Jane Goodall says humans are to blame for coronavirus pandemic

She says humans are to blame for the virus because of the way we treat animals and abuse nature.

“It’s because we disregard our place in the natural world and we disrespect the environment and animals that COVID-19 happened,” she said in a CNet interview for her upcoming film, Jane Goodall: The Hope.

“Viruses can spill over onto humans in situations like our intensive farming with animals, and also in the meat markets in Asia and Africa. It’s because of our lack of respect for the environment that this terrible COVID-19 virus has shut down the world.”

She also said that this situation was predicted by David Quammen “ages ago” in a book he wrote, but “no one paid attention” to it.

“This time, I hope we will,” said Goodall.

“We are all interconnected,” she said. “And if we don’t get that lesson from this pandemic, then maybe we never will.”

National Geographic is releasing her latest film on Wednesday. It will celebrate her legacy and also show seven decades worth of footage and photographs that have never been seen.

Concerns have been raised by world health experts before about markets like the wet market located in Wuhan, China which has a mix of exotic, wild and farmed animals including bats, snakes, dogs, cats and pangolins.

Goodall hopes that the ban on wet markets in China continues when the threat of the virus is over. She also thinks that selling animals for medicine should be prohibited.

“It’s mistreatment of animals and exactly where the next pandemic might come from, if we don’t pay attention to our behaviour,” she said.

“I pray that we will this time take heed of the message that we’re being given, because this pandemic has been predicted for many, many, many years.”