Through his still photographs and films, Van Lawick helped popularize the study of chimpanzees during his then-wife Jane Goodall's studies at Gombe Stream National Park during the 1960s and 1970s.
Walaupun ia masih memfoto dan membuat film, Van Lawick menolong mempopulerkan studi mengenai simpanse selama istri-kemudiannya, Jane Goodall studi di Taman Nasional Gombe Stream selama era 1960-an dan 1970-an.