Media Releases

Museum secures world class chimpanzee exhibit
Posted by Children's Museum Admin (cmadmin) on Friday, 14th December, 2007 at 9:44 AM
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Kitchener ON. Beginning January 25th, 2008 The Children's Museum of Waterloo Region will present a stunning exhibit which will transport visitors to the African tropical forest.

Discovering Chimpanzees: The Remarkable World of Jane Goodall welcomes visitors to the world of the chimpanzee through sound, visual effects and interactive displays. After passing a giant waterfall visitors will enter Gombe National Park and be transported from their urban surroundings to the jungle environment of the chimps.

Currently being hosted at the Boston Museum of Science, the 6000 square foot exhibit will be showcased for four months in Kitchener using the entire fourth level of the Museum, including the RIM Gallery.

"The Children’s Museum is pleased to bring such a world class event to Waterloo Region. This experience touches so many relevant issues and tells the fascinating story of Dr. Jane Goodall's work with an educational and personal approach," said David Marskell, CEO of the Children's Museum.

Four separately themed areas, The Chimp Forest, The Work of Jane Goodall, Primates and Reason for Hope, combine to create the exhibit and also complement the Museum's recent efforts by continuing on an environmental thrust. The Museum began introducing environmentalism into its programs and exhibits last year when it first produced the Kids Inspiring Change: Energy Awareness and Conservation Program and offered it to school groups.

Through customized computers visitors can explore chimpanzee behaviour in addition to learning to walk and communicate like a chimp. Field notes, photographs, video clips and other artifacts are used to make Jane's forty years of research come alive for visitors. Her Gombe jungle home is authentically recreated and vintage footage will take visitors on a journey through some of her most memorable and remarkable achievements.

The lifeline of twelve families of primates, their habitats and threats to their survival will be explored and visitors can compare their own physical characteristics to those of the primates. 
Much of Jane Goodall's recent work has been focused on the future and a portion of the display celebrates those who deal with environmental and social issues. As visitors leave the exhibit they will be inspired by Jane herself, with a life-sized video image and her message of hope which challenges everyone to be aware of their ecological footprint.

Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and UN Messenger of Peace  praises the exhibition in a note to Marskell. She says, "this is an extraordinary exhibit which has already excited and inspired thousands of people around the world, and has wonderful lessons for children about what they can do to make the world a better place."

"Museum staff is currently collaborating with our local universities to host special events and speakers to match monthly themes including: Environment, Communication, Biology and Medicine which are touched upon in the exhibit," said Marskell.

He goes on to explain that researchers associated with the University of Waterloo's School of Pharmacy have found incredible evidence that animals, such as chimpanzees, use plants and other elements in their surroundings to medicate themselves. Speakers from the School of Pharmacy will be able to enlighten Museum visitors, young and old, on topics like this one and be one of several in a speaker series the Museum plans to implement.

"It is this type of synergy and opportunity to showcase local innovation that will make this exhibit so successful," said Marskell. "Discovering Chimpanzees is the perfect interactive exhibit and encompasses everything from environmental issues to health sciences to communications."
Discovering Chimpanzees, which is a travelling exhibit produced by Science North, Sudbury, Canada, will be at The Children's Museum beginning January 25, 2008 until May 25, 2008.