Dr. Jane Goodall, the world-famous primatologist and conservationist, changed the way we view chimpanzees forever with her pioneering field studies. Unfortunately, she died on October 1, 2025, in California at the age of 91. Goodall’s incredible life path first took root when she developed a love for animals as a child. Today, she is a worldwide symbol of animal rights and environmental protection. In these and so many other ways, her legacy will certainly continue. She leaves behind a world forever changed by her incredible contributions to science and conservation.
Born in London during the tumultuous years leading up to World War II, Goodall developed an early interest in animals. She would regularly describe the ways that her father’s wartime absence shaped her childhood. “I remember that day as vividly as if it was yesterday,” she remarked about her childhood experiences. When her family moved to Bournemouth around 1938, her love of the natural environment flourished.
In 1960, with no formal training or university degree, Goodall ventured to Tanzania, where she would embark on a pioneering study at Gombe Stream National Park. Her supervisor, Louis Leakey, recognized her potential and famously stated, “Now we must redefine man, redefine tool, or accept chimpanzees as humans!” This declaration catapulted Goodall into the public eye and laid the groundwork for her groundbreaking discoveries.
Trailblazer in Animal Research
Goodall’s groundbreaking research fundamentally transformed the field of primatology. She would become the first researcher to observe and record tool-making behavior in chimpanzees. This unexpected finding upended decades-old assumptions about the nature of human uniqueness. “I had been told from school onwards that the best definition of a human being was man the tool-maker — yet I had just watched a chimp tool-maker in action,” she shared, reflecting on her groundbreaking observations.
Many scientific circles were doubtful of Goodall’s discoveries. She knew that they dismissed her work simply because she was a woman without formal training, but nothing could stop her. “Some scientists discredited my observations because of this — but that did not bother me so long as I got the funding to return to Gombe and continue my work,” she asserted. Her persistence truly did pay off, as her scholarship eventually earned her tremendous acclaim and deep respect.
Second, Goodall’s work went beyond observation. She was a catalyst for changing the narrative about animal intelligence and emotions. She often expressed her wish that rather than naming the chimps, she had assigned them numbers. Looking back, she said, “I regret giving the chimps names; they should have been numbered.” I wasn’t allowed to mention personality, mind or emotion because those were ours and exclusive to our people. This recognition brought much deserved attention to her rich and nuanced understanding of the complexities of animal behavior.
Advocacy and Conservation Efforts
With Goodall’s increased fame came increased demands on her role as a female scientist role model. She noted the burden of representation, stating, “I realised early on, once I had started to gain some notoriety, that the future careers of many women rested on my shoulders.” In a time when the experiences of women in male-dominated fields were often marginalized and overlooked, her own experiences inspired her to fight for gender equality.
In 1986, after having returned from a landmark conference on the plight of chimpanzees, Goodall became less of a researcher and more of a global conservationist. “I had arrived at the conference a scientist but left an activist, and my life has been shaped by that experience ever since,” she explained. This metamorphosis propelled her to visit every state in the U.S. She travels 250 to 300 days annually, educating the public about the conservation challenges facing wildlife and their habitats.
Her keen dedication meant taking on the threats of habitat destruction and poaching head on. Goodall often underscored that though humanity has damaged the world beyond imagination, all is not yet lost. “So the message… will be: you have done immense harm, but it’s not too late,” she stated during one of her many engagements.
Personal Life
As Goodall’s personal life became further enmeshed in her professional journey, she received backlash. In 1964, she married Hugo van Lawick, a Dutch wildlife photographer. The couple had one son, Hugo Eric Charles van Lawick, born in 1967, but divorced in 1974. During these years, Goodall was a mother — as she had to be, while starting her revolutionary work in Gombe.
Her work as a mother shaped her views on conservation and animal welfare. She consistently looked back on her childhood relationship with non-human animals and the world that created her perspective. “Luckily my dog had taught me otherwise as a child,” she remarked about the lessons learned from her early interactions with animals.
Beyond just navigating gender-based hurdles in her field, Goodall endured significant media sensationalism. Pieces tended to focus less on her work and more on her appearance. Nevermind that I had never actually wanted to be a scientist at all, because women didn’t have careers like that back in the dark ages. I just wanted to be a naturalist. My legs carried the chimps to pet for publicity and that was tremendously helpful,” she said. She illustrated the valuable gender and media relation.
