Jane Goodall: Profile of the Legendary Primatologist Who Died at 91

Liputan6.com, Jakarta Dr. Jane Goodall, a renowned ethologist, conservationist, and humanitarian widely known for her pioneering research on wild chimpanzees, has passed away on October 1, 2025, at the age of 91.

The sad news was first reported by 'The Jane Goodall Institute' via a social media post.

As reported by AP News, her passing happened while she was on a speaking tour in Los Angeles, California, United States.

According to the Washington, D.C.-based institute, Goodall died of natural causes.

Her discoveries “revolutionized science, and she was a tireless advocate for the protection and restoration of our natural world,” it said.

Primatologist, conservationist, animal advocate, educator, and National Geographic Explorer Jane Goodall has died at age 91. Goodall’s decades of research into the lives of wild chimpanzees transformed our understanding of these intelligent apes. https://t.co/i3qzfDIAzg pic.twitter.com/7uCK30uwwr

— National Geographic (@NatGeo) October 1, 2025

Valerie Jane Morris-Goodall, better known as Jane Goodall, was born in London, England, on April 3, 1934.

From a young age, her fascination with animals led her on a revolutionary research path.

She began studying wild chimpanzees in Gombe Stream National Park, Tanzania, in 1960, a move that revolutionized ethology.

Despite not having a bachelor's degree, Goodall earned a Ph.D. in ethology from the University of Cambridge in 1965.

Her research in Gombe spanned over six decades, observing chimpanzee social and family interactions in depth.

Through her observations, Jane Goodall found that chimpanzees use and make tools, and hunt for meat, behaviors previously thought to be exclusive to humans.

Furthermore, she also shows that chimpanzees have emotions, unique personalities, and behaviors similar to human.

She had been scheduled to meet with students and teachers on Wednesday to launch the planting of 5,000 trees around wildfire burn zones in the Los Angeles area.

Organizers learned of her death as the event was to begin at EF Academy in Pasadena, said spokesperson Shawna Marino.

“I don’t think there’s any better way to honor her legacy than having a thousand children gathered for her,” Marino said.

Besides her monumental research, Jane Goodall was also known as a staunch environmental advocate.

She founded the Jane Goodall Institute in 1977, an organization focused on protecting great apes and their habitats worldwide.

Goodall also launched the Roots & Shoots program, a global initiative that engages young people in conservation and animal welfare projects.

This program is now active in more than 70 countries, instilling values ​​of caring for the environment and others from an early age.

She frequently emphasized the importance of ethical consumerism, reminding us that "every day we live on this planet, we make an impact."

Throughout her life, Jane Goodall received numerous awards and recognition for her extraordinary contributions.

Some of these awards include the Kyoto Prize (1990), the Hubbard Medal (1995), the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement (1997), and the Templeton Prize (2021).

In 2004, she was awarded the title Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II.

She was also named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine in 2019.

In 2002, Jane Goodall was appointed a UN Messenger of Peace, in recognition of her role in promoting peace and conservation. Her most recent award includes the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2025.

Jane Goodall is a prolific author of over 25 books, including the iconic works "In the Shadow of Man" and "The Chimpanzees of Gombe."

Her most recent book, "The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times" (2022), has been translated into over 20 languages.