Iowa State professor travels to Africa to study chimps

Iowa State University anthropology professor Jill Pruetz is an avid researcher of the lives of chimps.
Iowa State University anthropology professor Jill Pruetz is an avid researcher of the lives of chimps. | Contributed photo

Iowa State University anthropology professor Jill Pruetz is an avid researcher of the lives of chimps and a traveler who is willing to go to distant continents for her studies. 

One of the places that she has traveled for the sake of research is Senegal's wild savanna.

"There’s something so great about being out in a wild place. I relish the fact that there are big predators out there," Pruetz said.

She also stated that for her, being in such an environment gives her a feeling of being alive. During her research, Pruetz will spend time outside, camping and getting her water and showers from the nearby well.

Pruetz is especially fascinated by the spears she has witnessed the primates using, and claims that it excites her to see this behavior.

Over the years, she has gained funding from well-known research and science organizations, including National Geographic.