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Jane Goodall’s newest role: Disneynature ambassador

Dr. Jane Goodall's newest role is that of Disneynature ambassador.

In anticipation of "Bears" opening this weekend, the famed 80-year-old anthropologist and primatologist is speaking up about the important of preserving habitats and natural resources through protected areas, like national parks.

"It was absolutely wonderful in Halo Bay," she told EW.com of being on set. "We were so close to the bears, and we met the two cubs that are in the film. And the scenery is so amazing. There’s a real feeling of wildness. To get to this place we had to go in a small plane and then a smaller plane so you felt you were going to the middle of nowhere. And the scenery is so utterly breathtaking. I love it, the wilder the better."

Goodall hopes the film will give people a sense of the "magic" of nature — and moves them to prioritize the protection of bears and their homes.

"It's good for your spirit," she told WSJ Live.

In an interview with TIME, Goodall said that by giving the cute bears names and voices in the movie, Disney is helping protect them — by creating empathy.

"What it adds is that they do all have different personalities. If you give them a cold number you might, and almost certainly would, notice the personality — and the name doesn’t have to reflect the personality — but quite honestly, when people say you shouldn’t have empathy with the animals you study — when they say that to a scientist, I say it’s the lack of empathy that’s led to some extremely unpleasant scientific inventions," she said.

"We have to have head and heart, intelligence, intellect and love and compassion working in harmony."