Dr. Jane Goodall DBE, prominent primatologist, conservationist, and humanitarian, has died. Announced by the Jane Goodall Institute on Wednesday, Goodall passed in her sleep at 91. Tributes have poured in on social media, with many remembering the activist for her pioneering research, unwavering compassion, and tireless efforts to protect our planet.
Born 1934 in London, England, Goodall’s love of animals was initially sparked by Dr. Dolittle and Tarzan novels in her childhood. She began studying primates in her early 20s, travelling to Africa in pursuit of her passion for animals, and was taken under the wing of palaeontologist Dr. Louis Leakey. She thus became the first of the “Trimates,” a group of three women who studied primates under Leakey’s mentorship.
It was in 1960 that Goodall made a groundbreaking discovery, observing a chimpanzee use long blades of grass to collect and eat insects out of a mound. Until then, it had been widely accepted that the creation and use of tools was solely a human trait.
“I had been told from school onwards that the best definition of a human being was man the tool-maker — yet I had just watched a chimp tool-maker in action,” Goodall said 50 years later. “I remember that day as vividly as if it was yesterday.”
Goodall’s revelation famously led Leakey to declare, “Now we must redefine ‘tool,’ redefine ‘man,’ or accept chimpanzees as human.”
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In addition to tool use, Goodall also observed chimpanzees displaying personalities and emotions, traits which were also previously seen as exclusive to humans. This included behaviour such as hugging, kissing, fighting, and even using weapons. She further discovered that chimpanzees are omnivorous rather than vegetarian as was once believed. Goodall’s discoveries had major repercussions, upending the scientific consensus at the time and eventually revolutionising the way the world understands both primates and humanity itself.
Though Goodall had not yet gotten a bachelor’s degree, Leakey arranged for her to pursue a PhD in ethnology, earning her legitimacy in academic circles and helping further her research. Continuing her work, Goodall eventually established the Jane Goodall Institute in 1977. This non-profit organisation takes a holistic approach to conservation, not only protecting animals and their habitats, but educating people and supporting local communities.
Goodall received numerous honours and awards for her work, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Templeton Prize, and Kyoto Prize. She was also appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire, as well as a United Nations Messenger of Peace.
Continuing her decades of work even up until her death, Goodall had been scheduled to speak in Los Angeles this Friday, still encouraging and inspiring others to care for the planet.
Goodall is survived by her sister Judy Waters, son Hugo Eric Louis van Lawick, and three grandchildren Merlin, Angel, and Nick.
“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make,” Goodall once said.
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