What happened to Jane Goodall? The woman who changed how humanity sees animals

Jane Goodall, the British primatologist who transformed global understanding of chimpanzees and inspired generations to view animals as sentient beings rather than scientific specimens, has died at the age of 91. The Jane Goodall Institute confirmed that she passed away on October 1, 2025, from natural causes while on a speaking tour in California.

Her death closes the remarkable chapter of a life spent in the forests of East Africa, on the world’s lecture stages, and in the trenches of activism. More than a scientist, Goodall was a cultural force: a bridge between the human and animal worlds who redefined the meaning of empathy in science.

A Childhood Dream That Defied Convention

Born in London in 1934, Goodall grew up in a household of women in Bournemouth, England. Raised by her mother, grandmother, sister, and aunts, she developed early a sense of independence and resilience. Unlike most children of her time, she was not scolded for curiosity but encouraged to explore it.

At just four years old, she slipped away to sit in a chicken coop for hours, determined to learn how hens laid eggs. Rather than chastise her, her mother listened patiently to the excited report of her “discovery.” That small act of encouragement proved formative—teaching young Jane that curiosity was worth pursuing.

From the moment she devoured Tarzan of the Apes in her backyard tree, she dreamt of living among wild animals in Africa. Though money was scarce and formal education beyond secretarial training seemed impossible, she saved wages from odd jobs until she could finally set sail for Kenya in 1957.

The Breakthrough at Gombe

Goodall’s destiny changed when she met Louis Leakey, the famed anthropologist searching for someone to study great apes in the wild. Leakey chose Jane—not for academic pedigree (she had none) but for patience, keen observation, and an almost childlike openness to discovery.

In 1960, at the age of 26, she stepped into the Gombe Stream Game Reserve in Tanganyika (now Tanzania). At first, the chimpanzees fled from her presence. But over time, one individual, whom she named David Greybeard, extended a hand of trust. That moment began one of the most important human-animal relationships in science.

It was Goodall who recorded that chimpanzees not only used tools but made them—stripping twigs to fish termites out of mounds. Until then, toolmaking was considered an exclusively human trait. Her findings shattered scientific orthodoxy, forcing a rethinking of the line that separated humans from the rest of the animal kingdom.

Redefining Science and Storytelling

Goodall’s lack of a university degree initially made her suspect in scientific circles. Critics scoffed at her tendency to name rather than number her subjects—David Greybeard, Flo, Frodo—believing it sentimental. But Goodall argued that individuality and emotion were part of chimpanzee life, and her meticulous observations proved her right.

Her unconventional approach made her both a target and a trailblazer. She pursued doctoral studies at Cambridge, becoming one of the first people to receive a Ph.D. without a bachelor’s degree. More importantly, she transformed how science could be communicated: blending rigorous fieldwork with narrative accessibility.

National Geographic played a pivotal role in amplifying her story. At a time when female scientists were often marginalized, the magazine’s coverage—sometimes patronizingly dubbing her “the girl among the apes”—nevertheless introduced her work to millions, making her one of the most recognized women in science.

From Scientist to Global Advocate

By the mid-1980s, Goodall’s mission expanded beyond research. Attending a conservation conference, she was struck by the rapid destruction of African forests and the decline of chimpanzee populations. She emerged not only as a scientist but also as a passionate activist.

Her voice carried into unlikely spaces—from the United Nations, where she was named a Messenger of Peace in 2002, to the U.S. Congress and African villages where she urged communities to protect both their futures and their forests.

In 1977, she founded the Jane Goodall Institute, dedicated to conservation and community-centered development. Later, she launched Roots & Shoots, a youth-led movement empowering young people to engage in environmental activism. Even into her 80s, she traveled hundreds of days each year, often closing lectures with the same haunting pant-hoot call of the chimpanzees that had first embraced her.

Lessons From the Apes

Goodall’s life was filled with intimate connections—with animals, with people, and with the natural world. She often cited her childhood dog, Rusty, as her first teacher in animal intelligence and emotion. At Gombe, she witnessed maternal love in chimpanzees, grief over loss, and even violence within their communities.

Her belief was simple yet radical: animals have personalities, emotions, and inner lives. Recognizing this, she argued, obliges humans to treat them with compassion. Her advocacy extended to ending medical testing on chimpanzees, curbing the wildlife trade, and promoting vegetarianism.

“Isn’t it strange,” she once asked, “that the most intelligent species to ever walk the Earth is destroying its only home?”

A Lasting Legacy

Jane Goodall’s work leaves behind more than scientific records; it leaves a moral blueprint. She redefined humanity’s place in the natural order, not as dominators but as kin within a shared family of life. Her career proved that science could be empathetic without losing rigor, and that one voice—steady, hopeful, uncompromising—could change the global conversation on conservation.

She died as she lived: in motion, sharing her message. But her influence will echo in every forest protected, every child inspired by Roots & Shoots, and every scientist who dares to see the animals they study as fellow beings.

Jane Goodall was not merely “the woman who redefined man.” She was the woman who reminded us of our responsibility to everything that lives.

FAQ Section

Who was Jane Goodall?
Jane Goodall was a British primatologist and conservationist best known for her groundbreaking research on chimpanzees at Gombe Stream in Tanzania. Her work redefined humanity’s understanding of animal intelligence, behavior, and emotion.

What did Jane Goodall discover about chimpanzees?
She was the first to document that chimpanzees use and make tools, a behavior once thought to be uniquely human. She also recorded their complex social lives, emotions, and cultural traits.

When did Jane Goodall die?
Jane Goodall passed away on October 1, 2025, at the age of 91, from natural causes while on a speaking tour in California.

Why is Jane Goodall considered a pioneer?
She revolutionized the study of animals by combining scientific observation with empathy, naming her subjects instead of numbering them, and showing that animals have personalities, emotions, and societies.

What is the Jane Goodall Institute?
Founded in 1977, the Jane Goodall Institute is a global nonprofit dedicated to conservation, research, and community-centered environmental programs.

What is Roots & Shoots?
Roots & Shoots is a youth-led movement launched by Goodall to inspire young people worldwide to take action for animals, the environment, and humanity.

What is Jane Goodall’s legacy?
Her legacy lives on in science, conservation, and activism. She changed how we view animals, championed environmental causes, and inspired millions through education and advocacy.