Jane Goodall, Nature Advocate, Passes Away at 91

Renowned conservationist Jane Goodall has passed away at the age of 91. For decades, she dedicated her life to studying and advocating for chimpanzees, becoming a preeminent expert on our closest primate relatives and transforming our understanding of humanity. Her legacy is one of profound empathy and commitment to nature. She died from natural causes while on a speaking tour in California, as confirmed by the Jane Goodall Institute in a statement on October 1.

Goodall began her groundbreaking work with chimpanzees in Tanzania’s Gombe Stream National Park in 1960. Her studies made significant contributions to our understanding of their behavior and social structures. Over the next 65 years, she evolved into a passionate advocate and expert, enlightening the world on the similarities between humans and other primates and drawing attention to the challenges faced by chimpanzees and wildlife, including climate change, poaching, and habitat loss.

In 1977, she established the Institute bearing her name, a nonprofit focused on the study and protection of primates and their habitats while fostering a greater public understanding of nature. The institute’s mission has since broadened to include community health initiatives across Africa and conservation efforts aimed at protecting whales. Goodall also played pivotal roles in numerous other environmental projects.

She attributed her success to remarkable patience, stating, “There was a moment when I was feeling despondent and the chimpanzees were evading me, and I had plenty of time in the field. [But] If I had decided to give up, I would never have been able to forgive myself. I couldn’t live with that.” New Scientist 2022.

In her later years, Goodall focused her efforts on global conservation, traveling extensively to spread the message that chimpanzees and all animals share commonalities with humans. She persistently urged us to improve our treatment of the natural world.