Dr. Jane Goodall, the trailblazing primatologist whose tender observations of chimpanzees rewrote the rules of science and ignited a global conservation movement, passed away on October 1, 2025, at her home in California at age 91, the Jane Goodall Institute confirmed. Her death, attributed to natural causes, closed a chapter on a life that began in a quiet English garden and ended as a clarion call for humanity to protect the planet. From her groundbreaking work in Tanzania’s Gombe Stream National Park to her tireless advocacy through the Jane Goodall Institute and Roots & Shoots, Goodall’s legacy as a scientist, activist, and beacon of hope endures, touching millions who saw in her a rare blend of empathy and grit.

Born Valerie Jane Morris-Goodall on April 3, 1934, in London to a businessman father and a novelist mother, Goodall’s childhood was steeped in a love for animals. Raised in Bournemouth, England, she spent hours watching backyard creatures, once hiding in a henhouse for a day to observe a hen laying an egg—a story she’d later share with a twinkle, illustrating her early tenacity. Without a college degree, she scraped together funds through secretarial work and modeling to sail to Kenya in 1957 at age 23. There, she met archaeologist Louis Leakey, whose mentorship launched her improbable journey. Leakey, struck by her curiosity, sent her to Gombe in 1960 to study chimpanzees, a National Geographic-backed mission that would redefine science.

At Gombe, Goodall’s unconventional approach—living among chimps, naming them like friends (David Greybeard, Flo)—challenged the era’s cold, numerical protocols. Her 1960 observation of a chimp using a twig to fish for termites shattered the belief that tool-making was uniquely human, earning global headlines and a 1965 Cambridge Ph.D. despite her lack of a bachelor’s degree. Over decades, she documented chimps’ complex emotions—joy, grief, even violence—blurring lines between humans and primates. Her 60-year Gombe study, one of the longest-running wildlife projects, revealed intricate social bonds and sparked ethical debates about animal sentience.

By the mid-1980s, Goodall’s focus shifted from research to action. A 1986 Chicago conference exposed her to the grim realities of habitat loss and chimp exploitation, prompting a pivot to activism. “I couldn’t stay in the lab knowing they were suffering,” she told CNN in 2017. In 1977, she founded the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI), now active in 30 countries, to protect chimps and promote sustainable development. Its TACARE program, launched in 1994, pairs reforestation with community empowerment in Tanzania, training locals in sustainable farming and women’s health to preserve chimp habitats. JGI’s sanctuaries, like Tchimpounga in Congo, have rescued hundreds of orphaned chimps from poaching and lab testing.

Goodall’s vision for youth drove Roots & Shoots, founded in 1991 with 12 Tanzanian teens and now spanning 120 nations with 150,000 members. The program empowers young people to launch local environmental projects, from tree-planting to policy advocacy, embodying her belief that “every individual matters.” As a UN Messenger of Peace since 2002, she spoke at global forums, urging plant-based diets and ethical science. Her 32 books, including In the Shadow of Man, and 40-plus documentaries, like 2017’s Jane, made her a household name, her gentle voice a megaphone for change.

Even in her 90s, Goodall maintained a grueling 300-day travel schedule, speaking at events like the World Economic Forum and inspiring youth through virtual talks. Her personal life reflected her resilience: Married to filmmaker Hugo van Lawick (1964-1974), with whom she had son Hugo Eric Louis, and later to Tanzanian MP Derek Bryceson (1975-1980), she embraced vegetarianism and leaned on her Christian faith for strength. Awards piled high: the Kyoto Prize, France’s Legion of Honor, and a posthumous U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2025.

Her death sparked global tributes. David Attenborough called her “a pioneer who taught us to see animals as kin.” Prince William tweeted, “Her challenge to make a difference lives on.” On X, posts mourned her as “the soul of conservation,” with #JaneGoodall trending as fans shared clips of her cradling chimps. Critics, like those in a 2020 Nature op-ed, noted her optimism sometimes glossed over dire ecological stats—chimp populations down 50% since 1960—but her supporters argue she turned despair into action.

Goodall’s life was a testament to empathy’s power. From a girl clutching a stuffed chimp to a sage urging global stewardship, she proved one heart could shift paradigms. JGI and Roots & Shoots vow to carry her torch, ensuring her call—“What you do makes a difference”—echoes as climate crises loom. In her final words to PBS in 2024, she urged, “Don’t give up. There’s always a way forward.” Her beautiful soul, now stilled, leaves a world tasked with proving her right.