Jane Goodall, Groundbreaking Scientist and Global Conservation Icon, Dies at 91

The world has lost one of its most influential voices in science, conservation, and environmental advocacy. Jane Goodall, the trailblazing British primatologist whose work forever changed how we understand animals and ourselves, has died at the age of 91. Her passing, from natural causes, occurred in California during a speaking tour that reflected her lifelong mission: to inspire change and protect the natural world.

Goodall was always drawn to animals from a young age. Raised in London and the seaside town of Bournemouth, she was captivated by the stories of Doctor Dolittle and Tarzan, which sparked an early dream of traveling to Africa. At just 26, she made that dream real, setting off to what is now Tanzania. In the dense forests of Gombe National Park, she began the work that would define not only her career, but an entire field of study.

With no formal scientific training at the time, she embarked on observing wild chimpanzees in their natural habitat and would go on to revolutionize modern biology. She discovered that chimpanzees made and used tools, shattering long-held scientific beliefs and opening up a new understanding of the deep behavioral and emotional similarities between humans and our closest relatives in the animal kingdom.

Goodall eventually earned a PhD from the University of Cambridge, a rare academic path for someone without a formal undergraduate degree. Her groundbreaking research and field notes became the foundation for decades of scholarship in ethology, the study of animal behavior.

Jane Goodall was far more than a researcher. Over time, her role evolved into one of a global activist, educator, and environmental philosopher. In 1977, she founded the Jane Goodall Institute, which now operates in over two dozen countries, promoting wildlife protection, conservation science, and legal advocacy.

Goodall’s impact transcended the scientific world. In 2022, Mattel released a Jane Goodall Barbie doll made from recycled ocean plastic, celebrating her role as an explorer and environmental champion. It marked the 62nd anniversary of her arrival in Gombe, the place where it all began.

She received countless honors throughout her life, including the French Legion of Honor, the Kyoto Prize of Japan, the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom, and Britain’s highest knighthood for services to zoology.

Though unable to attend a scheduled appearance in Pasadena shortly before her death, Goodall left behind a video message offering a final word of wisdom. Her words underscored the urgency of environmental action but also a deep-rooted hope, especially in the power of young people to lead the way forward.