Dr. Jane Goodall, the conservationist and primatologist best known for her work with chimpanzees in the wild, died Wednesday of natural causes at the age of 91. Her foundation, The Jane Goodall Institute, confirmed the news through a post on Instagram.
“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 wrote.
Goodall was in California as part of a speaking tour when she died, according to the Institute. She was scheduled to give a lecture on the University of California, Los Angeles campus on Friday.
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Goodall’s legacy
Goodall was best known for her work with chimpanzees, dating back to 1960 when she first traveled to Tanzania at the age of 26 to study the primates. Her observations helped to make the connection between primate and human behavior, including how the animals communicate, develop personality and use tools.
Goodall founded The Jane Goodall Institute in 1977, a global nonprofit organization dedicated to wildlife and environmental conservation that now spans five continents. In 1991, the institute established Roots & Shoots, an international youth program designed to encourage young people to protect the environment.
In addition to her research, Goodall advocated for the protection and restoration of the Earth’s natural ecosystems and served as a United Nations Messenger of Peace.
Former President Joe Biden awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Jan. 4, 2025, describing her as a “passionate advocate for empowering individuals and communities to protect and preserve the natural world.”
