Jane Goodall, the world-renowned zoologist whose groundbreaking work with chimpanzees transformed science and conservation, has passed away at the age of 91.
Her official social media confirmed that Goodall died from natural causes on October 1 while in California on a U.S. speaking tour. The Jane Goodall Institute released a statement honoring her as a “revolutionary ethologist” and lifelong advocate for protecting the planet.
Born in London in 1934, Goodall developed a fascination with chimpanzees as a child, inspired by a toy chimp. In 1957, she moved to Kenya, where she worked with famed archaeologist Louis Leakey, who later sent her to study primates. In 1960, she began her pioneering research at Tanzania’s Gombe Stream National Park, uncovering behaviors that reshaped scientific understanding of chimpanzees — including tool use, hunting, and aggressive acts such as cannibalism.
Goodall earned her degrees at Cambridge, completing her PhD in 1966. She published her first book, My Friends the Wild Chimpanzees, in 1969 and founded the Jane Goodall Institute in 1977, which now operates sanctuaries and programs worldwide.
From the 1980s onward, Goodall became a leading voice for environmental causes, speaking against animal testing, climate change, and factory farming. She even released a vegan cookbook in 2021. Over her lifetime, she authored more than two dozen books, appeared in documentaries, and inspired popular culture — from The Simpsons to Stevie Nicks’ song “Jane.”
Her achievements brought her global recognition, including the UN Messenger of Peace title, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2025, and honors from the British Crown.
Jane Goodall is survived by her son, Hugo Eric Louis van Lawick, along with her daughter-in-law and three grandchildren.
