Primatologist and Conservation Icon Jane Goodall Dies at 91
Dr. Jane Goodall, the pioneering British primatologist whose groundbreaking research transformed the understanding of chimpanzees and their connection to humans, has died at 91. Her work at Gombe Stream in Tanzania revealed that chimps make tools and have complex social lives. She later became a tireless global advocate for environmental conservation through the Jane Goodall Institute. Her extraordinary legacy has inspired generations of scientists, activists, and conservationists worldwide, particularly opening doors for women in science.
Unpacked:
Goodall discovered that chimpanzees use and make tools, hunt and eat meat, and wage 'wars'—behaviors once thought unique to humans. Her practice of naming chimps and noting their personalities, rather than numbering them, was initially controversial but revealed the depth of their social bonds and intelligence. These findings challenged traditional views of human uniqueness and reshaped primatology.
Goodall broke barriers as a young, untrained woman conducting fieldwork in the 1960s, a field then dominated by men. Her success demonstrated that women could excel in rigorous scientific research, inspiring generations of female scientists and helping to open doors for greater gender diversity in STEM fields.
Chimpanzees remain endangered, facing habitat loss, poaching, and disease. The Jane Goodall Institute continues the world’s longest-running chimpanzee field research, using science and technology to guide conservation, restore habitats, and rehabilitate orphaned chimps. Their work provides critical data for protecting chimpanzees and informs global conservation strategies.
After decades of research, Goodall shifted focus in the 1980s when she realized chimpanzees were nearing extinction due to human activity. She founded the Jane Goodall Institute to protect great apes and launched Roots & Shoots to empower young people in conservation. Her advocacy leveraged her scientific credibility to promote broader environmental and humanitarian causes worldwide.