Dame Jane Goodall, the world-renowned primatologist whose groundbreaking research with chimpanzees transformed our understanding of animal behaviour and human evolution, has died of natural causes at the age of 91.
The Jane Goodall Institute announced her death on Wednesday morning, confirming that the legendary conservationist passed away whilst on a speaking tour in California. Her death marks the end of an extraordinary life that spanned more than six decades of scientific discovery, conservation advocacy, and tireless campaigning for the protection of the natural world.
The Jane Goodall Institute has learned this morning, Wednesday, October 1, 2025, that Dr. Jane Goodall DBE, UN Messenger of Peace and Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute has passed away due to natural causes,” the institute said in a statement posted on social media. “She was in California as part of her speaking tour in the United States.”
A Life-Changing Journey to Africa
Born Valerie Jane Morris-Goodall on 3 April 1934 in Hampstead, London, Goodall developed a profound fascination with animals from an early age, inspired by the Doctor Dolittle books and Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Tarzan novels. With no scientific training and only a secretarial certificate, she saved money working as a secretary and waitress to pursue her dream of visiting Africa.
At the age of 23, she travelled to Kenya to visit a childhood friend, a journey that would change not only her life but the entire field of primatology. There she met the renowned paleoanthropologist Dr Louis Leakey, who became her mentor and recognised her potential despite her lack of formal scientific education.
In July 1960, at just 26 years old, Goodall arrived at what is now Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania to begin what would become the longest-running study of wild chimpanzees in history. Armed with little more than binoculars and a notebook, she embarked on research that would revolutionise our understanding of our closest living relatives.
Revolutionary Discoveries
Goodall’s approach to studying chimpanzees was as revolutionary as her findings. Rather than observing from a distance as was standard practice, she immersed herself in their habitat, living amongst them and earning their trust. She gave the chimpanzees names rather than numbers – with David Greybeard becoming the first to lose his fear of her presence – a practice that was criticised by some scientists but helped reveal the individual personalities of her subjects.
Her most groundbreaking discovery came in 1960 when she observed chimpanzees making and using tools to extract termites from mounds. This observation shattered the prevailing belief that tool use was what separated humans from animals. As she famously recalled, Leakey telegrammed: “Now we must redefine tool, redefine Man, or accept chimpanzees as fellow beings.”
Through decades of meticulous observation, Goodall documented complex social behaviours amongst chimpanzees that had never been seen before. She observed them showing emotions, forming intricate social bonds, demonstrating altruism, and even engaging in warfare between groups. Her work revealed that chimpanzees share approximately 98.6 per cent of their DNA with humans.
“Among the most surprising discoveries was how like us the chimpanzees are,” Goodall told ABC News in 2020. “Their behaviour, with their gestures, kissing, embracing, holding hands and patting on the back… The fact that they can actually be violent and brutal and have a kind of war, but also loving and altruistic.”
Academic Achievement Against the Odds
Despite her lack of formal education, Goodall’s work impressed the academic establishment. In 1962, Leakey arranged for her to pursue doctoral studies at the University of Cambridge, where she became one of only eight people in the university’s history to be admitted to a PhD programme without first earning an undergraduate degree.
She completed her doctorate in ethology in 1966 under the supervision of Robert Hinde, with her thesis detailing her first five years of study at Gombe. Her unconventional methods – including naming rather than numbering her subjects and attributing emotions to them – initially drew criticism from the scientific community but ultimately transformed the field of primatology.
From Scientist to Activist
By the 1980s, Goodall realised that the chimpanzees she had devoted her life to studying were facing extinction due to deforestation, poaching, and disease. This recognition marked a pivotal transformation in her life’s work. She left her beloved Gombe to become a global advocate for conservation, traveling approximately 300 days a year to spread her message.
In 1977, she founded the Jane Goodall Institute to support ongoing research at Gombe and establish community-centred conservation programmes throughout Africa. The institute’s innovative approach recognised that protecting wildlife required improving the lives of local communities, leading to the creation of the TACARE (Take Care) programme, which provides healthcare, education, and economic development opportunities whilst promoting conservation.
In 1991, she established Roots & Shoots, a global youth programme that empowers young people to become environmental stewards and humanitarian leaders. The programme now operates in 70 countries, inspiring countless young people to take action for their communities, animals, and the environment.
Global Recognition and Honours
Goodall’s contributions to science and conservation earned her numerous prestigious awards and honours throughout her lifetime. She was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1995 and was promoted to Dame Commander (DBE) in 2003, with her investiture held at Buckingham Palace in 2004.
In April 2002, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan named her a United Nations Messenger of Peace. She received the Templeton Prize in 2021 and the Stephen Hawking Medal for Science Communication in 2022.
Most recently, on 4 January 2025, just months before her death, President Joe Biden awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States’ highest civilian honour. “I am deeply honoured to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom,” Goodall said at the time. “This recognition reflects the hope and action of so many people who inspire and motivate me every day in the firm belief that together we can and we must save the natural world for ourselves and future generations.”
A Legacy of Hope
Throughout her later years, Goodall maintained a punishing schedule of lectures, media appearances, and advocacy work, driven by what she called her “reasons for hope”: the amazing human intellect, the resilience of nature, the power of young people, and the indomitable human spirit.
Her influence extended far beyond the scientific community. The 2017 documentary “Jane,” assembled from 140 hours of previously unseen footage from National Geographic’s archives, won two Primetime Emmy Awards and introduced her story to a new generation. She authored numerous books, including “In the Shadow of Man” (1971), which has been translated into 48 languages.
“Dr Goodall’s discoveries as an ethologist revolutionised science, and she was a tireless advocate for the protection and restoration of our natural world,” the Jane Goodall Institute said in its announcement of her death.
Final Years and Lasting Impact
Even in her 90s, Goodall continued her advocacy work with remarkable energy. She was scheduled to speak in Los Angeles on Friday as part of her current US tour when she passed away. Her final public appearance was characteristically focused on inspiring others to take action for the planet.
Anna Rathmann, Executive Director of the Jane Goodall Institute USA, reflected on Goodall’s evolution “from world-renowned scientist to global conservation advocate” as “a stunning example of each individual’s ability to make a positive impact.”
Goodall’s work fundamentally changed how we view our place in the natural world. By demonstrating the emotional and intellectual complexity of chimpanzees, she challenged human exceptionalism and argued for a more compassionate relationship with all living beings.
Her legacy lives on through the Jane Goodall Institute’s 24 global chapters, the ongoing research at Gombe – now the world’s longest-running study of any wild animal population – and the millions of young people inspired by her message that every individual can make a difference.
Jane Goodall is survived by her son, Hugo Eric Louis van Lawick, known as “Grub,” from her marriage to wildlife photographer Hugo van Lawick, and three grandchildren. Her first husband died in 2002, and her second husband, Derek Bryceson, former director of Tanzania’s national parks, died in 1980.
As the world mourns the loss of this remarkable woman, her words continue to resonate: “What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”
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Image Credit:
Jane Goodall — photo by Richard Gray / U.S. Department of State (or equivalent) licensed under Public Domain / U.S. Government Work
