(Image via Vox)

Staff Writer: Aliyah Santana 

Email: asantana5@umassd.edu

Jane Goodall, 1934-2025 

Dr. Jane Goodall, world-renowned ethologist, conservationist, and humanitarian, has died at the age of 91. 

After living a long, fulfilling life, she passed away October 1 from natural causes in Los Angeles, California, while she was on a speaking tour. She devoted her life to understanding chimpanzees, protecting the environment, and inspiring hope. 

Early life 

Goodall was born on April 3, 1934, in London, England. Her mother, Vanne, was a writer, and her father, Herbert, was a businessman. She developed a love for animals early in her life. 

Jane was curious about wildlife from a very young age; she often claimed that she was “born loving animals,” recalling spending hours in her family’s henhouse just to learn where eggs came from. 

Her childhood was in the midst of World War II. She found refuge in reading in a tree outside her home that she called her own private world. This kept her company, inspiring her later contributions to the natural world. 

After finishing school, she attended a secretarial college while working menial jobs, saving money until she could travel to Africa. She moved to Kenya in 1957, which was a profound move in her life, transforming her childhood dreams into reality.

In 1960, Jane established her first field research at Gombe Stream in Tanzania. While she initially lacked formal university training, she persevered under anthropologist Louis Leakey’s support. 

Her patience, attention to detail, and willingness to learn allowed her to observe chimpanzee behavior in ways that startled the scientific community. Her more revolutionary discoveries were that chimpanzees use tools, fashioning twigs to extract insects; and they show complex social bonds, personalities, and live emotional lives.  She also documented affection, conflict, and mourning in chimpanzees.

Her methods, however, were unorthodox compared to mainstream research methods. Instead of keeping distance, she gave names to the chimps, observing them over decades, making Gombe the longest-running chimpanzee study site. 

In 1965, she was awarded her Ph.D from the University of Cambridge. She was one of the few to receive a Ph.D without having a Bachelor prior. 

Advocacy and Global Impact 

Science was just the start for Goodall. As her career continued, she devoted herself to issues of conservation, animal welfare, and human-environment relations. In 1977, she founded the Jane Goodall Institute, which promoted scientific research, habitat protection, community engagement, and the welfare of wild and captive chimpanzees 

One of her well-known initiatives was Roots & Shoots, which she established in 1991. A youth-led global program that empowered thousands of young people in countries around the world to participate in conservation, environmental education, and humanitarian action. 

Jane became a global voice. She became a United Nations Messenger of Peace, spoke about climate change, biodiversity loss, ethical treatment of animals, and many other critical issues. 

Throughout all her areas of interest, her caring, understanding, and responsible character remained the same. Jane emphasized that no matter how daunting a global crisis is, individuals can make a difference. 

This thread of hope ran through her books, speeches, and her podcast, The Hopecast.

Passing and Legacy 

Dr. Goodall died peacefully in her sleep due to natural causes. She left behind her son, Hugo, and three grandchildren.

Her passing has prompted many tributes in her honor. Countless mourn her departure and acknowledge how her voice helped bring light to environmental protection. Her legacy lives on in many concrete ways: 

• The ongoing researching Gombe, which continues to follow the lives of chimps 
• Jane Goodall’s institute 
• Roots & shoots 
• Her writing, speeches, and media that will continue to educate and motivate

Jane Goodall was more than just a scientist. Her work allowed for a translation between two worlds that we once believed to be so different.  She changed old notions, showed us similarities, and reminded us over and over that hope and even small acts of compassion can ripple outward.