Dr. Jane Goodall, Pioneering Primatologist and Conservationist, Dies at 91
Dr. Jane Goodall, renowned British primatologist and environmental advocate, has died at age 91 of natural causes while on a speaking tour in Los Angeles, the Goodall Institute confirmed.
Goodall revolutionized science through her groundbreaking 65-year study of wild chimpanzees in Gombe National Park, Tanzania, beginning in 1960. She was the first to observe chimps using tools—once thought unique to humans—reshaping our understanding of the species and humanity’s connection to the natural world.
A lifelong advocate for conservation, biodiversity, and animal welfare, Goodall received numerous honors, including the Order of the British Empire (1995), UN Messenger of Peace (2002), and the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom (2025).
Her work and insights, including her viral commentary comparing Donald Trump’s behavior to chimp dominance rituals, continued to spark conversation even after her passing.
Celebrities and world leaders paid tribute to Goodall, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Jane Fonda, Ellen DeGeneres, and former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The United Nations mourned her as a “tireless” defender of the planet.
PBS’s Nature will honor her legacy with a 2026 documentary, Matriarch. Goodall is survived by her son, Hugo Eric Louis van Lawick. Her life’s work continues through the Jane Goodall Institute.