Jane Goodall, pioneering primatologist, dies at 91; revolutionized chimpanzee research and championed wildlife conservation worldwide. Photos: X.
Dr. Jane Goodall, the world-renowned primatologist and conservationist whose pioneering research transformed our understanding of chimpanzees, has passed away at the age of 91. According to a statement released on Wednesday, Oct. 1, by the Jane Goodall Institute, she died of natural causes while on a speaking tour in California. She is survived by her son, Hugo, and three grandchildren.
“Dr. Goodall’s discoveries as an ethologist revolutionized science, and she was a tireless advocate for the protection and restoration of our natural world,” the institute said.
Dr. Goodall spent decades studying chimpanzees in the wild at Tanzania’s Gombe Stream National Park. Her groundbreaking observations of their personalities and social behaviors redefined the way humans understand our closest animal relatives.
She documented behaviors that were previously thought to be uniquely human – chimps crying, hugging, fighting, kissing, using tools, and even communicating through their own forms of language.
Reflecting on her bond with the animals, Goodall once recounted, “I was following him. He was allowing me to follow him, so I sat down near him. The ground between us had a ripe red palm nut, which chimpanzees loved. I picked it up and held it out towards him. He turned his face away. I moved my hand closer, he turned. He looked directly into my eyes, he reached out, didn’t want the nut, dropped it very gently, squeezed my fingers – which is how chimpanzees reassure each other. So in that moment, we understood each other.”
Sixty years ago, Dr. Goodall embarked on a bold journey. She traveled by boat from England to Africa and lived alone in a jungle tent for a month to observe the chimpanzees in their natural habitat. Her early work revealed remarkable similarities between humans and chimps, ultimately showing that our DNA is 99% identical.
Her research earned her numerous awards and global recognition, cementing her place as the foremost authority on primate behavior.
While her studies provided profound insights into animal behavior, Dr. Goodall became increasingly concerned about the survival of the species she loved. Over decades, the chimpanzee population plummeted from one million to just 300,000 due to deforestation, poaching, and captivity for the pet trade and medical research.
This prompted her to shift from pure research to advocacy. She established two foundations that focus on saving chimpanzees, protecting forests, and educating youth about conservation, animal welfare, and environmental stewardship.
“In seven African countries, chimps are living who would not have been there if we hadn’t arrived,” she once said. “In order for this to be successful in the long run, we have to work with young people.”
Also Read: Jane Goodall Dies: Cause Of Death, Who She Was, Her Legacy & Groundbreaking Work
Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
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