PASADENA, Calif. (Diya TV) — Jane Goodall, the world-renowned primatologist, anthropologist, and conservationist, has died at 91 while on a speaking tour in California, according to the Jane Goodall Institute. The institute said Wednesday that Goodall died of natural causes. She was scheduled to speak to students in Pasadena, but instead, a video she recorded earlier was played.
“Dr. Goodall’s discoveries as an ethologist revolutionized science, and she was a tireless advocate for the protection and restoration of our natural world,” the institute said.
Goodall was born in London in 1934 and grew up in the coastal town of Bournemouth. Her love of animals began as a child. At 10, she read Doctor Dolittle and Tarzan, books that fueled her dream of living in Africa among wildlife.
In 1960, at just 26 years old, she traveled to Gombe National Park in Tanzania to begin her groundbreaking research on chimpanzees. The work launched her lifelong career and redefined what the world knew about primates.
Goodall’s discoveries shocked the scientific community. She showed that chimpanzees could make and use tools, a skill once believed to be unique to humans. She also documented how the animals displayed individual personalities and emotional depth.
She often said one of her greatest findings was “how like us” chimpanzees are. She described their gestures, such as hugging and kissing, and their capacity for both violence and kindness. Her PhD thesis at the University of Cambridge detailed her first five years of study at Gombe, earning her recognition as one of the most influential ethologists of the 20th century.
In 1977, Goodall co-founded the Jane Goodall Institute in Washington, D.C. The nonprofit works to improve understanding and treatment of primates through education, research, and advocacy. It has since expanded to 25 offices worldwide.
In 1991, she launched Roots & Shoots, a youth-led humanitarian and environmental program that now operates in more than 60 countries. Goodall became a global voice for conservation. She spent decades traveling and speaking about climate change, biodiversity, and human responsibility.
“I’ve been working flat out since 1986 to make this a better world for animals, people, and the environment,” she once said. “One of my greatest reasons for hope is the youth.”
She urged people to think about their ecological footprint, from the products they buy to the food they eat. She believed small daily choices could collectively create lasting change. In 2002, the United Nations named her a Messenger of Peace. Even into her late 80s, she continued to raise awareness about protecting the planet.
Goodall also partnered with Apple in 2022 to promote recycling and responsible resource use. “It is possible to make money without destroying the planet,” she said. Goodall’s influence extended far beyond science. In 2022, Mattel honored her with a special edition Barbie doll made from recycled plastic. The doll wore Goodall’s iconic khaki outfit and carried binoculars and a notebook.
Throughout her career, she received some of the world’s top honors. She was named a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2003. She was awarded the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom, France’s Legion of Honor, and Japan’s Kyoto Prize.
Goodall’s research not only advanced science but also encouraged women to pursue careers in STEM. According to her institute, the percentage of women in science and technology grew from 7% in 1970 to 26% by 2011, progress she helped inspire. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she spoke about the connection between human behavior and disease outbreaks, warning against the destruction of ecosystems and wildlife exploitation.
“They’re still teaching us,” she said of chimpanzees during her 60th anniversary of research.
Goodall married wildlife photographer Baron Hugo van Lawick in 1964. The couple had a son, Hugo Eric Louis, before divorcing. She later married Tanzanian parliament member Derek Bryceson, who died of cancer in 1980. She is survived by her son and three grandchildren.
Goodall’s message of hope and action resonated with millions worldwide. She often reminded people that every decision matters.
“Every day you make a difference,” she said. “If millions of people think about the consequences of their small choices, we will start to create a world we are proud to leave to our children.”
