Dr. Jane Goodall, the eminent scientist and dedicated global activist whose profound childhood fascination with primates evolved into a lifelong mission for environmental protection, passed away on Wednesday (October 1, 2025) at the age of 91, as announced by the institute she established.
Her passing was due to natural causes, confirmed the Jane Goodall Institute in a social media announcement.
“Dr. Goodall’s pioneering contributions as an ethologist fundamentally reshaped scientific understanding, and she remained an unwavering champion for the preservation and revitalization of our planet’s ecosystems,” the institute stated.
This remarkable primatologist, who transformed into a dedicated conservationist, channeled her deep affection for wildlife into a global campaign. Her journey spanned from a tranquil English coastal village to the wilds of Africa and eventually across continents, all driven by a singular purpose: to deepen our understanding of chimpanzees and to highlight humanity’s crucial responsibility in protecting their habitats and the overall well-being of our planet.
A touching moment: Jane Goodall shares a kiss with Tess, a female chimpanzee, at the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary near Nanyuki, north of Nairobi on December 6, 1997.
A true pioneer, Dr. Goodall broke barriers as a female scientist in the 1960s, revolutionizing the study of primate behavior. Her work paved the way for many other women in science, including notable figures like the late Dian Fossey.
Through her collaborations with the National Geographic Society, she captivated global audiences, introducing her cherished chimpanzees into countless homes via compelling films, television programs, and magazine features.
Dr. Goodall gently cradles a baby Cariblanco monkey (cebus capucinus) during her visit to the Rehabilitation Center and Primate Rescue in Peñaflor, Chile, on November 23, 2013.
Challenging the scientific conventions of her era, she famously named the chimpanzees she studied instead of assigning them numbers. Her meticulous observations revealed their unique personalities, intricate family structures, and complex emotional lives. Crucially, she also discovered that chimpanzees, much like humans, possess the remarkable ability to create and use tools.
Jane Goodall reviewing slides prior to a presentation in Chicago on May 9, 1982.
“We have discovered that, in essence, no definitive boundary separates humanity from the broader animal kingdom,” she famously declared during a TED Talk in 2002.
Over time, her career trajectory broadened from pure primatology to fervent climate advocacy. Witnessing extensive habitat destruction, she passionately implored the world to undertake swift and decisive action against climate change.
Related Stories
“We often overlook our intrinsic connection to the natural world,” she stated in a 2020 interview with CNN. “But a window of opportunity still exists.”
Her remarkable contributions were recognized with significant honors, including her appointment as a Dame of the British Empire in 2003 and the prestigious U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2025.
President Joe Biden awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Jane Goodall in the East Room of the White House on January 4, 2025.
The Journey to Africa
Born in London in 1934 and raised in Bournemouth on England’s south coast, Dr. Goodall harbored a lifelong dream of living amidst wild animals. Her profound passion for wildlife, ignited by a stuffed toy gorilla from her father, deepened as she delved into beloved books like “Tarzan” and “Dr. Dolittle”.
Post-school, her university aspirations were paused due to financial constraints. She took on secretarial work and later joined a film company. However, a friend’s invitation to Kenya ultimately brought her cherished dream of the jungle and its diverse inhabitants within grasp.
Having diligently saved for her boat journey, Dr. Goodall arrived in the East African nation in 1957. It was there that a pivotal meeting with the renowned anthropologist and paleontologist Dr. Louis Leakey and his wife, archaeologist Mary Leakey, steered her towards her destiny of working with primates.
Guided by Leakey, Dr. Goodall established the Gombe Stream Chimpanzee Reserve, later known as the Gombe Stream Research Centre, nestled near Lake Tanganyika in what is now Tanzania. Her groundbreaking work there revealed that chimpanzees consumed meat, engaged in intense conflicts, and, most notably, crafted and utilized tools to forage for termites.
Reflecting on her discovery, Leakey famously remarked, “Now we are faced with the necessity of redefining tool, redefining man, or accepting chimpanzees as humans.”
Despite a temporary pause in her field research to pursue a PhD at Cambridge University, Dr. Goodall’s dedication kept her immersed in the jungle for many years. Her first husband and frequent collaborator was the acclaimed wildlife cameraman Hugo van Lawick.
Thanks to extensive coverage by National Geographic, the chimpanzees of Gombe Stream quickly achieved worldwide recognition. Among them, David Greybeard, named by Goodall for his distinctive silver streak of hair, became particularly famous.
Yet, almost three decades after her initial arrival in Africa, Dr. Goodall came to a profound realization: she could not effectively support or protect the chimpanzees without confronting the alarming destruction of their habitats. This understanding propelled her to look beyond Gombe, leave the intimate setting of the jungle, and embrace a broader global role as a conservationist.
In 1977, she established the Jane Goodall Institute, a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering research at Gombe alongside conservation and development initiatives throughout Africa. The institute’s influence has since grown globally, encompassing critical work in environmental education, health, and advocacy.
She forged a new legacy for herself, dedicating an average of 300 days annually to international travel, engaging with local officials across various nations, and addressing countless community and school groups. Her tireless global outreach persisted well into her nineties.
Subsequently, she expanded the institute to incorporate Roots & Shoots, an impactful conservation program specifically designed for children and youth.
This marked a significant departure from her earlier, more solitary research, which involved long, immersive days observing chimpanzees in their natural habitat.
During a 2014 trip that took her to Burundi and back to Gombe, she confided to the New York Times, “It continually astonishes me that this individual who travels extensively and accomplishes so much is, in fact, me. It often feels completely unlike myself.”
As a prolific author, she penned over 30 books detailing her observations, notably the 1999 bestseller Reason For Hope: A Spiritual Journey, in addition to numerous titles specifically for younger readers.
Dr. Goodall consistently expressed unwavering faith in the planet’s inherent resilience and humanity’s capacity to surmount environmental crises.
“Indeed, hope endures… It resides within our grasp, within your hands, my hands, and the hands of our children. Ultimately, the responsibility rests with us,” she proclaimed in 2002, passionately advocating for everyone to “minimize their ecological impact.”
She had one son, affectionately known as ‘Grub,’ with her first husband, Hugo van Lawick, from whom she divorced in 1974. Van Lawick passed away in 2002.
In 1975, she married Derek Bryceson, who later passed away in 1980.