and watch this space for future JGIA Edge Pledges.

5. Did you see Dr Jane Goodall on Catalyst?

We are so grateful to the team at the ABC for replaying the 2014 Catalyst interview with Dr Jane Goodall recently.  If you haven’t yet watched the interview, you can see it here via the ABC website.

6. Survey Winners

Congratulations to our JGIA survey winners – Amanda Lancaster and Claire Dafonseca! In case you missed it, all respondents to our two short surveys, on Facebook and in our September eNewsletter, were entered into the draw to win a JGIA prize pack. Amanda and Claire each won a copy of Dr Jane Goodall’s book “Seeds of Hope”, a copy of “Chimaka the Chimpanzee” and a Bead for Life necklace and bracelet. Thank you to everyone who responded and happy reading to our winners!  For your chance to win any future surveys, and to stay up to date on our activities, please follow our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages.

1. Dr Jane and JGIA at IPS in Chicago

 

 

 

On August 21-27, the 26^th Congress of the International Primatological Society (IPS) was held at Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo.  It was a special congress for JGI as Dr Jane was honoured to receive the IPS Lifetime Achievement Award. It was also a great opportunity for us to hold a small gathering of JGI researchers and staff attending from around the world. Two of our local Australian staff members and primate researchers, Nicky Kim-McCormack and Natasha Coutts, were there to represent JGIA, present their research findings and snap a few photos with our wonderful founder. We are proud of all three inspiring primatologists!

2. How You Can Help Dr Jane End Wildlife Trafficking

Dr Jane Goodall and the Jane Goodall Institute are doing what we know to be right – by working to end wildlife trafficking. On World Elephant Day, we began Jane’s Traffic Stop – an effort to use the enormous power of social media, and Jane’s fifth Reason For Hope, to help spread awareness about wildlife trafficking and end it for good. The resulting species loss is not just a matter of individual deaths of beautiful animals – it’s the destruction of entire populations and all the ecosystems dependent upon those creatures, and we must act. You can act today, by committing to our pledge to #StandWithJane:

I stand with Dr. Jane and JGIA in the fight to protect chimpanzees and stop the illegal wildlife trade by:

• Never buying wildlife souvenirs made with ivory, tortoise shell, reptile skins, and seashells, as I understand this demand drives poaching.
• “Lending my Eyes to the Wild” by using the Wildlife Witness App when I travel to report illegal wildlife trade by taking a photo and pinning its location so our friends at TRAFFIC can spot patterns and notify the local authorities.
• Signing the petition to support Dr Jane in delivering the urgent message to policy makers and conservation leaders that ending wildlife trafficking must be a priority for the international community.
• Donating to JGIA to continue our important work with young chimpanzees, some of the most vulnerable victims of wildlife trade, and enable us to protect the diversity and beauty of global wildlife through this campaign.
• Sharing this urgent message to #StandWithJane through Facebookand Instagram and letting my social network know that when they share a photo of a cute chimpanzee performing in clothing they are hurting chimpanzees – the grin on that chimp’s face is one of fear.

3. Celebrate Peace Day this September with JGIA

 

 

 

 

 

Did you know that the International Day of Peace is on September 21st? As a UN Messenger of Peace, Peace Day is Dr. Jane’s favourite day of the year. Every year in September Roots & Shoots members around the world come together to celebrate peace and this year is no different. JGIA’s Roots & Shoots in collaboration with Perth Zoo, Zoos SA, Zoos VIC and Taronga Zoo will be holding celebrations of peace around Australia. This year’s theme from the UN is “The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Building Blocks for Peace” and we have been counting down the 17 SDGs on our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages.

If you are or know of a young person who would like to join us to celebrate, we still have places left for our Sydney and Melbourne Peace Day events. Simply email us at rootsandshoots@janegoodall.org.au for more information and a free invite. And keep an eye out for updates from the celebrations across Australia and the world on our social media platforms.

4. Welcome to a New Baby Chimpanzee at Tchimpounga

 

 

 

 

In April, a baby chimpanzee was brought to JGI’s Tchimpounga Sanctuary. A poacher from northern Congo had surrendered him to the authorities, and although underweight and traumatised about being separated from his mother, the newly named Falero was otherwise strong and healthy. Falero was clearly quite sad but soon bonded with Chantal, his assigned caregiver for the quarantine period.

As the youngest chimpanzee at Tchimpounga, we took great care in deciding where in the groups to place little Falero and eventually decided upon a wonderful surrogate mother, Lounama. Lounama is a delicate and sensitive young female with a cardiac issue that requires her to live a quiet life near our veterinary staff. When we introduced Falero to Lounama, they were both very calm. Lounama groomed the baby, and he climbed on her back. Now they are inseparable. Falero has a new mother and Lounama has a baby all to herself, giving her a new sense of purpose and hope.

If you want to help Falero and his friends, you can become a chimp guardian today.

5. Put Yourself on the Edge to Save Endangered Chimpanzees

 

 

On August 15th, social enterprise Edge Pledge was launched to put people “on the edge” to raise money for wildlife on the brink of extinction. JGIA is proud to be one of Edge Pledge’s inaugural environmental partners and raise funds for chimpanzees like Falero at our Tchimpounga Sanctuary.

So how does it work? Edge Pledge’s “challenge generator” finds three unique challenges for every Edge Pledge participant (aka ‘Extinction Fighters’). It could be anything from doing stand-up comedy to skydiving to giving up coffee. The pledger’s family and friends vote via donation for the challenge they’d most like to see the pledger perform. The winning challenge is then videoed and shared on social media and the money raised is donated to a threatened species of the pledger’s choice.

So please help our endangered chimpanzees by putting yourself on the edge to support JGIA and Tchimpounga! Pledge your support at Edge Pledge, challenge a friend or vote for one of our brave pledgers including our CEO Nancy in her pledge to eat, sound or act like a chimp. And to read more about the fun that pledgers are having while raising nearly $10K in two weeks, check out Australian Geographic, Huffington Post and Pro Bono Australia.

6. Thank you to our Partners

 

 

JGIA would like to thank Wolseley Private Equity for their very generous and continued support over the past few years. Not only have they contributed by having a Director on our Board and by donating to the ongoing work of JGIA, they have also been wonderful office hosts for the past year and a pleasure to share a space with. We are also very grateful to our newest pro-bono partners, law firm Baker & McKenzie, for providing legal services to JGIA. We look forward to a long and meaningful relationship, supporting our joint interests in all things Animals, People and the Environment.

And finally, from all of us at JGIA, Happy International Primate Day on September 1^st!

1. JGIA Targets Palm Oil Labelling in Term 3

 

 

 

 

 
Roots & Shoots is now in our Term 3 Habitat Protection campaign. This term we will be focusing on palm oil and raising awareness about the influence that unsustainably grown palm oil has on all great apes. For example, the status of the Bornean orangutan has recently been upgraded to Critically Endangered!

On 25 November, ten Australian Ministers will meet to decide whether to mandate palm oil labelling on food products. This is an important step in raising awareness about palm oil and allowing consumers to make ethical choices. It also helps to drive a market for Certified Sustainable Palm Oil, thus preserving great ape habitats. Join our #LabelMe campaign and help put pressure on the Ministers by taking a photo of yourself with our hashtag and sending it to palmoil@janegoodall.org.au or tagging us on our Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages.

We will also be visiting Roots & Shoots groups this term to talk about our three-tiered approach to how you can make a difference and help protect great ape habitats in your home, in your school and in your community. Let us know know if you would like us to visit your school or community group or check out the palm oil section of our website for more info.

2. JGIA joins GPAP for the NSW Ban the Bag Petition

 

 

 

 

JGIA has teamed up with Greenpeace Australia Pacific to collect signatures for the Ban the Bag campaign in NSW. Members of our JGIA team, Alexia (from the NYLC), Robert (NSW R&S Coordinator) and Billy (from Bye Bye Plastic Bags Australia) have been at Sydney Sea Life Aquarium collecting signatures and raising awareness about the devastation that plastic bags are having on our marine life. Did you know that Australians use around 4 billion plastic bags every year – that’s a whopping 10 million or so each day, 50 million of which end up in our waterways and oceans! Today, 30% of the world’s turtles and 90% of seabird species have ingested plastic. The Ban the Bag petition has almost 8500 signatures so far. To help us reach our goal of 9000 and join other states in banning single-use plastic bags, please sign the petition here or come and see us this Saturday at the Sydney Sea Life Aquarium. And watch our Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages for more information and updates.

3. Climb for Chimps Updates

 

 

 

 

JGIA has lots of exciting news around Climb for Chimps! In July, Roots & Shoots members were out in force hiking through the bush and participating in educational activities around native wildlife, chimpanzee behavior and how to look after our environment and then enjoying a free vegetation BBQ as part of our Mini Climb for Chimps. Participants from R&S Victoria climbed 3.5 km up to Flinders Peak while R&S Queensland walked 4km in Mt Nebo D’Aguilar National Park. Well done team and a great inspiration for our Climb for Chimp participants climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in February 2017!

If you are considering joining our Tanzanian adventure next year, we are holding a very special free event at Taronga Zoo on Saturday 13 August before the zoo opens to the public. Just us and the animals! Come and hear from JGIA’s CEO Nancy Moloney as well as our friends at Inspired Adventures who will be on-hand to answer any logistical questions about the trip and the climb up Kilimanjaro itself. You will also be treated to an exclusive talk by one of Taronga’s experienced chimpanzee keepers. RSVPs are essential as this is a small, private gathering specifically for Climb for Chimp participants and people who are serious about signing up. Please register here or contact our Fundraising Manager Judith by 5pm on Friday 5 August. If you aren’t able to attend in person, we will try to include you remotely.

4. Live Update from Global R&S Meetings at Windsor Castle

 

 

 

The Roots & Shoots International Leadership Event is currently underway in Windsor, England, and this year we have two delegates from Australia flying the R&S flag. Under the guidance of Dr Jane Goodall’s leadership team, delegates from more than 22 countries are currently working through global and local issues with a view to creating solutions to execute through our Roots & Shoots groups around the world. So far, topics discussed include forests and oceans, refugees and Peace Day. For updates and a look behind the scenes, visit our Facebook and Instagram pages and follow us on Snapchat at rootsandshootsa.

5. Photon Energy Provides JGIA with a New Home

 

 

 

 

 
JGIA would like to thank our generous and wonderful new office hosts! Photon Energy Australia is part of the global solar energy solutions provider Photon Energy NV and as such is working to bring the world closer to energy sustainability. Photon Energy’s aim is to help make solar energy a financially accessible energy source for businesses and public institutions. So far Photon Energy Australia has helped several companies lower their carbon emissions, including Australia Post and BAI.

“As a solar energy solutions provider we are a green company and glad that we can help towards our goal of sustainable development not only by building commercial solar power plants, but also by providing the JGIA with an office,” said Michael Gartner, managing director of Photon Energy Australia.

6. JGI job posting in DRC

The Jane Goodall Institute is currently seeking applications for a Conservation Action Plan (CAP) Project Manager in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The successful applicant will be responsible for managing the implementation of the CAP for Great Apes in the Eastern DRC. To apply you must have a university degree in a relevant specialisation, NGO and grand management experience and be proficient in both French and English. For more information read CAP PM Job Advert and submit your CV and cover letter to africajobs@janegoodall.org. The deadline for applications is Friday 26th August 2016.

And finally, have you seen our Peace Day posts on social media? So far we have profiled Dr. Jane and other great UN Messengers of Peace like Muhammad Ali, Charlize Theron and Yo-Yo Ma and told you about 8 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. Tune in to our pages to see more!

1. The Countdown to Peace Day has Started!

Our Peace Day image is courtesy of Fernando Turmo

As a long standing UN Messenger of Peace, it’s no secret that Dr Jane Goodall’s favourite day of the year is the International Day of Peace and, much to Dr Jane’s delight, each year our celebrations in Australia get bigger and better! Officially taking place on September 21, each International Day of Peace has a theme and this year’s theme is “The Sustainable Development Goals: Building Blocks for Peace”.

“The 17 Sustainable Development Goals are our shared vision of humanity and a social contract between the world’s leaders and the people,” said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. “They are a to-do list for people and planet, and a blueprint for success.”

Join us, via our Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages, as we count down to the International Day of Peace Day, highlighting the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Every single one is a building block in the global architecture of peace and we hope that you will help us work towards these goals by visiting our Global R&S website and participating in an activity. Don’t forget to let us know by emailing rootsandshoots@janegoodall.org.au or using the #RootsandShoots and #PeaceDay.

2. More Researchers in the JGIA Family

 

 

 

 

 

As great apes’ populations decline, captive and sanctuary individuals play an increasingly important role in species’ conservation. Two of our valued JGIA family members, Administrator and Chimp Guardian Campaign Coordinator Nicky Kim-McCormack and Mobile Phone Recycling and Palm Oil Campaign Coordinator Natasha Coutts are both following in Dr Jane’s footsteps and studying great apes!

Growing research supports improved captive animal welfare when an animal can have more control over their environment, so Nicky is currently at Seoul Zoo examining the effects of digital enrichment and the provision of free choice on chimpanzees and orangutans. Nicky is using technology that allows primates to freely engage with numerous digital activities. It also allows Human-Animal interactions to study the effect on both animal welfare and visitor response, and whether the direct interactivity can lead to greater conservation awareness and changes in attitudes. She is particularly proud of being able to raise awareness in visitors about the devastating effects of palm oil.

Natasha’s research involves a variety of themes, including great ape social behaviour, ecology, conservation, and captive welfare. At the moment she is working on a project looking at how different habitats affect the vocalisations of chimpanzees in Tanzania and Cote d’Ivoire, the results of which she will be presenting at the International Primatological Society (IPS) conference in August in Chicago.

In fact if you happen to be in Chicago in August, you can catch both of our amazing researchers as well as Dr Jane herself. Well done all of you inspirational women!

3. Junior Climb for Chimps

 

 

 

Are you looking for a way to meaningfully connect with nature? Or maybe a chance for your young ones to explore our beautiful environment and learn about the other amazing animals sharing our earth?

On July 17th JGIA’s Roots & Shoots will be doing a mini Climb for Chimps for young people across Australia! Come join your fellow Roots & Shoots members on a walk through the bush and have a chat with young scientists studying everything A.P.E! We will provide a FREE vegetarian BBQ and A.P.E activities such as a scavenger hunt.

This is a youth based event – but parents and guardians are welcome to join! Check out our Facebook page for a location near you or visit our website for more information on R&S. Or simply email rootsandshoots@janegoodall.org.au and we will connect you with your R&S State Coordinator.

Looking for more of a challenge? Enquire about our Kilimanjaro Climb for Chimps in February 2017!

4. Mobile Phone Recycling Campaign a Success!

JGIA’s Mobile Phone Recycling Campaign has officially wrapped up and as well as raising awareness and educating the next generation about sustainability, we are very pleased to announce that the participating schools collected more than 100 kilograms of mobile phones for recycling!

From these mobile phones we can recover and reuse 54 kilograms of plastic and 11 kilograms of copper and make 172 aluminum cans and 18 plastic fence posts. And we have reduced our environmental impact by the equivalent of 6 new trees planted, a tonne less of CO₂ emissions in the air and 3 less tonnes of ore mined!

Thanks to our recycling partner MobileMuster, and reuse partner Bounce Mobile, but most of all a huge thank you and congratulations to all the schools that participated and we can’t wait to do it again next year! If you want to get involved, please reach out to us on recycle@janegoodall.org.au or via our website.

5. Vegemite Chimps

Are you a Vegemite lover? How would you feel if instead of on your toast, it was on your walls?

Chimpanzee Kamili at Taronga Zoo certainly seems to like it!  The amazing Senior Primate Keeper Geoff Kidd used his fingers to paint this delicious and original Vegemite artwork on the walls in the night-time chimp enclosure. We love it and so does 11-year old Kamili! She is known by the keepers as clever, ambitious and a bit of a trouble maker but it seems that Geoff has figured out a way to keep her out of trouble, at least for a while. Fantastic work Geoff!

And finally, a very heartfelt thank you to our generous donors during the end of financial year. We simply could not do our work without your kind support and we are so very honoured and grateful that you chose to donate.

1. Happy Mother’s Day Wishes from JGIA

 

 

 

 

 
From all of us at JGIA, we hope that you had a lovely Mother’s Day! From Dr. Jane’s own supportive mother Vanne, to Gremlin and Flo, two very special chimpanzee mothers at Gombe, mothers have always been an important part of JGI. Our mother’s guide us, help us and sometimes teach us lessons that we take into our own adult lives. In fact, it was in the forests of Gombe that Dr Jane herself learned many lessons about being a mother. According to her, after so many years observing chimp mums with their infants, the most important thing that she learned is that having a child should be fun. And we have to say that we completely agree!

2. JGIA Welcomes Judith

 

 

 

We are very pleased to announce the arrival of our newest team member, Judith Cantor, who joins the JGIA family as Fundraising Manger.  Judith comes to us with extensive fundraising and marketing experience having worked for, and with, organisations like Guide Dogs NSW, Life Education Australia, Landcare Australia, Australian Red Cross and more. She has also personally fundraised for close to 60 different charities over a 5-year period of monthly challenges (the last of which was swimming with humpback whales in Tonga!), and has been a not-for-profit Board Director as well as a “hands-on” volunteer for a number of causes. Welcome Judith!

3. NYLC Member Asitha Meets IAPF Founder Damien Mander

 

 

 

 

 
In May, Victorian NYLC member Asitha Samarawickrama had the privilege of meeting Damien Mander, the founder of the International Anti-Poaching Foundation (IAPF), of which Dr Jane is a member of the Advisory Committee. Damien was in Melbourne to talk about his fight against rhinoceros poaching in Africa. Asitha found Damien’s story to be filled with passion, inspiration and hope, emotions he has portrayed in his beautiful post available on our R&S Projects page. Happy reading!

4. Junior Chimp Champion is Young People supporting Young Chimpanzees
Did you know that chimpanzees are endangered? With as few as 172,000 remaining in the wild, our chimpanzees face many threats such as habitat loss, the commercial bush meat and illegal pet trades, and infectious diseases. These threats often leave young chimpanzees orphaned and alone.

But young people can help! Through raising $50 or more, kids can become Junior Chimp Champions and help JGIA provide a safe home for young orphaned chimpanzees. You can donate as an individual, group, classroom or school and all you have to do it email us at rootsandshoots@janegoodall.org.au. It’s that easy!  So tell your friends and family, join Roots & Shoots and follow us on our Instagram, Facebook and Twitter pages.

5. ZAA Conference

 

 

 

 

 
Thanks to our wonderful friends at the Zoo and Aquarium Association (ZAA) and Perth Zoo, JGIA were invited to participate in the 2016 ZAA Conference in Perth. It was great to be a part of this important occasion to share learnings, celebrate improvement and encourage innovation in this industry. Congratulations to the winner of the 2016 Association Awards and we look forward to the next conference!

Photos (L-R): Nancy Moloney, CEO JGIA with Susan Hunt, CEO Perth Zoo and JGIA R&S WA Coordinator Bill Waterer, with Chris Hibbard, ED ZAA and Cameron Kerr, CEO Taronga Zoo and with Elaine Bensted, CEO Zoos SA.

 

 

 

 
 
We were also thrilled to be invited as special guests at Taronga Zoo where for the first time ever, Vivid Sydney is being held as part of the zoo’s Centerary Celebrations. If you are in Sydney and haven’t see it yet, it is spectacular so get to Taronga before the show is over on 18 June!

6. May was a Month of JGIA Gratitude

 

 

 

 
 
This month we have so much to be thankful for at JGIA. From the wonderful and inspiring young Dr Jane’s in the making at St. Catherine’s School in Bronte who fundraised $525 for JGIA. To the generous artists Yvonne Levenston, Jody Graham, Richard Dobbie, Lou Grossfeldt and Dave Blissett who donated their works to be auctioned off at a fundraiser at the Space Gallery. We simply could not do what we do without the generous support of all of you!

 

 

 

 
 
And of course we would be truly lost without the tireless support of all of our amazing volunteers. In light of National Volunteer Week – we are sending out a huge hug and pant-hoot to you all! On behalf of everyone in the JGIA family, Dr Jane and the chimpanzees, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the difference that you make.

If you would like to be a part of this incredible team, please reach out to us via our Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages. And don’t forget that you can still sign up for our Climb for Chimps trip to climb Mount Kilimanjaro and see the chimps at Gombe, all while raising money for a great cause. We are sure that it will be the trip of a lifetime!

1. Become a Chimp Guardian and Help Our Own Little ANZAC

 

 

 

 
At JGIA we have a special way to commemorate ANZAC day.  On April 25^th 2012, a tiny female chimpanzee arrived at JGI’s Tchimpounga Sanctuary in the DRC. We called her Anzac in honour of the special day and because, like many war veterans, she is missing an arm. Anzac is one of the many victims of the illegal commercial bushmeat trade and was confiscated from a poacher by the Congolese authorities who then turned her over to our care. Today Anzac happily lives with more than 160 other chimpanzees at Tchimpounga, but they need your help.

YOU can make a difference to the lives of our orphaned chimpanzees by becoming a monthly Chimp Guardian. For as little as $25 per month, you will give an orphaned infant their week’s supply of baby formula. Or if you prefer a one-off donation of $100, you can become a Chimp Champion and provide an annual health check for a chimpanzee.

With your help, chimpanzees like Anzac will receive the care that they need to grow and thrive in an environment where they will be protected for the rest of their lives. Become a JGIA Chimp Guardian or Chimp Champion today and make a difference to the lives of our chimpanzees!

2. Peer to Peer Program Helping Young R&S Girls in Uganda

 

 

 

 

 
We’re excited to announce that one of our Roots & Shoots Australia members has fundraised more than $3500 for Roots & Shoots Uganda’s Peer to Peer program! These funds will supply 15 schools with scholastic materials and 80 girls with hygiene packs (a backpack, five pairs of underwear, hanging peg, a pack of re-usable pads manufactured by Afripads and soap) enabling them to continue going to school throughout each month.

The Peer to Peer program also supports young women with information on topics including HIV/AIDS, other sexually transmitted diseases and reproductive health. We provide training in life-planning skills designed to help girls successfully navigate the challenges of maturing into adulthood. The girls then return to their schools and communities and share what they’ve learned with their peers who are often more comfortable receiving information from people of the same age group rather than adults. The program is based in schools that participate in Roots & Shoots and in communities within proximity to priority wildlife conservation areas.

You can support the Peer to Peer campaign today and to make things happen in your own community, join Roots & Shoots and follow us on our Instagram, Facebook and Twitter pages.

3. JGIA Welcomes a New R&S Coordinator in South Australia

 

 

 

 
We are excited to announce that we have a new SA R&S Coordinator, Lisa Morrison. When Lisa was just 10 years old, she visited the zoo and was so moved by one of the chimpanzees that she made a promise ”to help him” thus starting her life’s mission to help all living being’s within her reach.

As a zookeeper for more than a decade, Lisa endeavours to be the voice of animals and to give them the best day-to-day life possible. This quest has taken Lisa around the world to many jungles and off-the-grid places, working on the front line to improve the standard of living conditions for animals and connecting people to nature.

Now that she’s settled back in her hometown of Adelaide, Lisa has a strong connection to our local environment and native animals. With children of her own, Lisa has realised the need to empower our next generation for change. As well as her work with R&S, Lisa works as a  keeper at Monarto Open Range Zoo, caring for the chimpanzee she made that promise to as a child. Welcome to the JGIA family Lisa!

4. Happy Earth Day 2016 from JGIA

 

 

 

 

 
On April 22, JGIA celebrated Earth Day and the theme for this year was “Trees for Earth”.  Earth Day was first celebrated in the United States in 1970 and is organised by the Earth Day Network.  Its mission is to broaden and diversify the environmental movement worldwide and to mobilise it as the most effective vehicle to build a healthy, sustainable environment, address climate change, and protect the Earth for future generations. With this year’s theme, looking forward to its 50th anniversary, it sets the goal of planting 7.8 billion trees over the next five years.

We hope that you all had a wonderful and meaningful Earth Day and to keep up to date on celebrations at JGIA, keep watching our Instagram, Facebook and Twitter pages.

5. Dr Jane’s Birthday and Live Chat

 

 

 

A special thanks to all of our supporters who helped us celebrate our inspiring founder by donating and signing Dr Jane’s online card. She had a wonderful day celebrating by spreading the word about Roots & Shoots and the amazing work of our young people around the world in more than 140 countries. We hope that you were one of the more than 8000 people who participated in Jane’s birthday live chat and if you missed it, you can reminisce on ourFacebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages. Happy Birthday again Dr. Jane and we have a feeling this will be another special year for the JGI family!

1. Google Celebrates Dr Jane Goodall on International Women’s Day

 

 

 
 
On March 8^th we celebrated International Women’s Day and the 2016 theme was “Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step It Up for Gender Equality”. Surrounding this special day, the United Nations held a series of events to promote the 2030 Agenda and highlight new commitments under the UN’s Women’s Step It Up initiative, and other existing commitments on gender equality, women’s empowerment and women’s human rights.  Way to step it up UN!

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Also, in honour of International Women’s Day, the Google Doodle on Google’s homepage included a video marking the achievements of women in science, civil rights, journalism, sports, arts, technology and beyond. It featured girls and women from around the world telling us what they will achieve using the statement “One Day I Will…”. We were thrilled to see Dr Goodall among these inspirational women voicing her own #OneDayIWill. We are even more pleased that two more of our stories in this newsletter are about amazing women in our JGIA family!

2. Bye Bye Plastic Bags Comes to Australia

 

 

 
 
 
We are incredibly proud of two young Roots & Shoots members from Green School in Bali, sisters Melati and Isabel Wijsen. Three years ago the sisters and their friends founded the Bye Bye Plastic Bags campaign with a desire to outlaw plastic bags in Bali. Their goal was to get a million signatures of support and so far, the campaign has been successful beyond their wildest dreams. Their remarkable journey has taken them to London, where they were invited to give a TED talk last September and to the office of Bali governor Made Mangku Pastika. In March 2015, they received a letter from the Bali provincial environmental agency saying Bali would be plastic bag free by 2018!

The sisters have inspired Bye Bye Plastic Bag campaigns all over the world, including Australia in March. Just like Dr Jane, the sisters say that the most important thing that they have learned is “kids can do things. We can make things happen”. Support and follow the campaign’s success down under on their Facebook page.

To make things happen in your community, join Roots & Shoots today and follow us on our Instagram, Facebook and Twitter pages and maybe you can be the next Metali and Isable or even Dr Jane!

3. Victorian JGIA Women Honoured in the News

Thanks to the Weekly Times in Victoria for a gorgeous article on two of our longest-standing and most committed volunteers at JGIA, Alicia Kennedy and Sue Conos. The story tells us how these amazing women, and complete strangers from country Victoria, came to know Dr Jane Goodall more than a decade ago and how they still make a difference in their communities today. They talk about how Dr Goodall’s work is crucial not only in Africa, but right here on Australian soil. “I think she’s so vitally important because she gives hope,” Sue says. “Her message is you can make a difference, even if it’s a small one.”

On behalf of JGIA, we want to thank Sue and Alicia from the bottom of our hearts for all that you do and for truly making JGIA feel like a family!

4. Happy (Palm Oil Free) Easter from JGIA

If you celebrated Easter, or even if you just ate a few chocolates, we hope that your treats were certified sustainable palm oil (CSPO) or palm oil free! Unsustainable palm oil production is driving species like orangutans and tigers to extinction – it’s the leading cause of deforestation in Indonesia. It’s also contributing to climate change. Choosing products that contain CSPO or are palm oil free means you are making a difference.

In a joint effort with other NGOs, JGIA is pressuring the Australian government to improve labelling, but until then, our labelling laws make it difficult to know which products contain Palm Oil. So we’ve put together a list of CSPO and Palm Oil free products to help you choose orangutan and climate friendly treats. You can also visit our Palm Oil Campaign page and keep watching our Instagram, Facebook and Twitter pages for our Term 3 Roots & Shoots campaign on Palm Oil where we will be encouraging schools across Australia to host palm oil free lunch days and write letters to their local representatives.

5. March was a Month to Celebrate our Natural World

What a month of wonderful United Nations days for our planet! It started on March 3^rd, with World Wildlife Day. The theme this year was “The future of wildlife is in our hands”. The Day was an opportunity to celebrate the many beautiful and varied forms of wild fauna and flora and to raise awareness of the multitude of benefits that conservation provides to people. At the same time, World Wildlife Day reminds us of the urgent need to step up the fight against wildlife crime, which has wide-ranging economic, environmental and social impact. As Dr Goodall says “Social Media is a powerful tool. We must NOT let them go extinct without doing our bit to help save them.” So do your bit and have your say on our Instagram, Facebook and Twitter pages today.

March 21^st was the International Day of Forests. This global celebration of forests provides a platform to raise awareness of the importance of all types of forests and trees. Forests cover one third of the Earth and are the most biologically-diverse ecosystems on land. They are home to more than 80% of animals, plants and insects and provide shelter, jobs and security for 1.6 billion people across the globe. Yet despite all of these priceless benefits of forests, global deforestation continues at an alarming rate – 13 million hectares of forest are destroyed annually. Deforestation accounts for 12-20% of the global greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. We must all do our part to protect our forests, and all of their inhabitants, today.

And finally March 22^nd was World Water Day. It is an international observance and an opportunity to learn more about water related issues, be inspired to tell others and take action to make a difference. It has been celebrated annually since 1992 and the theme this year was “Water and Jobs”. Today, almost half of the world’s workers – 1.5 billion people – work in water related sectors and nearly all jobs depend on water. By focusing on how enough quantity and quality of water can change workers’ lives and livelihoods, we can transform societies and economies and of course save water!

6. Two New Technologies that will Help Us Change the World

In conjunction with World Wildlife Day and the International Day of Forests, two exciting new technologies were launched to help us all make a difference.

Wildlife Witness App is a wildlife trade monitoring app developed to stop the illegal wildlife trade, which is valued between $5-20 billion USD per year. It is considered the fourth most lucrative global crime after drugs, humans and arms. The illegal wildlife trade fuels instability and criminality in demand and supply countries. This new app is designed to be used globally so that consumers can report unusual or suspicious wildlife activity. The app was developed by our good friends and partners at Taronga Zoo, in partnership with TRAFFIC the wildlife trade monitoring network. So please download the app today.

Global Forest Watch is an interactive online forest monitoring and alert system designed to empower people everywhere with the information they need to better manage and conserve forest landscapes to save forests and chimpanzees! It provides the most current, reliable, and actionable information about what is happening in forests worldwide. It unites NASA satellite technology and human networks, to show where and how forests are changing, who is using them, and how we can help sustain them for future generations. Global Forest Watch was launched in Uganda on March 17 at an event organised by the Jane Goodall Institute. It is free and easy to understand so please get involved and join GFW’s growing community today.

7. Dr Jane Goodall’s Birthday in April!

Last but certainly not least, we hope that you will join with the entire JGIA and global JGI family to wish Jane a very happy 82^nd birthday on April 3^rd. In fact, you can wish her a happy birthday yourself by signing the online card. Also keep watching our Instagram, Facebook and Twitter pages for more celebrations of our inspiring founder. Happy Birthday Jane!

1. Mobile Phone Recycling Campaign Builds Throughout Term 1

 

 

 
 
 
Our Term 1 Mobile Phone Recycling Campaign is in full swing with more than 200,000 students across 50 schools already registered to participate! By joining the campaign, you can reduce the clearing of great ape habitat for mining as well as raise money for JGIA thanks to our partners Mobile Muster and Bounce.

It’s not too late! You can register as a teacher, parent or student. Once you register, we will send you a mobile phone collection box and poster as well as give you access to educational resources around sustainability and recycling. Find out more information at our campaign landing page and thanks again for your valued support.

2. Roots & Shoots Celebrates 25 Years with Inspiring Youth Across the Globe

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
February 19th was the 25th Anniversary of Dr Jane’s youth empowerment program, Roots & Shoots. It was an amazing global event with members across Australia and the world getting their hands dirty and planting trees to celebrate. The day received global media attention with celebrities like Adrian Grenier from Entourage tweeting his support. For pictures of Roots & Shoots members celebrating the anniversary, just search #rootsandshoots25.

We also featured daily profiles on our Facebook page from Roots & Shoots groups from 25 countries making a difference. If you want to make a difference, join Roots & Shoots today.

3. Welcome to our Inaugural National Youth Leadership Council (NYLC)!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
From the JGIA family, we want to extend a very warm welcome to our first ever Australian NYLC! The NYLC is a program of JGIA’s Roots & Shoots and is made up of 10 passionate young people from around Australia who are dedicated to making positive changes for animals, people and our shared environment. Members of the Council will be working with our R&S State Coordinators to support the Roots & Shoots program. Our young leaders will also have the opportunity to gain new skills and training whilst mentoring Roots & Shoots members and representing Roots & Shoots at events and conferences. We will be helping the NYLC to become leaders in their local communities.

To meet our 2016 National Youth Leadership Council, visit www.janegoodall.org.au/nylc.

4. Painted Dog Conservation Inc Supports JGIA with an Online Auction

 

 

 
 
 
In honour of the 25th Anniversary of Roots & Shoots, Painted Dog Conservation Inc are hosting an incredible online auction to raise funds for JGIA. To bid on these incredible pieces of art, and many more, simply click here and scroll down through the amazing array of items and place your bid! Bidding not restricted to Australia so please share far and wide. Thank you to Painted Dog for your generous support.

5. JGIA arrives in Queensland with our new Roots & Shoots Leader

 

 
 
 
JGIA is very pleased to announce that not only are we officially now in Queensland, but we also have a new team member! Kate Garland spent the first ten years of her life growing up in Mackay in Northern Queensland, but is now situated in the urban jungle of Brisbane.  Kate has been a fangirl of Dr Jane for many years and was lucky enough to see Dr Jane speak on her last tour of Australia. Kate is joining us after recently completing her honours in evolutionary science at The University of Queensland. Her research has involved traveling to museums across the nation studying Australia’s iconic marsupials. She has first-hand experience working in scientific research, volunteering in the field and outreach and aims to inspire action to ensure nature’s diversity is protected.

Please join us in welcoming Kate to the JGIA family and email her if you’re in Queensland and want to get involved in Roots & Shoots!

6. JGIA Joins The Transitions Film Festival

 

 

 

 
JGIA is proud to be a Community Partner of The 2016 Transitions Film Festival, an annual event which has been inspiring audiences and powering social change since 2012. Just wrapping up in Melbourne, you can still check out the festival in Adelaide in May. One lucky JGIA supporter even won free tickets to see “The Rainforests are Under Threat” in Melbourne! For more information search #ideasbloom and keep your eyes open for our JGIA Adelaide double pass give away contest…

1. Join JGIA to Climb for Chimps!

 

 

 
 
 
Are you ready for the adventure of a lifetime? If, like us, you love chimpanzees and travel then you will be thrilled to learn that we have partnered with travel company Inspired Adventures to offer you the opportunity to climb Mount Kilimanjaro and meet the famous chimpanzees of Gombe. As part of this incredible adventure, you’ll gain the experience of a lifetime atop the majestic Kilimanjaro all while raising funds to help the chimpanzee communities within Gombe National Park. You will walk in the footsteps of Dr. Jane Goodall and witness firsthand the wonders of Africa while supporting endangered chimpanzees, their habitat and the local communities that surround them.

This incredible journey is taking place in February 2017. In the lead up to your departure, you will have a team supporting your fundraising efforts, creating your personal fundraising page to let your friends and family know about your amazing adventure as well as invitations to  exclusive events with your fellow trekkers.. For more information visit our microsite and register your details so we can fill you in. We can’t wait to see you in Africa!

2. Mobile Phone Recycling Launch around Australia

 

 

 
Our annual mobile phone recycling campaign officially launched on the 26^th of January! We are asking schools, workplaces, communities and individuals to come together to support this important campaign across the nation. By joining you will be helping stop the illegal mining of coltan, a recyclable mineral used in many electronics. Coltan is considered a conflict mineral and mining results in the clearing of essential Great Ape habitat and leads to population decline in endangered species such as chimpanzees.

To join, visit our campaign landing page and sign up. We will send a collection box to your school or workplace, and arrange for free courier collection. You can also download posters and educational material to spread the word about how important it is to recycle electronic devices.  It’s free, easy and a great way for you to make a difference!

3. Roots & Shoots 25^th Anniversary is on 19^th February

 

 

 

 
Back in 1991, Dr. Jane Goodall created Roots & Shoots with 12 Tanzanian high school students who wanted to tackle crucial problems they observed in their local community. Since then, we have been “growing together” as a global Roots & Shoots family. Now in more than 140 countries, thousands of Roots & Shoots members work on issues concerning Animals, People and our shared Environment, the APE philosophy, in their communities and across the globe. As Dr Jane says “I am immensely proud of all those who have been a part of the programme over the years and hope that 2016 will be a year of celebration of all that Roots & Shoots has achieved and a platform to launch us ever further in the years ahead.”

To celebrate our 25th anniversary we are encouraging YOU to plant a tree to celebrate this milestone with us. Please share your celebration by using the global #rootsandshoots25. We will also feature a daily profile on our Facebook page from a Roots & Shoots member from 25 different countries across the globe making a difference everyday. Be a part of the movement and join Roots & Shoots today.

4. Did you know? Chimpanzees are apes not monkeys

 

 

 

 

 
 
According to the Lunar Calendar, this is the Year of the Monkey and we’ve been hearing lots about how excited everyone is to celebrate these magnificent creatures. While we do love monkeys, chimpanzees, along with gorillas, orangutans, bonobos and one other (can you guess?) are all actually great apes. The main differences are that most monkeys have an easily visible tail, but no apes do, and monkeys live primarily in trees whereas apes are built for a life in the trees and on the ground.

And if you’ve figured out who the other great ape species is, you might also be interested to know that Dr Jane Goodall was the first to dispel the myth of one the major differences between humans and chimpanzees. Prior to Dr Jane’s pioneering research, humans were known as “man the toolmaker”. Her ground-breaking and controversial discovery that chimps could make and use tools, for example using grass blades to fish termites out of mounds, meant that Jane became known as “the woman who redefined man”.

For more on chimps, apes and Dr Goodall, visit our website to learn more about our amazing primate cousins.

5. Meet Cheempo, an adorable toy and with a big message

 

 

 
 
 
Our friends at JGI Spain have introduced Cheempo, a soft toy chimpanzee with a real impact.  Purchasing Cheempo is easy and you will be supporting chimpanzee conservation and protection projects. Cheempo will come with instructions on how to learn more about chimp habitats live through Augmented Reality via your smartphone or tablet. Buy your Cheempo today via the crowd funding page.

This initiative is in partnership with eZoo, which is a paradigm shift in the way of displaying animals in zoos without captivity by fascinating multimedia audiovisual technologies. eZOO will allocate 50% of the profit from Cheempo sales to JGI for the protection of biodiversity in reserves, sanctuaries and national parks. This new type of toy will immerse children in the eZOO world, helping them learn about supporting the protection and conservation of biodiversity, from an early age.