Barbie unveils new Dr Jane Goodall doll in honour of conservationist

Barbie has unveiled a new Dr Jane Goodall doll in honour of the British conservationist.

The doll of Dr Goodall, who is widely considered the world’s foremost expert on chimpanzees, pays tribute to the conservationist and her work.

As the latest Inspiring Women Doll, it has been created alongside the Jane Goodall Institute and comes with a separate David Greybeard chimp accessory – modelled after the primate Dr Goodall studied – before World Chimpanzee Day on Thursday.

Dr Goodall, 88, said: “My entire career, I’ve wanted to help inspire kids to be curious and explore the world around them – just like I did when I first travelled to Tanzania 62 years ago.

“I’m thrilled to partner with Barbie and encourage young children to learn from their environment and feel a sense that they can make a difference.

“Through this partnership, I hope to inspire the next generation of eco-leaders to join me in protecting our planet and remind them they can be anything, anywhere – on the field, in the lab, and at the table.”

The Barbie, which was unveiled by the US company Mattel Inc, is made from recycled plastic and costs $35.

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Dr Goodall began her research aged 26 in east Africa in 1960 observing chimpanzees and revealed their capability to engage in complex social behaviours like tickling.

Barbie’s Inspiring Women series “pays tribute to courageous women who took risks, changed rules, and paved the way for generations to dream bigger than ever before”.

Other dolls in the series include activist Dr Maya Angelou, former tennis star Billie Jean King and former First Lady of the United States Eleanor Roosevelt.

Lisa McKnight, global head of Barbie and dolls at Mattel, said: “Kids need more role models like Dr Jane Goodall, because imagining they can be anything is just the beginning – seeing it makes all the difference.”

She added: “We hope that this collection and homage to a ground-breaking pioneer for women in science and conservation inspires kids to learn more about green careers, how they can protect the planet, and act out sustainable stories through doll play.

“We know that sustainability is a top concern for future generations and we are proud to unveil our first sustainable Barbie Inspiring Women and Career of the Year Eco-Leadership team dolls.”

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