Jane Goodall, renowned primatologist, dies at 91

Jane Goodall, the esteemed British primatologist and anthropologist, died Oct. 1 at age 91 while on a speaking tour in California.

Goodall’s love for animals began early. Growing up in London, she dreamed of traveling to Africa. She later earned a doctorate in ethology, the study of animal behavior, from the University of Cambridge.

Goodall was best known for her research on chimpanzees. At age 26, she traveled to Tanzania to observe their behavior and discovered that primates display humanlike traits such as developing personalities and making and using tools. Her observations, along with magazine features and documentary appearances in the 1960s, played a significant role in changing how people view humanity’s closest biological relatives and in deepening our understanding of their emotional and social complexity.

Goodall remained in Tanzania for another 15 years, continuing her research and providing valuable insights into primate behavior.

In 1977, she founded the Jane Goodall Institute, which promotes education about the lives and treatment of primates. In 1991, she also founded Roots & Shoots, a global humanitarian and environmental program.

Goodall received numerous honors during her lifetime. She was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1995, promoted to Dame Commander in 2003 and named a United Nations Messenger of Peace in 2002. She also received the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom and the French Legion of Honor.

In her later years, Goodall continued to advocate for environmental causes, including climate change. “We are definitely at a point where we need to make something happen. We are imperiled. We have a window of time. I'm fairly sure we do. But we've got to take action,” she said. In 2022, she partnered with Apple to encourage customers to reduce their carbon footprint.

Goodall will be remembered for her groundbreaking contributions to science and conservation. The Jane Goodall Institute said her “discoveries as an ethologist revolutionized science, and she was a tireless advocate for the protection and restoration of our natural world.” She also inspired generations of women to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math.

Prithvi Sudhakar is a fourth-year majoring in cybersecurity. To contact him, email pzs5683@psu.edu.