In Memoriam: Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE (1934–2025)
The world mourns the passing of Dame Jane Goodall, who died on 1 October 2025 at 91 in California while on a speaking tour. A pioneering primatologist, ethologist, and conservationist, Goodall transformed our understanding of chimpanzees and human evolution.
From her first expedition to Tanzania in 1960, she documented that chimpanzees use tools, form complex societies, and exhibit aggression, groundbreaking discoveries that challenged scientific norms and reshaped the study of animal behavior. Her work inspired global debates on animal rights and conservation.
Goodall founded the Jane Goodall Institute, advocating for wildlife protection, habitat restoration, and environmental education worldwide. She planted nearly two million trees in recent years and traveled extensively to share her message of hope and action.
Her achievements earned her a PhD from Cambridge without an undergraduate degree, nearly 50 honorary degrees, the UK Damehood (2004), the US Presidential Medal of Freedom (2025), Japan’s Kyoto Prize (1990), UNESCO Gold Medal (2006), and France’s Legion d’Honneur (2006). She also inspired young audiences through Barbie and Lego tributes.
Goodall was a trailblazer for women in science, a UN Messenger of Peace, and a tireless advocate for the planet. Colleagues describe her as brave, bold, compassionate, and heroic. Even in her final days, she remained active, speaking on conservation, climate change, and forest protection.
Her life leaves an extraordinary legacy: a testament to curiosity, courage, and hope, reminding humanity that small actions, multiplied, can change the world.
