Recently, on October 1st, 2025, famous conservationist Jane Goodall passed away. Her passing was confirmed by the Jane Goodall Institute, located in Washington D.C. Dr. Goodall was 91 at the time of her death.
Jane Goodall was a substantial person in the field of conservation. She is most well known for her research on chimpanzees, spending time in Tanzania studying the species. She proved that, contrary to prior belief, primates had emotions and skills that had previously been confined to the human species. She also raised concern from many older-fashioned scientists by straying away from the identification of animals using numbers and giving them names instead. She received numerous awards for her work, including the the Templeton Prize, the Stephen Hawking Medal for Science Communication, and even the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Dr. Goodall was in California when she passed peacefully in her sleep. She was on tour at the time. Yes, you heard that right, Jane Goodall was still touring up to her death. After her passing, many people shared their tributes to her, including Sir David Attenborough and Prince William. Sir David, who is currently 99, was a personal friend of Goodall and praised her tireless advocacy of chimpanzees and labeled her “a great champion of environmental protection.” Prince William claimed that she had inspired him and broadened his perspective and understanding of our natural world.
Though her death is sad, Dr. Goodall still led an amazing life filled with many discoveries and new opportunities. Jane Goodall not only made huge contributions to the field of science, she also inspired many women in STEM to pursue their dreams and made them accessible. Whether it be her establishment of the Jane Goodall Institute, one of largest non-profit organizations in the world, or her youth program Roots and Shoots she was a very influential person and it is sad to see her pass away.
Cites-
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/01/science/earth/jane-goodall-dead.html?nl=the-morning®i_id=203945409&segment_id=207016
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czrp24myrl7o
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jane-Goodall
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/12/business/jane-goodall-corner-office.html
