Dame Jane Goodall, the world-renowned primatologist, ethologist, and conservationist, passed away at the age of 91 from natural causes while on a speaking tour in California, her institute announced. Her death marks the end of a remarkable era in wildlife research and advocacy.
A Life That Transformed Science & Conservation
Born April 3, 1934, in London, Goodall became famous for her pioneering work observing wild chimpanzees in Gombe Stream, Tanzania, beginning in the early 1960s. Her findings on chimpanzee tool use, complex social behaviors, and emotional lives challenged long-held assumptions about the human-animal divide.
Goodall founded the Jane Goodall Institute in 1977, and launched Roots & Shoots, a youth-driven environmental education program that now operates globally.
Her later years were spent traveling extensively as a conservation advocate, pushing for sustainable living, habitat restoration, and climate action up until her final days.
Reaction, Legacy & Global Tributes
Tributes poured in from political leaders, scientists, celebrities, and environmental organizations. Many celebrated her as a “tireless advocate” and a bridge between science and public activism.
Among her many honors, Goodall was appointed a Dame Commander of the British Empire in 2004, and in 2025 received the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Her legacy lives on through the scientists, conservationists, and young people inspired by her work and message of hope.
