Jane Goodall, renowned anthropologist and conservationist dead at 91
Legendary British scientist Jane Goodall died of natural causes at 91 during a visit to California. Getty Images
Renowned anthropologist and conservationist Jane Goodall, whose pioneering research reshaped our understanding of chimpanzees, has died at the age of 91.
The legendary British scientist, celebrated for her lifelong study of chimpanzees, passed away from natural causes in California while on a speaking tour, the Jane Goodall Institute announced Wednesday.
“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 organization said on Instagram. “She was in California as part of her speaking tour in the United States. Dr. Goodall’s discoveries as an ethologist revolutionized science, and she was a tireless advocate for the protection and restoration of our natural world.”
Goodall first traveled to Gombe, Tanzania, in 1960 at the age of 26, beginning her groundbreaking research on wild primates. Her observations revealed that chimpanzees display complex behaviors similar to humans, including communication, distinct personalities, and the ability to make and use tools, according to the foundation’s website.
“Her field research at Gombe transformed our understanding of chimpanzees and redefined the relationship between humans and animals in ways that continue to resonate around the world,” the website notes.
In 1977, she founded the Jane Goodall Institute to support chimpanzee research and conservation in Africa. The nonprofit has since expanded its work globally, encompassing environmental education, community health, and advocacy.
“What the chimps have taught me over the years is they’re so like us,” Goodall told the Associated Press in a 1997 interview. “They’ve blurred the line between humans and animals.”
Her global advocacy included traveling nearly 300 days a year, meeting with officials, and speaking to schools and communities to inspire action. When the COVID-19 pandemic halted her tours in 2020, she launched a podcast from her childhood home in London to continue her outreach.
“If one wants to reach people; if one wants to change attitudes, you have to reach the heart,” Goodall said during her first podcast episode. “You can reach the heart by telling stories, not by arguing with people’s intellects.”
Goodall was named a UN Messenger of Peace in 2002 and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom—the nation’s highest honor—by President Donald Trump in 2025. She also received the prestigious Templeton Prize in 2021, which recognizes individuals whose life’s work exemplifies the integration of science and spirit.
“Her groundbreaking discoveries have changed humanity’s understanding of its role in an interconnected world, and her advocacy has pointed to a greater purpose for our species in caring for life on this planet,” the Templeton Prize citation said.
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