For decades, a small gray stuffed monkey quietly accompanied one of the world’s most celebrated primatologists. He wasn’t alive, but his story radiated hope, courage, and inspiration.
As the world mourns Jane Goodall, the legendary British primatologist who transformed our understanding of chimpanzees and nature, the tale of her loyal plush companion, Mr. H, has captured hearts everywhere.
A Surprising Backstory
In 2016, Jane Goodall Institute Canada volunteer Agata Gutkowska revealed that Mr. H had traveled with Goodall to over 60 countries, becoming more than a toy — a symbol of strength and perseverance.
Mr. H entered Goodall’s life in 1996 as a birthday gift from Gary Haun, a former U.S. Marine who lost his sight in a helicopter crash but reinvented himself as a magician. Inspired by Haun’s resilience, Goodall turned Mr. H into a traveling mascot for the Jane Goodall Institute.
Gutkowska noted, “The hope and inspiration that Mr. H represents rubs off on every person who touches him.”
Mr. H in the Spotlight
By 2019, Mr. H had been to 65 countries. Goodall shared his story on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, explaining that Haun’s mantra — “If something goes wrong in your life, don’t give up. There’s always a way forward” — inspired the monkey’s symbolic presence.
Mr. H appeared alongside Goodall at conferences, met children around the world, and even posed with Kofi Annan at the UN, becoming a symbol of hope, perseverance, and kindness.
Goodall clarified that she carried Mr. H not because he was a chimpanzee but because he represented resilience and the indomitable human spirit.
Mr. H Junior
For fans wanting to keep this legacy close, a miniature version, Mr. H Junior, is available through Goodall’s official shop. Handcrafted ethically in the U.S., he’s designed to resemble the original Mr. H.
Through every tour, every lecture, and every journey, Mr. H was by Jane Goodall’s side — a quiet yet powerful reminder of the courage and hope she inspired worldwide.
