Pioneering Primatologist and Conservationist Jane Goodall Dies at 91
1 October 2025
Dr. Jane Goodall, the renowned British primatologist and conservationist whose groundbreaking study of chimpanzees revolutionized our understanding of animal intelligence and redefined humanity’s relationship with the natural world, has died at the age of 91.
The Jane Goodall Institute announced that she passed away from natural causes on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, while in California as part of a speaking tour in the United States.
A Revolutionary in the Field
Arriving in what is now Tanzania’s Gombe Stream National Park in 1960 at just 26 years old, Goodall began her landmark study of wild chimpanzees with no formal scientific training. Her patient, immersive approach led to discoveries that sent shockwaves through the scientific community. Most famously, she observed a chimp, whom she named David Greybeard, using a grass stem to fish for termites—the first recorded instance of tool-making and tool-use by a non-human animal.
This finding challenged the long-held belief that such skills were unique to humans. Her further observations of complex social structures, cooperation, and even warfare among chimpanzees forced a profound re-evaluation of what it means to be human.
A Global Icon and Advocate
Goodall’s work, championed by National Geographic, turned her into a global icon. She earned a PhD from the University of Cambridge in ethology without first having an undergraduate degree, one of only a handful of people to do so at the time.
Her passion for the animals she studied evolved into a tireless crusade for environmental protection and animal welfare. Through the Jane Goodall Institute, which she founded in 1977, and her Roots & Shoots youth program, she became a “tireless advocate for the protection and restoration of our natural world,” as her institute stated.
In her final interview with the BBC in November 2024, she warned of the “sixth great extinction” and urged for “tough regulations” to protect forests and move away from fossil fuels. Remarkably, she remained active until the very end, speaking at a forum in New York just a week before her death.
A Legacy of Accolades and Inspiration
Goodall’s immense contributions were recognized with numerous honours, including a damehood (DBE) in 2004 and the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom, awarded by President Joe Biden earlier in 2025. She also served as a UN Messenger of Peace.
News of her passing prompted an outpouring of tributes from world leaders, institutions, and fellow conservationists.
· The United Nations stated she leaves “an extraordinary legacy for humanity and nature.”
· Former U.S. President Barack Obama wrote that she “opened doors for generations of women in science.”
· Naturalist Chris Packham, speaking to the BBC, described her as a “hero” who was “brave, bold, revolutionary.”
· Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was “heartbroken,” calling her a pioneer “whose wisdom and compassion will live on.”
Dr. Jane Goodall is survived by a legacy that has inspired millions to look at the natural world with wonder, respect, and a renewed commitment to its preservation.
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