Jane Goodall
3 April 1934 – 1 October 2025 · London, United Kingdom
British primatologist whose long-term study of wild chimpanzees at Gombe changed scientific understanding of animals, and who built a global conservation and youth movement.
LIFE
Valerie Jane Morris-Goodall was born on 3 April 1934 in London. She died of natural causes on 1 October 2025, aged 91, while in California on a speaking tour of the United States, according to the Jane Goodall Institute and press reports.
WORK
She arrived at Gombe, in Tanzania, on 14 July 1960 to study wild chimpanzees, and there observed chimpanzees making and using tools, such as a chimpanzee named David Greybeard using stems to fish for termites, a finding that challenged the idea that only humans make tools. Her research became one of the longest field studies of any wild animal group. She founded the Jane Goodall Institute in 1977 and the Roots & Shoots youth programme in 1991.
EARTH
Chimpanzee conservation, habitat loss and community-centred conservation; youth environmental education
IMPACT
Press reports at her death stated that Roots & Shoots operates in more than 60 countries. She was named a UN Messenger of Peace in 2002, made a Dame in 2004, and received the US Presidential Medal of Freedom in January 2025. UN Secretary-General António Guterres paid tribute to her as 'our dear Messenger of Peace'.
LEGACY
The Jane Goodall Institute continues her chimpanzee research, community conservation and Roots & Shoots youth work. The institute marked the first anniversary of her death on 1 October 2026.
TIMELINE
- 1934Born in London on 3 April.
- 1960Arrives at Gombe, Tanzania, on 14 July to study chimpanzees.
- 1977Founds the Jane Goodall Institute.
- 1991Founds Roots & Shoots.
- 2002Named a UN Messenger of Peace.
- 2004Made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
- 2025Receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom in January; dies of natural causes in California on 1 October, aged 91.
SOURCES
- organisational
Remembering Jane — Jane Goodall Institute, 2025Supports: Institute's account: died of natural causes on 1 October 2025 aged 91; arrived Gombe 14 July 1960; tool-use discovery; JGI 1977; Roots & Shoots 1991; UN Messenger of Peace 2002; DBE 2004. - reputable journalism
Conservationist and chimpanzee expert Dame Jane Goodall dies aged 91 — The Scotsman (PA Media), 1 October 2025Supports: Died 1 October 2025 in California on a US speaking tour, natural causes per institute; born London 1934; David Greybeard tool use; Roots & Shoots in 60+ countries; honours including 2025 Presidential Medal of Freedom. - reputable journalism
World-renowned chimpanzee expert Jane Goodall dies at 91 — Eyewitness News (EWN) / Associated Press, 2 October 2025Supports: Died peacefully in her sleep in Los Angeles on a US speaking tour; born 3 April 1934 in London; JGI 1977; Roots & Shoots 1991; Guterres tribute.