Jane Goodall, an extraordinary life well-lived (1934 – 2025)
You can watch the memorial service for Jane Goodall on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at the National Cathedral in Washington D.C., in the player above. The service begins at 11 a.m. EST. Jane Goodall was a trailblazing scientist who revolutionized the study of wild chimpanzees, revealing their complex emotions, tool use and social behaviors. She was a conservationist who founded the Jane Goodall Institute and the Roots & Shoots program, dedicated to wildlife protection, youth empowerment and environmental advocacy. Goodall passed away at age 91 on October 1, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of compassion, scientific discovery and hope for a more harmonious relationship between humans and nature. Jane Goodall lived an extraordinary life Jane Goodall was a pioneer in the study of wild chimpanzees, as well as a much-loved conservationist and UN messenger of peace. On October 1, 2025, she passed away in her sleep in Los Angeles, California, while on a speaking tour. She was 91 years old. On Wednesday, November 12, 2025, her family and friends will gather to honor her at a memorial service at the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. You can join in the remembrance by watching the live broadcast on YouTube, at 11 a.m. Eastern Time. Despite not having an undergraduate degree, Goodall completed her PhD at Cambridge University, England, in 1965. While she made her mark as a trailblazer in primate research early in the 1960s, she also went on, in her later years, to be a powerful advocate for young people and conservation. In addition, she was a prolific author and spent most of her time traveling around the world speaking about conservation and peace. Goodall founded the Jane Goodall Institute in 1977, initially to support research on chimpanzees in Gombe, Tanzania, Africa. Later, it evolved into a wider effort to operate diverse conservation projects around the world. One of those notable projects is Roots & Shoots, created to encourage young people of all ages to bring about positive changes in their communities. Jane Goodall is survived by her son, Hugo Eric Louis van Lawick (nicknamed Grub) and her three grandchildren, Merlin, Angel, and Nick. This photo of Jane Goodall is from 2022, when she visited the U.S. Embassy in Uganda. She’s holding a stuffed “chimpanzee” that she took with her on her travels. She called him Mr. H, after Gary Haun, a U.S. Marine who lost his eyesight in a helicopter crash. Goodall carried Mr. H with her to honor Haun, whom she regarded as an inspiration. Image via U.S. Embassy Uganda/ Flickr. (CC by 2.0) A dream come true of studying wildlife in Africa As a child, Goodall dreamed of going to Africa to study animals. Later, in interviews, she often joked that Tarzan had chosen the wrong Jane for his adventures! Goodall worked as a waitress to save enough money for travel to Africa. Her dream finally came true when, in 1957, she set sail for Kenya. There, she met the famed anthropologist Louis Leakey, well-known for his ground-breaking work on early human fossils, and began working as his secretary. Leakey had obtained grant money for a study of chimpanzees. He had hoped that observations of this species, closely related to humans, would yield new insights into our human ancestors. In 1960, he asked Goodall to travel to Gombe, Tanzania, to study chimpanzees. She said, in a documentary she narrated for National Geographic: I had no training, no degree. But Louis did not care about academic credentials. What he was looking for was someone with an open mind, with a passion for knowledge, with a love of animals. And with monumental patience. This touching video from the Jane Goodall Foundation is about the release of a rehabilitated chimpanzee, named Wounda, to a sanctuary island. Jane Goodall’s work with wild chimpanzees Prior to Goodall’s work at Gombe, little was known about wild chimpanzees. Goodall undertook her field work alone, from dawn to dusk, rain or shine, looking for chimpanzees. At first, she could not get close to them because they kept running away. But she stubbornly persisted. After five months, there was a breakthrough. Goodall saw an adult male that she had seen before, and this time, he did not run away. He was the dominant male in the chimpanzee community. She named him David Graybeard, for the distinctive white hair on his chin. Soon, the other chimps also accepted her, and she was able to get closer to them. Goodall learned to identify them and gave them names. Among them was Flo, an older female with a young daughter. Subsequently, these chimps became the focus of her groundbreaking work on their behavior. A new perception of chimps In the early 1960s, many scientists thought that only humans had minds and were capable of rational thought. But in the chimpanzees, Goodall saw beings capable of joy and sorrow, fear and jealousy. They were, she noted, so much like us, in so many ways. She said, in the documentary: Staring into the eyes of a chimpanzee, I saw a thinking, reasoning personality looking back. For the first time, she documented the use of tools in a species other than humans. Prior to that, scientists thought that only humans were capable of making and using tools. But she watched David Graybeard break off leafy twigs, strip out the leaves, and insert them into holes in termite mounds to fish for the insects. Goodall also observed other behaviors never seen before: She saw chimpanzees eating meat. And interestingly, she observed male chimpanzees doing dances in the rain. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jane Goodall Institute ?? (@janegoodallcan) Flo, an influential chimpanzee in Jane Goodall’s research Flo was a notable chimp in Goodall’s studies. She was the top-ranking female in the community. And one day, Goodall became the first person to document the mating behavior of chimpanzees. Flo did not pick one mate. Instead, she allowed all the males that followed her to mate with her. After some months, Flo gave birth to a son thar Goodall named Flint. It was a unique opportunity for Goodall to observe an infant with its mother. In the documentary, an interviewer asked Goodall: What was it about Flo that you admired? She said: Well, she was all things that a chimp mother should be. She was protective but not overprotective. She was affectionate, she was playful but being supportive. That was the key. And of course that’s what my mother was. She supported me. And there’s no question that those first contacts with Flo and her family were very important to my own development. It was just so amazing to have this sort of relationship. Sadly, several years later, Flo died as she crossed a stream. She was about 50 years old. Goodall observed Flint, by then an adolescent, intermittently approach her, as if begging to be groomed and comforted. He eventually left, seemingly depressed, stopped eating and became isolated. Then, he fell sick and about 3 weeks after Flo died, Flint passed away. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dr. Jane Goodall (@janegoodallinst) A dark side of chimpanzee society After Flo died, the community dynamics changed. They divided into smaller factions. Then, vicious fights broke out, and one faction was killed by others. Goodall said: I thought they were like us but nicer than us. I had no idea of the brutality that they can show. It took me a while to come to terms with that. War had always seemed to me to be a purely human behavior. I had come to accept that the dark and evil side of human nature was deeply embedded in our genes, inherited from our ancient primate ancestors. Reflecting on her work with chimpanzees Today, the research station that Goodall and van Lawick started in 1960 is still active, operating in Gombe National Park. In the documentary, Goodall reflected on her work in Gombe: Louis Leakey sent me to Gombe with a hope that a better understanding of chimpanzee behavior might provide us with a window on our past. Our study of chimpanzees had helped to pinpoint not only the similarities between them and us, but also those ways in which we are most different. Admittedly, we are not the only beings with personalities, reasoning powers, altruism, and emotions, nor are we the only beings capable of mental as well as physical suffering. But our intellect has grown mightily in complexity since the first true man branched off from the ape man stock, some two million years ago. And we, and only we, have developed a sophisticated spoken language. For the first time in evolution, a species evolved that was able to teach its young about objects and events not present, to pass on wisdom gleaned from the successes and the mistakes of the past. With language, we can ask as can no other living being those questions about who we are and why we are here. And this highly developed intellect means, surely, we have a responsibility towards the other life forms of our planet, whose continued existence is threatened by the thoughtless behavior of our own human species. Jane Goodall embarked on raising hope later in life In her later years, Goodall traveled widely, 300 days a year, as a passionate advocate for conservation, young people and world peace. She felt strongly that her biggest purpose was to instill hope in people during dark times. She has left a rich and lasting legacy, inspiring millions with her groundbreaking scientific work, her conservation efforts, her compassion and advocacy for world peace. This clip is from a documentary, aired after her death, by Netflix. Jane Goodall left a final message to all of us. Bottom line: Jane Goodall, a pioneering primatologist, conservationist and peace advocate, died On October 1, 2025. She was 91 years old. Via Jane Goodall: An Inside Look (Full Documentary) | National Geographic Via Remembering Jane Read more: Chimpanzees wear blades of grass in their ears and rearsThe post Jane Goodall, an extraordinary life well-lived (1934 – 2025) first appeared on EarthSky.
Jane Goodall, a pioneering primatologist, conservationist and peace advocate, died On October 1, 2025. She was 91 years old. The post Jane Goodall, an extraordinary life well-lived (1934 – 2025) first appeared on EarthSky.
You can watch the memorial service for Jane Goodall on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at the National Cathedral in Washington D.C., in the player above. The service begins at 11 a.m. EST.
Jane Goodall lived an extraordinary life
Jane Goodall was a pioneer in the study of wild chimpanzees, as well as a much-loved conservationist and UN messenger of peace. On October 1, 2025, she passed away in her sleep in Los Angeles, California, while on a speaking tour. She was 91 years old. On Wednesday, November 12, 2025, her family and friends will gather to honor her at a memorial service at the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. You can join in the remembrance by watching the live broadcast on YouTube, at 11 a.m. Eastern Time.
Despite not having an undergraduate degree, Goodall completed her PhD at Cambridge University, England, in 1965. While she made her mark as a trailblazer in primate research early in the 1960s, she also went on, in her later years, to be a powerful advocate for young people and conservation. In addition, she was a prolific author and spent most of her time traveling around the world speaking about conservation and peace.
Goodall founded the Jane Goodall Institute in 1977, initially to support research on chimpanzees in Gombe, Tanzania, Africa. Later, it evolved into a wider effort to operate diverse conservation projects around the world. One of those notable projects is Roots & Shoots, created to encourage young people of all ages to bring about positive changes in their communities.
Jane Goodall is survived by her son, Hugo Eric Louis van Lawick (nicknamed Grub) and her three grandchildren, Merlin, Angel, and Nick.
A dream come true of studying wildlife in Africa
As a child, Goodall dreamed of going to Africa to study animals. Later, in interviews, she often joked that Tarzan had chosen the wrong Jane for his adventures!
Goodall worked as a waitress to save enough money for travel to Africa. Her dream finally came true when, in 1957, she set sail for Kenya. There, she met the famed anthropologist Louis Leakey, well-known for his ground-breaking work on early human fossils, and began working as his secretary.
Leakey had obtained grant money for a study of chimpanzees. He had hoped that observations of this species, closely related to humans, would yield new insights into our human ancestors.
In 1960, he asked Goodall to travel to Gombe, Tanzania, to study chimpanzees. She said, in a documentary she narrated for National Geographic:
I had no training, no degree. But Louis did not care about academic credentials. What he was looking for was someone with an open mind, with a passion for knowledge, with a love of animals. And with monumental patience.
This touching video from the Jane Goodall Foundation is about the release of a rehabilitated chimpanzee, named Wounda, to a sanctuary island.
Jane Goodall’s work with wild chimpanzees
Prior to Goodall’s work at Gombe, little was known about wild chimpanzees. Goodall undertook her field work alone, from dawn to dusk, rain or shine, looking for chimpanzees. At first, she could not get close to them because they kept running away. But she stubbornly persisted.
After five months, there was a breakthrough. Goodall saw an adult male that she had seen before, and this time, he did not run away. He was the dominant male in the chimpanzee community. She named him David Graybeard, for the distinctive white hair on his chin.
Soon, the other chimps also accepted her, and she was able to get closer to them. Goodall learned to identify them and gave them names. Among them was Flo, an older female with a young daughter. Subsequently, these chimps became the focus of her groundbreaking work on their behavior.
A new perception of chimps
In the early 1960s, many scientists thought that only humans had minds and were capable of rational thought. But in the chimpanzees, Goodall saw beings capable of joy and sorrow, fear and jealousy. They were, she noted, so much like us, in so many ways.
She said, in the documentary:
Staring into the eyes of a chimpanzee, I saw a thinking, reasoning personality looking back.
For the first time, she documented the use of tools in a species other than humans. Prior to that, scientists thought that only humans were capable of making and using tools. But she watched David Graybeard break off leafy twigs, strip out the leaves, and insert them into holes in termite mounds to fish for the insects.
Goodall also observed other behaviors never seen before: She saw chimpanzees eating meat. And interestingly, she observed male chimpanzees doing dances in the rain.
Flo, an influential chimpanzee in Jane Goodall’s research
Flo was a notable chimp in Goodall’s studies. She was the top-ranking female in the community. And one day, Goodall became the first person to document the mating behavior of chimpanzees. Flo did not pick one mate. Instead, she allowed all the males that followed her to mate with her.
After some months, Flo gave birth to a son thar Goodall named Flint. It was a unique opportunity for Goodall to observe an infant with its mother.
In the documentary, an interviewer asked Goodall:
What was it about Flo that you admired?
She said:
Well, she was all things that a chimp mother should be. She was protective but not overprotective. She was affectionate, she was playful but being supportive. That was the key. And of course that’s what my mother was. She supported me.
And there’s no question that those first contacts with Flo and her family were very important to my own development. It was just so amazing to have this sort of relationship.
Sadly, several years later, Flo died as she crossed a stream. She was about 50 years old. Goodall observed Flint, by then an adolescent, intermittently approach her, as if begging to be groomed and comforted. He eventually left, seemingly depressed, stopped eating and became isolated. Then, he fell sick and about 3 weeks after Flo died, Flint passed away.
A dark side of chimpanzee society
After Flo died, the community dynamics changed. They divided into smaller factions. Then, vicious fights broke out, and one faction was killed by others.
Goodall said:
I thought they were like us but nicer than us. I had no idea of the brutality that they can show. It took me a while to come to terms with that. War had always seemed to me to be a purely human behavior. I had come to accept that the dark and evil side of human nature was deeply embedded in our genes, inherited from our ancient primate ancestors.
Reflecting on her work with chimpanzees
Today, the research station that Goodall and van Lawick started in 1960 is still active, operating in Gombe National Park.
In the documentary, Goodall reflected on her work in Gombe:
Louis Leakey sent me to Gombe with a hope that a better understanding of chimpanzee behavior might provide us with a window on our past. Our study of chimpanzees had helped to pinpoint not only the similarities between them and us, but also those ways in which we are most different. Admittedly, we are not the only beings with personalities, reasoning powers, altruism, and emotions, nor are we the only beings capable of mental as well as physical suffering.
But our intellect has grown mightily in complexity since the first true man branched off from the ape man stock, some two million years ago. And we, and only we, have developed a sophisticated spoken language. For the first time in evolution, a species evolved that was able to teach its young about objects and events not present, to pass on wisdom gleaned from the successes and the mistakes of the past.
With language, we can ask as can no other living being those questions about who we are and why we are here. And this highly developed intellect means, surely, we have a responsibility towards the other life forms of our planet, whose continued existence is threatened by the thoughtless behavior of our own human species.
Jane Goodall embarked on raising hope later in life
In her later years, Goodall traveled widely, 300 days a year, as a passionate advocate for conservation, young people and world peace. She felt strongly that her biggest purpose was to instill hope in people during dark times. She has left a rich and lasting legacy, inspiring millions with her groundbreaking scientific work, her conservation efforts, her compassion and advocacy for world peace.
This clip is from a documentary, aired after her death, by Netflix. Jane Goodall left a final message to all of us.
Bottom line: Jane Goodall, a pioneering primatologist, conservationist and peace advocate, died On October 1, 2025. She was 91 years old.
Via Jane Goodall: An Inside Look (Full Documentary) | National Geographic
Read more: Chimpanzees wear blades of grass in their ears and rears
The post Jane Goodall, an extraordinary life well-lived (1934 – 2025) first appeared on EarthSky.