British conservationist and primatologist Dame Jane Goodall, known for her pioneering studies of chimpanzees, has died aged 91.
A post on her institute’s Instagram page said she died peacefully in her sleep on Wednesday morning while in Los Angeles for a speaking tour.
“Dr Goodall’s discoveries as an ethologist revolutionised science, and she was a tireless advocate for the protection and restoration of our natural world,” said the post.
Naturalist Chris Packham told Sky News that Dame Jane was a “remarkable woman” and in many ways “she died on the job” after spending much of her life campaigning on conservation issues.
Greenpeace remembered her as “one of the true conservation giants of our time” who inspired “millions”.
The United Nations said she left an “extraordinary legacy for humanity and nature”.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex described her as “a visionary humanitarian, scientist, friend to the planet, and friend to us”.
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They said: “Her commitment to changing lives extends beyond what the world saw, and also to what we personally felt. She held our son, Archie, when he was first born, and showered love and care to those who were privileged to know her. She will be deeply missed.”
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Former US president Joe Biden said he and wife Jill Biden were “deeply saddened” to learn of the passing of Jane Goodall, “whose activism, vision, and message of hope mobilised a global movement to protect the planet”.
Former president Barack Obama also commented, saying: “Jane Goodall had a remarkable ability to inspire us to connect with the natural wonders of our world, and her groundbreaking work on primates and the importance of conservation opened doors for generations of women in science. Michelle and I are thinking of all those who loved and admired her.”
Former President Bill Clinton, said: “Jane Goodall not only taught us about the world around us, but about ourselves and our responsibility to protect the planet. The best tribute we can pay her is to redouble our efforts to defend the environment, so that all life on Earth can truly share the future. She will be missed.”
Apple CEO Tim Cook said: “Jane Goodall was a groundbreaking scientist and leader who taught us all so much about the beauty and wonder of our world. She never stopped advocating for nature, people, and the planet we share. May she rest in peace.”
PETA founder Ingrid Newkirk added that Dr Goodall “was a gifted scientist and trailblazer who forever changed the way we view our fellow animals”.
Actor Leonardo DiCaprio also paid a tribute. “For decades, Jane travelled the world with tireless energy, awakening generations to the wonder of the natural world. She spoke directly to the next generation, instilling hope, responsibility, and the belief that every individual can make a difference,” he said.
“She inspired millions to care, to act, and to hope. She never stopped. … My last message to Jane was simple: ‘You are my hero.’ Now, we all must carry the torch for her in protecting our one shared home.”
Others paying tribute on social media include former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, Melinda Gates, and Michael Bloomberg.
Dame Jane began her research at 26, observing chimpanzees in east Africa and revealing their capability to engage in complex social behaviours.
She gave chimps names instead of numbers, observed their distinct personalities and their use of tools – previously thought to be exclusive to humans.
The London-born expert appeared in numerous National Geographic programmes, wrote more than 30 books, and also appeared in The Simpsons.
Her work laid a path for other female primatologists and conservationists, including Dian Fossey (portrayed by Sigourney Weaver in the Hollywood movie Gorillas In The Mist).
Later in her career, Dame Jane shifted more towards climate advocacy after seeing habitats diminishing and spoke to Sky News about the issue in June.
“[Chimpanzees] are our closing living relatives – we share 98.7% of our DNA with them – but wildlife across Africa is disappearing,” she said.
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She was made a dame in 2003 and, earlier this year, was awarded the prestigious US Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Moving to Bournemouth as a child, she described how she always dreamed of working with wild animals – a passion stoked by the gift of a toy gorilla and reading books such as Tarzan and Dr Dolittle.
Dame Jane got her wish in 1957 when she saved enough money for a boat trip to Kenya.
It was there that she met famed anthropologist and palaeontologist Dr Louis Leakey and his wife Mary Leakey, an encounter that set up her long career.
Dame Jane established the Gombe Stream chimpanzee reserve in present-day Tanzania, discovering that chimps also ate meat, fought fierce wars, and – perhaps most importantly – made tools.
“She sat on the forest floor in Tanzania as part of that group of chimpanzees,” Chris Packham told Sky News.
“She knew them all as individuals. She knew their personalities. She watched them grow and mature and watched those personalities change. She was able to record things which had probably been glimpsed before but certainly never documented in the way that she was able to do so.”
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Greenpeace’s co-executive director in the UK, Will McCallum, said: “She was one of the true conservation giants of our time.
“We were lucky enough to host her at the Greenpeace Glastonbury field last year, where she charmed the audience with her vast knowledge of our primate cousins’ lives.
“Not only did her pioneering research transform our understanding of chimpanzees and their habitat, but she became a tireless advocate for the protection of wildlife and forests, inspiring millions to act.”
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Dame Jane lived in the jungle for years, marrying wildlife cameraman and collaborator Hugo van Lawick.
However, she realised she needed to take up a vocal role as a conservationist in order to protect the primates.
Her institute launched in 1977, and she ended up travelling extensively to press her cause. She was still doing those world tours up until her death.
She was also one of the few people to earn a PhD without having an undergraduate degree, earning the doctorate from Cambridge in 1966.
“It never ceases to amaze me that there’s this person who travels around and does all these things,” she told the New York Times during a 2014 trip to Burundi and back to Gombe.
“And it’s me. It doesn’t seem like me at all.”
