The scientific and conservation world mourns the loss of Jane Goodall, the British primatologist whose groundbreaking work with chimpanzees reshaped human understanding of nature. She died on October 1, 2025, at the age of 91 of natural causes while on a speaking tour in California.
Goodall’s journey began in the early 1960s, when she ventured to Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania to live among wild chimpanzees. Despite having no formal scientific training when she started, she went on to document behaviors such as tool use, hunting, and complex social bonds—observations that challenged the assumption of human uniqueness.
She later established the Jane Goodall Institute and launched Roots & Shoots, a youth-driven conservation program. Even into her 80s, she traveled tirelessly—often speaking 300 days a year—urging global action against habitat loss, climate change, and species extinction.
Goodall received numerous honors, capped by the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2025. Her legacy endures through her scientific discoveries, her advocacy for wildlife, and her message that every person—no matter their circumstances—can help heal the planet.
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