Conversations / Live Q&A

To me, one of the most fascinating and thought provoking aspects of chimps behavior is that they are able to navigate incredibly tense social situations without real violence.   Most of the aggression in chimps is bravado.   Brutal attacks are very rare within a community.   

Chimp territorial behavior (warfare with neighboring groups) can be quite violent.   This is common for many species throughout the animal kingdom.   

Jane is amazing.  Her work to save endangered species has been important, but that is only part of her mission.   She is dedicated to make the world a better place for people, animals and the environment

If you look at The Jane Goodall Inst website, you will find the many projects Jane and the Institute are involved in. 

My work focuses on research videography and film-making.  I have been in several films and television programs with Jane  (most recently 60 Minutes).

We are now involved in a Disneynature film entitled 'Chimpanzee' which we hope will reach 100 million people.

Ooooo so many moments come to mind.   Chimps never cease to amaze me.   I think the obvious distress of Fifi and her offspring when little Freddie died (Fifi's 1-year-old) may have been the most touching event.   The siblings tried over and over to get their little brother to play with them.   Fifi and her adult daughter just sat staring at the body.   Fifi carried the body around for days.   Heart wrenching, but very telling.

Thank you for this.   It is just a matter of exposure, we are all guilty of this kind of naivete.   You nailed it, the apes, Gorillas, Bonobos, Chimpanzees, Orangs, and Gibbons do not have tails.   They tend to be much larger than the other primates (excluding humans), and have an aptitude for making and using tools (as do some monkeys).   They tend to be larger as well.  Many studies have shown that that this group is the most similar genetically to humans.

Check out our website www.janegoodall.org.  For young people, check out JGI's global youth program www.rootsandshoots.org.

I think the emotional capacity of chimps surprises people the most.   When I give a talk and show footage of chimps displaying nearly every emotion that humans can, people really respond.   I think the thing that people do not know is that we could lose them in the wild within the next 20 years.

Fantastic, she is my teacher and mentor.  She is living proof that one person can have a huge impact in making the world a better place.

Chimp survival is being seriously threatened by habitat loss and the bush meat trade.   As I mentioned, we could lose them within the next 20 years, so without many many of us getting involved in the protection of the forests, and of encouraging legislation to halt the bushmeat trade, the future is actually quite dim.   Please do what you can do to get involved with organizations such as the Jane Goodall Institute (www.janegoodall.org).

It is funny to look at my first tape labeled BW100.   It is like a chimp home movie;  lots of terrible camera moves and zooms in and out.   The shots lasted 5 to 10 minutes.   The chimps were already used to having people around so they did not mind my presence.

Yes, very much so.   I was a huge fan of Galahad, the 10-year-old son of Gremlin.   He had a spark in his eyes and seemed to take joy in just being alive.   When he died, I was depressed for days.   

That's a great question.  When people see chimps in movies and advertisements, they mistakenly think it's okay to keep them as pets.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Chimps are wild animals and when they reach adolescence are incredibly strong.  Living in a home is not the appropriate enviroment for a chimp. 

I will never forget my first day in Gombe.   I arrived by boat and at first was simply stunned by the scenic beauty.   About an hour later, the adult male Prof showed up to eat flowers near Jane's house.   I was totally overcome with emotion.   I had never before looked into the eyes of another species and felt what I did when at that moment.   So many of my misconceptions of US and THEM (humans/animals) were torn down in those seconds.  I was feeling an overwhelming connection to another animal species.

I would love to film bonobos.  The apparent differences in their behavior fascinate me and I would love to spend time with them in the wild.   I am amazed at the differences between one community of chimps and another, so observing bonobos would be off the chart for me!!

Chimps are most definitely endangered.  At the turn of the 20th century there were one to two million in the wild. Today, there are fewer than 300,000 in the wild and they are disappearing at an alarming rate because of destruction of their forest habitat and the illegal commericial bushmeat trade.

Fun Questions.

Lens cleaning papper (can't live without it)

Compass

GPS

Map

Water Purification Tabs

Dried Fruit and Energy Bars

No, not really.  My goal is to be a fly on the wall and have as little impact as possible on their behavior.  If one of the chimps does approach or begin to stare at me, I back off and move away.

As you suspect, like us, each chimp has his or her own personality and characteristics.   Goblin was absolutely a political genius.  He had all the other chimps wrapped around his fingers and could manipulate any situation.   Gremlin is a fantastic tool user and she seems to have passed that on to her kids.   Titan and Frodo are great at using weapons (throwing rocks and wielding clubs with great accuracy).    Titan is by far the funniest chimp I have ever known.   I think he has a serious screw loose and zero impulse control.

I have filmed one and seen another.  

Working with 60 Minutes was excellent.   We spent three days together in the field and the crew did a fantastic job navigating the steep and challenging terrain.   I love to be involved in news programs like 60 Minutes because we are able to reach an entirely different audience than the typical Nat Geo and Discovery Channel viewers.

Thank you so much.  It's my pleasure.  This is one of my favorite topics!!

A series of very fortunate events.   My parents were always supportive of me no matter what I did, so I was raised never to be afraid of new and different challenges.   I joined the Peace Corps after I finished college and met Jane by volunteering to help her transcribe field notes onto data sheets.   After my Peace Corps stint, Jane asked if I would join the team in Gombe;  I was on the next plane!!   I knew nothing about chimps or film work when I started.  I learned about chimp behavior by following chimps and listening to Jane and the Tanzanian field staff.  I learned about shooting from visiting camera crews who needed my help to follow chimps.

I am familiar with some primatologists at sanctuaries in the states, but I am most familiar with the staff that manages JGI's Tchimpounga Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Center in the Republic of Congo.  It is the largest chimpanzee sanctuary in Africa where we care for chimpanzees orphaned by the illegal commercial bushmeat trade.  We are currently raising funds for expanding the site to meet the need for space.

I think getting struck at by snakes are my scariest moments.   In my 20 years there, it has only happened 3 or 4 times, but it leaves an impression when it happens.   The worst was an injured black mamba who struck at me as I was returning from the forest at night.  Very close call;  I was flying through the air in reaction before my brain really knew what was happening.   For the next few days, I was jumping away from every vine and stick in the forest.    Having said that, living in the forests of Africa is actually much more comfortable (and less dangerous) for me than sitting in traffic during rush hour.

There is a fascination and an apparent concern for the sick and dead.   I have seen a young female using a branch to fan the flies away from an adult female who had a deep wound.   It was just amazing.   I have witnessed apparent depression several times when infants or siblings die.   I believe that the chimps' capacity to suffer loss emotionally is very similar to ours.

To be open and receptive to other cultures.   It is only through understanding people outside of our own society that we will have true compassion for one another.   From the chimps, I have learned a new respect for what the so-called animal mind is capable of.   Regarding the environment:   That each country shares similar challenges utilizing and protecting its natural resources.

Yes,  this was an awesome project.   What a pleasure it was to work with such an amazing group of people.   Each project brings its own challenges, so each of the 30 or so films I have worked on has been slightly different.

Yes, sadly we are by far the biggest threat to chimps, and people do still eat them.

Chimps are awesome; they tickle one another, play chase and even keep away.   If one kid has a great 'toy,' like a live cicada, she or he will hold it up so others can see it, then tuck it away and run if anyone tries to approach.   Just like human kids.

Well, very rarely.   A bad day filming chimps in a tropical forest is a million times better than a day not in the forest.   Yes, it does get wet and yucky, and things go wrong and I miss great shots, but it is just so amazing to witness this great place and spend time with chimps.

Well, I have to run off and get some shots (typhoid vaccine I think).   It has been wonderful answering your questions and sharing this time.   Sorry I couldn't get to everyone.   Thank you so much for joining me.     :)    Bill