The pioneering primatologist, who redefined humanity’s understanding of chimpanzees and became a global voice for conservation, has died at 91 while on tour in California.
BY FRANCESCA RAPISARDA
Jane Goodall, the world-renowned British primatologist and environmental advocate, has died at the age of 91. The Jane Goodall Institute announced she passed away from natural causes while in California on a speaking tour.
Goodall first sailed to East Africa in 1957, eventually establishing her base in Tanzania’s Gombe Stream Reserve in 1960, where she lived among chimpanzees and observed their social structures, tool use, and emotional lives. Her work challenged long-held scientific assumptions about human uniqueness and reshaped the field of ethology.
Over the decades, Goodall transitioned from field researcher to global conservation figure. She founded the Jane Goodall Institute in 1977 and created the youth programme Roots & Shoots, empowering young people globally to engage in environmental and humanitarian activism.
In recent years, Goodall remained active into her 90s, travelling to deliver talks, raising awareness about biodiversity loss, climate change and advocating for animal welfare worldwide.
Her contributions were widely recognized: among many honours, she was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire (DBE) in 2004 and awarded the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2025.
Goodall is survived by her son Hugo and three grandchildren.
Jane Goodall’s legacy is not only in her revolutionary scientific findings but also in the shift she helped inspire in how people relate to nature. She blurred the divide between humans and other species, reminding generations that compassion, curiosity, and stewardship are as essential as knowledge. In a time of accelerating climate crisis, her voice and work leave a blueprint for activism, education and hope.
Flags flew at half-mast and tributes poured in from world leaders, scientific communities, and environmental organisations.
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