We have lost one of the strongest supporters of animals and the environment in the world.
On October 1, 2025, Jane Goodall, a well-known primatologist, ethologist, and wildlife conservation crusader, died at the age of 91.
The Jane Goodall Institute said that she died of natural causes when she was in California giving presentations. This is a fitting finale to her life’s work to get others to care about the environment.
People all over the world have been paying their tributes since Goodall died. People from all walks of life, including scientists, world leaders, environmental campaigners, and even regular people who were touched by her remarks, have claimed that her death signaled the end of an era. But it also marks the beginning of a legacy that has transformed how people think about their connection to nature.
The Start of a Great Journey
People know her discoveries as well as her storytelling. She went from her home in England to the woodlands of Gombe Stream in what is now Tanzania in 1960, when she was just 26 years old. It was highly unusual for a young woman who didn’t have a college degree to go on a scientific expedition at the time, especially in a discipline like primatology that was mostly male. But Goodall’s drive, curiosity, and patience would change the world in a huge way.
She was very interested in the life of wild chimpanzees and didn’t only see them as subjects. She thought of them as people with their own minds, feelings, and personalities. Her early research showed that chimpanzees utilized twigs with the leaves taken off to “fish” termites out of mounds. This discovery shocked the scientific community. People have traditionally thought that using tools made them human. When she made her discoveries public, one anthropologist commented, “We must now redefine man, redefine tool, or accept chimpanzees as human.”
At the time, it was common to give chimpanzees numbers instead than names, although Goodall was the first to do this. She wrote of their friendships, fights, affection, and sadness. In a way that was both scientific and incredibly kind, this made the border between people and other creatures narrower.
Building a legacy all throughout the world
At Cambridge University, she studied ethology and got her Ph.D. At the time, she was one of the few persons who did this without a college degree. But Goodall’s impact went far beyond the world of academics. In 1977, she started the Jane Goodall Institute to do research, protect animals, and teach people. Over the years, it expanded into a global network that not only helped save chimpanzees but also worked with people all over the world to advocate living in harmony with nature.
She was perhaps most pleased of Roots & Shoots, a program for kids that she started in 1991. The goal was simple but important: to provide young people the tools they needed to make the world a better place for animals, people, and the environment. Roots & Shoots is currently working in more than 60 countries and inspires hundreds of thousands of young people to take action.
A Tireless Advocate in Her Last Years
Goodall never stopped working hard, even when she was in her 90s. She spoke at universities, conferences, and other public events, and she traveled a lot. She thought that stories could change how people thought and felt, and she always made sure to remind people that they had a duty to protect the Earth.
Her dying years were an excellent indication of how she lived her life. She was in California to give speeches as part of her job to spread hope and awareness. The Jane Goodall Institute noted that Jane “never stopped believing that change was possible.” This indicated how much she needed to do things in her life. She never stopped trying to safeguard the environment and provide the next generation the tools they need to make the world a better place.
People from all across the world are paying tribute.
Actor and environmental campaigner Leonardo DiCaprio gave one of the most touching tributes. DiCaprio and Goodall had both been UN Messengers of Peace and had worked together to solve environmental challenges. DiCaprio named her “my hero” on Instagram and asked his admirers to commemorate her memory by giving money to the Jane Goodall Institute.
“Jane Goodall spent her whole life protecting the Earth and speaking up for the animals and ecosystems that live there,” DiCaprio remarked. ” Her seminal work on chimpanzees in Tanzania changed the way we think about how our closest ancestors live, talk to each other, and believe. “She gave millions of people hope, love, and the drive to do something.”
They just finished working together on Howl, a live-action movie that will come out soon. From the point of view of a wolf and a dog, it portrays the story of survival. Goodall thought that narrating stories made people feel more sorry for animals, and this initiative was a wonderful example of that.
How it changes science and culture
People who work for news organizations and non-profits that defend the environment have said that Goodall’s work changed the world. Her earliest discoveries on chimpanzees using tools transformed the way schools taught, making it easier for kids to understand about how animals think and act. Goodall helped tear down the walls that keep people and other animals apart by writing about how chimpanzees felt and how they got along with each other.
Goodall also become a famous person in the culture. Her movies, interviews, and books reached millions of people who might not have read a scientific journal. She wrote more than 20 books, including as scholarly works, memoirs, and stories for kids. Movies like Jane (2017) and The Hope (2020) taught us a lot about her life and work, making her an even bigger symbol of hope and a scientist.
The Human Side of a Legend
People knew Goodall was famous, but they also knew she was kind and modest. She was open about her problems, like prosopagnosia (facial blindness), which made it hard for her to remember persons she had met before. Still, what she said and did placed her very close to other people.
Hugo Eric Louis van Lawick, her son, is still alive. He is the child of her marriage to Dutch wildlife photographer Hugo van Lawick. She has three grandkids as well. Goodall’s family was always there for her, even while she was busy working in other countries.
The Lasting Message of Hope
One of the best things about Jane Goodall’s legacy is how she always looked on the bright side. She never tried to hide the significant problems the world was suffering, such climate change, loss of habitat, and species extinction. Instead, she always advised them to have hope instead of giving up. “Everyone is important,” she used to say. “Every person makes a difference.” For many years, these words have been a guiding mantra for environmental campaigners.
Her message will live on even if she is gone. The Jane Goodall Institute, Roots & Shoots, and many other organizations she started will continue. Her legacy lives on in the history of science and in the hearts of the millions of people who heard her speak, read her books, or just saw how hard she worked.
Final Thoughts
Jane Goodall’s death at the age of 91 ends one of the most amazing lives of the 20th and 21st centuries. She worked to learn about, protect, and speak out for nature from the first time she entered the Gombe jungles until the last day she spoke on the lecture circuit. She transformed science, encouraged others to fight for what they believe in, and reminded people of their duty to the world.
People all throughout the world may be sad that she died, but they are also happy that she lived. People who, like she did, think that there is always hope if we are willing to do something will remember her.