On 1 October 2025, the world lost Dame Jane Goodall, DBE, a pioneering primatologist, conservationist, writer, and tireless advocate for animals and the natural world. She was 91.
Her passing marks the end of an era in which one woman’s curiosity and compassion changed forever the way we understand our closest relatives in the animal kingdom, and, in turn, ourselves.
A Childhood Dream
Born Valerie Jane Morris-Goodall in London on 3 April 1934 and raised in Bournemouth, Jane’s fascination with animals began early. From the moment she was given a toy chimpanzee named Jubilee, she dreamed of travelling to Africa and living among wild creatures.
In 1957, she seized the opportunity to visit Kenya, where she met renowned palaeoanthropologist Louis Leakey. Recognising her potential, Leakey sent her to Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania to study wild chimpanzees — a bold move, given that Goodall had no formal scientific training at the time.
Transforming Science
What followed was one of the most extraordinary scientific journeys of the twentieth century. Instead of keeping a cold distance, Goodall observed the chimpanzees with patience, empathy, and respect. She named them rather than numbering them, treating them as individuals.
In 1960, she made a discovery that shattered assumptions: chimpanzees make and use tools. Until then, tool-use was considered a uniquely human trait. Her research also revealed their complex societies, emotional lives, maternal bonds, and even darker aspects of aggression and territorial conflict.
Her work challenged scientific orthodoxy and expanded our sense of kinship with the animal world. She went on to earn a doctorate in ethology from Cambridge, one of the few people ever awarded a PhD without a prior degree.
Beyond the Forest
Goodall’s influence grew far beyond her field notes. In 1977, she founded the Jane Goodall Institute, dedicated to chimpanzee research and conservation. In 1991, she launched Roots & Shoots, a youth programme now active in nearly 100 countries, encouraging young people to take action for people, animals, and the environment.
She became a global voice for conservation, animal welfare, and climate action, travelling relentlessly well into her eighties, often speaking at more than 300 events a year. Her message was consistent: every individual has a role to play in creating a more compassionate, sustainable world.
Her accolades were many, Dame of the British Empire, United Nations Messenger of Peace, recipient of the Kyoto Prize, the Templeton Prize, and, most recently, the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom. But perhaps her greatest honour was the countless lives she inspired to live with greater care for the earth.
A Legacy of Hope
Jane Goodall’s true gift was not only her science, but her storytelling. In her books, lectures, and interviews, she spoke with warmth and humility, weaving together science and philosophy. She reminded us that empathy is not weakness, but strength, the bridge between humans and the rest of life on earth.
Her life’s work carried an enduring message of hope. She often said that hope is not passive but active: something we create through our choices and our actions.
She is survived by her son, Hugo, her grandchildren, and a worldwide community who carry forward her mission.
Farewell to a Gentle Rebel
Jane Goodall began as a young woman with a dream of Africa. She ended as one of the most influential figures of our time, a scientist who redefined humanity’s place in nature, and a campaigner who never stopped believing in the power of kindness and action.
Her voice may now be silent, but her legacy will echo in forests, classrooms, and hearts for generations to come.
