Coronavirus: ‘Messing with nature behind spread of virus’, says Jane Goodall
Conservationist Jane Goodall has blamed ‘messing with nature’ for the coronavirus pandemic.
Conservationist Jane Goodall has blamed “messing with nature” for the coronavirus pandemic.
The British primatologist, 86, said she believed human decisions to hunt, eat and trade animals were behind the spread but humanity would eventually beat COVID-19. “We’re bound to get through it — and hopefully we’ll emerge better,” she said.
“Hopefully, there will be more understanding of the fact that it’s our messing with nature, cutting down forests, bringing people and animals close together, hunting animals and eating them, and selling them, that’s led to these viruses spreading from animals to people … I’m hoping what will emerge from this is a better attitude and understanding of our relationship with the natural world.”
Dr Goodall was speaking before her new documentary, The Hope, which examines her 60-year legacy, is broadcast next week. She added: “We’ve had pandemics before, but we’ve never reacted quite like this. I’m not a biologist but some biologists say this is very dangerous; they’re hoping enough people will catch it and survive, so that they become immune and eventually it’ll die out.”
The Times
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