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Jane Goodall, the world's foremost authority on chimpanzees, has died, aged 91
Few names are as deeply tied to compassion and curiosity as Dr Jane Goodall. The British primatologist, ethologist and environmentalist dedicated her life to understanding and protecting chimpanzees - and in doing so, she changed how humanity sees itself.
Born in London in 1934, Goodall's fascination with the natural world began early. Her father gifted her a toy chimpanzee named Jubilee, sparking a lifelong love for animals. As a child, she dreamt of travelling to Africa - a dream she would one day turn into a legacy that inspired generations.
In the late 1950s, she travelled to Kenya to work with renowned palaeontologist Louis Leakey, who soon sent her to study wild chimpanzees in Tanzania's Gombe Stream National Park. There, she defied every convention of science at the time - giving the chimpanzees names, observing their emotions, and discovering that they used tools to fish for termites. Her findings forever transformed the world's understanding of animal intelligence and emotion.
Primatologist Jane Goodall, who has spent her life researching and fighting for the conservation of chimpanzees, pictured in Entebbe in 2018
What began as fieldwork became a lifelong mission. In 1977 she founded the Jane Goodall Institute to advance conservation and animal welfare. Fourteen years later, she launched Roots & Shoots, a youth-led movement now active in more than 60 countries - empowering young people to take positive action for animals, people and the environment.
Goodall's influence extended far beyond the forests. Through decades of lectures, interviews and activism, she became one of the most recognisable voices for the planet. Her words - gentle yet urgent - carried a simple truth: every choice we make leaves a mark. "Each individual has a role to play," she often said, "and every one of us makes an impact on the planet every single day."
Her work earned her global honours, from being named a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire to receiving the United States' Presidential Medal of Freedom. Yet it was never fame she sought, only understanding - between humans, animals and the earth we share.
Dr Jane Goodall visits Taronga Zoo flanked by (left) Minster for the Environment and Water, Tanya Plibersek in 2025. Picture - NewsWire - John Appleyard
Throughout her lifetime, Jane Goodall received more than 50 international awards recognising her scientific and humanitarian impact. Among them were the Kyoto Prize, the Benjamin Franklin Medal in Life Science, and the United Nations Messenger of Peace honour. She published over 20 books, including In the Shadow of Man and The Book of Hope, and appeared in countless documentaries that brought her work into homes around the world. In 2025, she received the United States' Presidential Medal of Freedom - a fitting tribute to a life spent protecting the planet and inspiring generations to act with empathy and courage.
Dr Jane Goodall passed away at age 91 while on tour in the United States, still doing what she loved - connecting people to nature. Her life's work continues through her institute, her students, and the millions inspired by her belief that hope is the most powerful tool of all.
Her legacy is not just in the research she conducted, but in the compassion she awakened. Through every lesson she taught, Jane Goodall reminded the world that true wisdom lies in listening - to nature, to each other, and to the wild hearts that share our world.
