Google Street View enables humans to hang out with their blood-related chimpanzees

There is not a place Google has not taken us human beings, be it for education or leisure. It appears that Google wants to take us from Angkor to some of the greatest art galleries in the world to the Pyramids of Giza and all around the world. And now Google is taking us to the Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania, Africa, a park to a population of over 100 wild chimpanzees. Also living in the park is a chimpanzee named Google.

This is part of Google’s recent Street View “trek” ‘Journey beyond the road’. These chimpanzees are the longest and most studied chimpanzee population in history thanks to the pioneering work of English conservationist Dr Jane Goodall, who began her research in the area in 1961 and rocked the world with her observation of chimpanzees using tools.

Google worked with Goodall and other local researchers to create its new Street View trek through the park. The adventure required two researchers to wear Google’s 42.5-pound Trekker backpacks deep in the African rainforest.

In a statement, Goodall says she hopes the resulting view of chimpanzees — which share 98% of their DNA with humans — will inspire others to support conversation efforts.

“What I learned in my years of research at Gombe inspired and enriched me,” Goodall writes. “I hope that your journey through this website and the Street View imagery takes you on a similar voyage of learning and discovery.”

The entire series is at Google Maps.