In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE formed a deep bond with La Vieille, an elderly chimpanzee who had survived years of hardship at the Pointe Noire Zoo in the Republic of the Congo. Jane advocated for her rescue, helped secure support for daily care, and later guided the creation of the Tchimpounga Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Center, where La Vieille could finally live in safety.

Michael “Nick” Nichols captured this quiet, unforgettable moment between Le Vielle and Jane Goodall—a glimpse into the bond between a legendary scientist and the creatures she has devoted her life to. For Nichols, storytelling is epic in scale: his subjects range from lions and elephants to tigers and chimpanzees, but the human
conservationists who dedicate themselves to these animals—Jane Goodall, J. Michael Fay, Iain Douglas-Hamilton, Craig Packer—are just as central to his narrative. His long friendship with Goodall has given him unparalleled access to her world, allowing him to capture her brilliance, compassion, and tireless devotion to the chimpanzees of Gombe. Raised in the woods of Alabama, Nichols joined National Geographic in 1996 and became Editor-at-Large for Photography in 2008, transforming every assignment into a story that is as visually breathtaking as it is emotionally resonant.

Follow Michael on Instagram @michaelnicknichols.

Sixty percent of the proceeds from this print will support the Jane Goodall Institute's Roots and Shoots program.

The Jane Goodall Institute does not endorse handling or close proximity to wildlife. This represents a historical/sanctuary context.