Jane Goodall visits Taiwan, praises Delta's coral restoration efforts

Keelung, June 6 (CNA) On her first public appearance in Taiwan since 2018, world-renowned zoologist Jane Goodall has praised efforts made by Taiwanese manufacturing giant Delta Electronics, Inc. to restore corals in Taiwan and abroad.

At an event Friday at the Chaojing Coral Conservation Center in Keelung -- jointly established by Delta and the National Museum of Marine Science & Technology (NMMST) in 2023 -- Goodall said the ocean is vital and that nature is unique because of its resilience.

Although many things in nature may have been lost, restoration is still possible with effort, Goodall said, adding that she was glad to see the results Delta Electronics has achieved in coral restoration.

The company's founder Bruce Cheng (鄭崇華) said a restoration project run by the conservation center has preserved more than 40 species of coral native to Taiwan, and the target of restoring 10,000 coral colonies is expected to be reached this summer.

Cheng, a longtime champion of environmental sustainability, praised Goodall as an inspiring figure in ecological education and expressed hope that her presence in Taiwan would encourage more students to follow in her footsteps.

Renowned for her decades-long study of wild chimpanzees, the 91-year-old Goodall is also widely recognized for her extensive work in wildlife and environmental conservation through the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI), which she founded.

During Friday's event, a collaboration between the Delta Electronics Foundation, the JGI, and the NMMST was announced, with the foundation publishing a popular science picture book about corals that will be integrated into the institute's "Roots & Shoots" program.

The aim of the collaboration is to raise awareness among students in Taiwan about coral and marine conservation, according to the three organizations.

During her visit to Taiwan, Goodall will deliver a public lecture titled "Inspiring Hope through Action" on Sunday afternoon at National Taipei University of Technology. According to JGI Taiwan, all tickets have been sold out.

In addition to her institute's partnership with Delta Electronics, the English zoologist is also connected to Taiwan as the 2020 Tang Prize laureate in Sustainable Development.

She was not able to come to Taiwan in 2020 for the award ceremony because of COVID-19, and during her current stay, she will tour the Tang Prize Foundation in Taipei and add her signature on the "Table of Honor," according to the foundation.

The Tang Prize is a biennial award established in 2012 by Taiwanese entrepreneur Samuel Yin (尹衍樑), chairman of the Ruentex Group, to honor those who have made significant contributions in four categories -- sustainable development, biopharmaceutical science, sinology and the rule of law.