The world is mourning the loss of a true pioneer: **Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE**, the legendary British ethologist, conservationist, and UN Messenger of Peace, who passed away peacefully on **October 1, 2025**, at the age of 91.

The founder of the **Jane Goodall Institute (JGI)**, Dr. Goodall was a remarkable example of courage and conviction. She worked tirelessly throughout her life to raise awareness about the critical threats to wildlife, promote global conservation efforts, and inspire a more harmonious, sustainable relationship between people, animals, and the natural world.

A Life Defined by Gombe: Redefining Humanity

Born Valerie Jane Morris-Goodall in 1934, Jane’s passion for wildlife began in early childhood. Her dream of traveling to Africa came true when, after working as a waitress to save money, she secured a sea passage to Kenya. There, she met esteemed paleontologist **Dr. Louis Leakey**, who ultimately tasked her with traveling to Tanzania to study wild chimpanzees.

On July 14, 1960, Jane arrived in **Gombe Stream National Park**. Her three-month study evolved into an extraordinary 65-year research program that continues to this day. Her unorthodox, patient methods—including giving the chimpanzees names rather than numbers—yielded groundbreaking results. The most famous was her discovery that **chimpanzees use and make tools**, an observation that is widely credited with “redefining what it means to be human.”

Despite initially having no degree, Leakey arranged for Jane to study for a Ph.D. in Ethology at Newnham College, Cambridge. Her doctoral thesis, *The Behaviour of Free-living Chimpanzees in the Gombe Stream Reserve*, was completed in 1965, cementing her place in the scientific world.

From Scientist to Global Humanitarian

In the latter part of her life, Dr. Goodall expanded her focus beyond Gombe to become a global advocate for human rights, animal welfare, and environmental protection. She traveled approximately 300 days a year, carrying her crucial message of hope and action around the world.

Key organizations founded by Dr. Jane Goodall to support her mission include:

• **The Jane Goodall Institute (JGI):** Established in 1977 to support the Gombe research, JGI now operates 25 offices globally, driving conservation programs.
• **Roots & Shoots:** Founded in 1991, this global humanitarian and environmental program empowers young people in over 75 countries to become hands-on agents of positive change for animals, the environment, and their communities.
• **The Jane Goodall Legacy Foundation (2017):** Created to ensure the perpetual stability of her core programs.

Accolades and Lasting Legacy

Dr. Goodall’s lifetime of service earned her numerous prestigious honors:

• In 2002, she was named a **United Nations Messenger of Peace**.
• In 2004, she was made a **Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE)** at Buckingham Palace.
• Other major awards include the **United States Presidential Medal of Freedom**, the French **Légion d’honneur**, Japan’s prestigious **Kyoto Prize**, and the **Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement**.

Dr. Goodall is survived by her son, Hugo Eric Louis van Lawick (Grub), her three grandchildren, Merlin, Angel, and Nick, and her sister, Judy Waters. While she will be deeply missed, her legacy endures through the ongoing research at Gombe, the community-centered **Tacare** conservation program, the chimpanzee sanctuaries like **Chimp Eden** and **Tchimpounga**, and the millions of young people empowered by Roots & Shoots. She leaves us with her timeless call to action: **“Every single one of us makes a difference every day – it is up to us as to the kind of difference we make.”**