Who was Jane Goodall? Legendary chimpanzee researcher and conservationist, dies at 91

Jane Goodall

Jane Goodall, the pioneering primatologist celebrated for her groundbreaking study of chimpanzees and decades of environmental advocacy, has died at the age of 91. The Jane Goodall Institute announced her passing in a statement on Wednesday.

“The Jane Goodall Institute has learned this morning, Wednesday, October 1, 2025, that Dr. Jane Goodall DBE, UN Messenger of Peace and Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute has passed away due to natural causes. She was in California as part of her speaking tour in the United States. Dr. Goodall's discoveries as an ethologist revolutionized science, and she was a tireless advocate for the protection and restoration of our natural world.”

Revolutionary chimpanzee research

Born Valerie Jane Morris-Goodall on April 3, 1934, in London, Goodall began her iconic field research in Tanzania in 1960 at Gombe Stream National Park. Her work revealed that chimpanzees use tools, form complex social bonds, and exhibit distinct personalities, challenging previous assumptions that such behaviors were uniquely human.

“Their behavior, with their gestures, kissing, embracing, holding hands and patting on the back. The fact that they can actually be violent and brutal and have a kind of war, but also loving and altruistic,” she told ABC News in 2020.

Her findings, widely published in National Geographic and documentaries, made her a global figure and transformed the world’s understanding of animal intelligence and emotion.

Environmental and humanitarian advocacy

Goodall devoted decades to education and advocacy for wildlife conservation, climate action, and humanitarian causes. She founded the Jane Goodall Institute in 1977 and launched Roots & Shoots, a youth empowerment program promoting environmental stewardship.

“Out there in nature by myself, when you're alone, you can become part of nature and your humanity doesn't get in the way,” she told the AP in 2021. “It's almost like an out-of-body experience when suddenly you hear different sounds and you smell different smells and you're actually part of this amazing tapestry of life.”
Even into her 90s, she traveled extensively to speak worldwide, blending sobering messages about climate change with hope and inspiration. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she began podcasting through Jane Goodall Hopecast, connecting with guests including U.S. Senator Cory Booker and author Margaret Atwood.
Honors and achievements

Goodall’s lifelong contributions earned numerous accolades:

• Presidential Medal of Freedom (2025) by U.S. President Joe Biden
• Dame Commander of the British Empire (DBE, 2003)
• Templeton Prize (2021)
• Named UN Messenger of Peace

Legacy and impact

From her early fascination with animals to decades in the field, Goodall reshaped science, conservation, and global awareness of humanity’s connection to nature. Tributes poured in on social media, “Dame Jane Goodall has passed away at 91. A pioneer, a dreamer, a voice for animals and the planet. She taught us to see ourselves in chimpanzees and hope in nature, and the world feels less friendly without her.”
“It is impossible to sum up the impact she has had on our world and on science in a social media post.” Jane Goodall leaves behind a legacy of curiosity, compassion, and relentless dedication to protecting life on Earth.

(With agency inputs)