91-Year-Old Jane Goodall, Chimpanzee Ambassador and Environmental Titan, Dies

The world of science and conservation is mourning the loss of the celebrated British primatologist, Jane Goodall, who has died at the age of 91. The iconic figure, an environmental champion and ambassador for chimpanzees, “died peacefully in her sleep” while in Los Angeles, her institute announced on Wednesday, 1 October.

Dr. Goodall was in the US as part of a conference tour, according to the Jane Goodall Institute in a statement released on social media.

The tireless scientist devoted her life to studying great apes and environmental defence, fundamentally revolutionising human understanding of our place in nature.

Legacy and Tributes

Tributes have poured in from global figures acknowledging her extraordinary impact. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his deep sadness on X, noting that she “leaves behind an extraordinary legacy for humanity and our planet.” Dr. Goodall was named a UN Messenger of Peace in 2002.

Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of Unesco, commented that Dr. Goodall had managed to “share the fruit of her research with everyone, especially the youngest, and change our view of great apes.”

She added that her famous “chimpanzee greetings”, her celebrated imitations of a chimp’s call, “will continue to resonate for a long time.”

American actress and environmental activist Jane Fonda took to Instagram to assert: “She has done more than anyone to make us understand the richness of animal life.”

The President of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan, stated that Dr. Goodall’s work “transformed wildlife management and placed our country at the heart of global efforts to protect chimpanzees and nature.”

Groundbreaking Research

Dr. Goodall rose to prominence for her research into chimpanzees, among humans’ closest cousins. In the 1960s, in her twenties, the self-taught Briton began studying the great apes in the Gombe Reserve in Tanzania.

Her major discovery revealed that chimpanzees use tools—a stick to catch termites—a specialisation previously thought to be exclusive to humans.

She meticulously documented their complex behaviours, from their use of violence to their display of mourning after the death of a member of their group.

Her findings completely upset the understanding of animal behaviour, redefining the boundary between humans and other species.

Dr. Goodall also carved out a unique style in a field largely dominated by men, paving the way for other women. She notably gave her study subjects names instead of codes or numbers.

Continuing Crusade

Even at over 90, the great scientific figure of the 20th century continued to travel the globe, often accompanied by a stuffed chimpanzee, to raise awareness about threats to biodiversity and urge action against climate change.

“Realise you can make a difference every day,” she told AFP last year. “Everyone has a role to play.”

In the 1970s, she began actively campaigning for nature defence, creating her Institute in 1977 to manage chimpanzee reception centres for victims of poaching in Africa, and later to develop programmes to improve the conditions of captive primates and educate young people.

More recently, manufacturers Lego and Mattel created figures in her likeness, complete with her neat hairstyle, khaki outfit, and, of course, a chimpanzee.

Dr. Goodall welcomed the initiative, sharing in 2022: “I have long suggested that girls do not just want to be movie stars. Many of them, like me, want to be in nature studying animals.”

Source: Defi Media