Jane Goodall, Pioneer of Chimp Research, Dies at 91

Ella Bradshaw

Staff Writer

Jane Goodall, a legendary primatologist and conservationist, passed away at the age of 91 years old on Oct. 1st. She died from natural causes and old age while traveling to California as a part of her cross-country speaking tour, sponsored by her organization, The Jane Goodall Institute.

Goodall was born in London and was known as an avid animal lover. Her first conservation encounter included a project observing chimpanzees at the Gombe National Park in Tanzania, East Africa, under the mentorship of Louis Leakey, another scientist known for his legendary archeology and fossil digs.

Goodall contributed to research that discovered that chimpanzees actually make tools, “…which shattered the mainstream scientific belief that only humans made and used tools and is ‘considered one of the greatest achievements of twentieth-century scholarship,’” according to the Jane Goodall Institute.

Her work became famous thanks to a documentary sponsored by the National Geographic Society, which attracted over 25 million views in North America. Titled “Miss Goodall and the Wild Chimpanzees,” this 1965 production launched Goodall’s public persona as an accredited animal scientist and conservation advocate.

According to USA Today, “Goodall would go on to publish more than 30 books, star in more documentaries and continue the expansion of research into chimpanzees…In 1977, she founded the Jane Goodall Institute, helping continue the long-running study of chimpanzees in the Gombe and boost conservation efforts for other species around the globe.”

Goodall never aimed for fame, though. She told USA Today in 2021, “I passionately care about the natural world of which we are a part and which we depend. I love it.” She added, “I care about animals. I want to fight the fact that many are becoming extinct, and I want to fight cruelty.”

Goodall discovered groundbreaking information about chimpanzees, impacting status quo approaches to studying all kinds of wildlife and shifting experiments towards methods of studying animals in their natural environments, fostering a less intrusive model of observation. Her efforts have especially been an inspiration for young women to jump into the natural sciences and follow her footsteps as revolutionaries.

Her death has shocked the globe and has resonated with animal-lovers, scientific pioneers, and humanitarian advocates alike. Reflecting on her passing, the United Nations posted in mourning, “Goodall ‘worked tirelessly for our planet and all its inhabitants, leaving an extraordinary legacy for humanity and nature.’”

Goodall lived out the mission of climate optimism, of relentless advocacy, and of true love for the planet and its beautiful creatures. May we carry on her legacy and try to take better care of our world, its inhabitants, and one another.