Jane Goodall (UK)

An image of Jane Goodall standing infront of a beautiful vase of flowers. She is wearing a blue shawl and is looking into the camera.

➡️ JANE GOODALL (1934-2025) - Inspirational Ethnologist, Conservationist & Humanitarian

After her recent passing, we pay tribute to the late Jane Goodall and celebrate her life, which she dedicated to science, conservation, and the protection of our planet's biodiversity.

Goodall is most famously known for her work studying the behaviour of chimpanzees in Tanzania's Gombe Stream National Park, where, at the age of just 26, with no formal qualifications, she spent an initial 15 years studying chimpanzee behaviour in their natural habitat.

Her 60 years of study uncovered groundbreaking discoveries, which she coupled with conservation and activism of not just chimpanzees but also environmental education, climate change, youth empowerment, and her inspirational message of hope.

"Let us develop respect for all living things. Let us try to replace violence and intolerance with understanding and compassion. And love." - Jane Goodall

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Photo of a sculpture of Jane Goodall and David Greybeard outside the Field Museum in Chicago.

Goodall’s Scientific Discoveries

Jane Goodall's unorthodox approaches allowed her to gain insights which changed the way the world perceived chimpanzees and what it means to be human.

In one of her first discoveries, Goodall learnt that Chimpanzees make and use tools, specifically twigs, to fish for termites.
Chimpanzees hunt and eat meat; they are not vegetarians as previously thought, but are omnivorous and consume pigs, monkeys, and other small mammals.
Conflict is not reserved only for humans. Chimpanzees also engage in violence against rival groups and were observed killing members of their own species.
Chimpanzee mothers have very strong bonds with their offspring. Siblings also form strong familial bonds.
Just like humans, chimpanzees are capable of compassion. Goodall observed chimpanzees comforting mourning members of their group and were witnessed adopting orphaned chimps.

These observations made during Goodall's long hours of studies in the field made huge contributions to our knowledge of chimpanzees and also how to save them from extinction. It showed that traits we previously thought were only human are not unique, but are present in other animals. Her work also helped contribute to the genetic evidence that humans are closely related to chimpanzees, which helped to shift our perspective on evolution.

Goodall's work also paved the way for other women in primatology, conservation, and science. She broke through barriers and showed the world that women, too, can pursue their passions in traditionally male-dominated fields.

The Jane Goodall Institute & Roots & Shoots

Founded in 1977, the Jane Goodall Institute was established to continue her research and expand chimpanzee protection efforts. It has now grown into a global nonprofit for the conservation of all wildlife and the environment. With a focus on environmental education, they work to inspire young people to create change in their own communities and beyond. Their mission is to inspire hope through action and build a world where people, animals, and the environment thrive together.

Goodall later founded the Roots and Shoots conservation movement in 1991. It was founded with a group of students in Tanzania who wanted to help make the world a better place, and is now a worldwide network with almost 5,000 youth-led projects.

Jane Goodall and Tsai Ing-wen at a Roots & Shoots event.

Other Notable Achievements

In 1963, Goodall had her first article (which made the cover story!) published in National Geographic. This became part of a long line of publications, books, documentaries, and even a podcast.

In her many decades of work, she founded chimpanzee sanctuaries and established programmes to tackle poverty and support sustainable livelihoods. She was named a UN Messenger for Peace in 2004 by then Secretary-General Kofi Annan for her work in creating a more peaceful world.

Even at the age of 90, Goodall was travelling 300 days of the year to spread her message of hope through action. In her final message to the world in an interview which was released shortly after her passing, she said that she would like to launch Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, and Benjamin Netanyahu on a one-way trip into space.

Beyond her scientific contributions, Goodall is a global beacon for conservation, peace, sustainability, and the protection of our planet's biodiversity. Her work continues to inspire countless individuals and is a reminder of the urgent need to preserve our Earth for future generations.

"What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make." - Jane Goodall

Author: Rachael Mellor, 20.10.25 licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

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