The world paused this week to remember Jane Goodall, the pioneering primatologist whose lifelong devotion to chimpanzees and the planet reshaped the way humanity understands itself and its place in nature. Goodall, who died of natural causes on October 1, 2025, in California at the age of 91 while on a speaking tour, leaves behind a legacy that stretches from the forests of Tanzania to classrooms and conservation efforts worldwide. Her death, announced by the Jane Goodall Institute, has prompted an outpouring of tributes from environmentalists, politicians, celebrities, and scientists alike.
Born in London in 1934, Goodall’s fascination with animals began in childhood. But it was a fateful meeting with paleoanthropologist Louis Leakey in Kenya in 1957 that set her on a path that would change scientific history. Leakey, recognizing her curiosity and patience, sent the untrained young woman to Gombe Stream National Park in what is now Tanzania in 1960. Her mission: to observe chimpanzees and, by extension, gain insight into human origins. As Ian Gilby, a primatologist at Arizona State University, put it to Fox 10 Phoenix, “She famously had no training. And didn’t really know how scientists did things and did it herself and really basically invented the field of primatology, or at least the modern field of primatology.”
Goodall’s approach was as unconventional as it was groundbreaking. Without the constraints of formal scientific training, she immersed herself in the chimpanzees’ world, giving them names instead of numbers and observing their daily lives with patience and empathy. Her most famous discovery came when she watched chimpanzees using grass stems to fish termites from their mounds—an observation that shattered the prevailing belief that only humans made and used tools. According to the Jane Goodall Institute, this was "considered one of the greatest achievements of twentieth-century scholarship." National Geographic funded her research and sent cameraman Hugo van Lawick to document her work. The two later married, and their collaboration resulted in the 1965 documentary "Miss Goodall and the Wild Chimpanzees," which captivated millions of viewers and further propelled Goodall into the public eye.
As her reputation grew, so did her influence. Goodall’s research not only revolutionized primatology but also inspired generations to care more deeply about animals and the environment. In 1977, she founded the Jane Goodall Institute to continue her research and expand conservation efforts. The Institute’s Roots & Shoots program, launched in 1991, has since engaged young people around the world in local projects to protect animals and the environment. Goodall’s message was always one of hope and empowerment. In a 2025 interview with the Detroit Free Press, she said, “Every single day we live, we make some sort of impact on the world. Most of us can choose what sort of impact we make. Hope isn’t wishful thinking. I tell people, ‘Find something you can do in your community. Do it. Get your friends to support you. See that you can make a difference. Know that all around the world, other people like you are making a difference.’”
Goodall’s reach extended far beyond Africa. She was a frequent visitor to the United States, and her influence touched communities as diverse as Reno-Tahoe—where she spoke to students at the Lake Tahoe School, visited a wolf refuge, and inspired art at Burning Man. Her work was also shaped by collaborations with other scientists, including Allen and Beatrix Gardner of Reno, who taught American Sign Language to the chimpanzee Washoe, a project that drew Goodall’s attention and furthered the field of interspecies communication.
The news of her death sent ripples through the scientific and conservation communities. Gilby, who works daily with Goodall’s research at ASU’s Institute of Human Origins, described the loss as devastating. "There really wasn’t much mystery there. Her life was devoted to saving the species of chimpanzee, as well as essentially, saving the world," he told Fox 10 Phoenix. The institute now archives decades of Goodall’s research notes from Gombe, ensuring her legacy continues to inform and inspire new generations of scientists.
Tributes poured in from around the globe. Former President Joe Biden, who awarded Goodall the Presidential Medal of Freedom just before leaving office, wrote on social media, “Jill and I are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Jane Goodall whose activism, vision, and message of hope mobilized a global movement to protect the planet. Above all, Jane taught us that when we search for humanity in the natural world around us, we discover it within ourselves.” UN Secretary-General António Guterres called her "our dear Messenger of Peace," while Sir David Attenborough remarked, “Jane Goodall was the first to prove that an investigating scientist and a great ape living in the wild could become true friends and in doing so she came to transform our understanding of chimpanzees.”
Other notable voices echoed these sentiments. Former President Barack Obama praised her ability to inspire new generations of women in science. PETA founder Ingrid Newkirk credited Goodall with forever changing "the way we view our fellow animals." Environmentalist Chris Packham noted that “Jane just died on the job. The job that her life became. And that was protecting life on Earth.” Philanthropist Melinda French Gates described Goodall as “an extraordinarily powerful advocate, inspiring young people all over the world to stay curious, compassionate, and committed to building a brighter future for people, animals, and the environment.”
Goodall’s honors were many: she was named a United Nations Messenger of Peace, appointed a Dame of the British Empire in 2003, and received the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2025. But perhaps her greatest legacy lies in the millions she inspired to care, to act, and to hope. As actor Leonardo DiCaprio wrote, “She spoke directly to the next generation, instilling hope, responsibility, and the belief that every individual can make a difference. She inspired millions to care, to act, and to hope. She never stopped.”
Even in her final days, Goodall remained engaged with the world’s troubles. Chef José Andrés shared that “just this weekend, she wrote to let me know she was thinking about what she could do to alleviate all of the suffering in Gaza, in Ukraine, in Sudan, and beyond.” Musician Moby recalled her calm acceptance of death as “her next big adventure.”
Jane Goodall’s life was a testament to what one person’s vision, courage, and compassion can achieve. As Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney put it, “Her advocacy inspired generations and her research revolutionized the field of biology. Her legacy lives on through every life she fought to protect.” For those she leaves behind, the challenge is clear: to take up her torch and continue the work of protecting our one shared home.
