Before the days of television, little Jane’s world revolved around a chimp soft toy. As she grew, she was either found atop trees, observing nature, or tucked away in libraries, devouring books on the subject. Her first teacher, she said, was her dog!
As she grew, so did her dreams—of living in Africa, among the chimps—a dream she fought for, but never gave up. Her relentless pursuit led to groundbreaking discoveries, not just for anthropologists but for conservation biologists, psychologists, veterinarians, and many others. Jane Goodall’s pioneering work turned the world’s attention toward the human–animal conflict and the urgent need to conserve habitats.
Jane passed away on Oct.1, but she lives on through the countless people she has inspired, including one from our very own neighbourhood – Dr. Supraja Dharini, founder of the Tree Foundation, Neelankarai. Let’s hear more from her…
In December 2001, during a walk along the beach, I saw a dead Olive Ridley sea turtle. A fisherman nearby explained how these endangered turtles return every year to nest along India’s east coast. That moment stayed with me. In my mind echoed the voice of Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, from a National Geographic documentary: “Every individual can make a difference.” Little did I know then that this single encounter would shape my life’s calling.
In 2002, I founded TREE Foundation, an NGO dedicated to protecting endangered marine life, especially sea turtles. My work began with the very fisherman who had shown me that turtle, and over time, I gained the trust of many coastal communities. Guided by the belief that conservation must go hand in hand with education and community participation, TREE Foundation grew step by step.
I met Dr. Goodall for the first time in 2007 in Chennai, and again in 2009 when I had the privilege of hosting her at my home. She stayed in touch, often writing whenever she met others working with turtles, sharing their stories with me.
Her visits to Tamil Nadu and Hyderabad inspired many students, Forest Department officials, Indian Coast Guard and Consul Generals. Her humility, perseverance, and compassion proved that one individual’s determination could transform the world’s understanding of science and conservation.
Today, TREE Foundation works along 765 kilometres of India’s coastline, with 383 Sea Turtle Protection Force members across 242 fishing villages in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Goa. What began with a single turtle has grown into an internationally recognised conservation effort.
Dr. Jane Goodall remains our beacon — the voice that reminds us to be brave, yet compassionate, and to believe that every individual truly can make a difference.
To know more about TREE Foundation or to volunteer with them, checkout their website https://treefoundationindia.org/; Twitter: @TREEFoundation1; Instagram: treefoundationindia.
