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Jane Goodall
1934–2025 · Primatologist & Anthropologist
A British primatologist whose long-term research at Gombe transformed understanding of wild chimpanzees and made her a global conservation advocate.
“Only if we understand can we care. Only if we care will we help. Only if we help shall all be saved.”
Why is this scientist famous?
Beginning one of the world's longest-running studies of wild chimpanzees and documenting behaviours including tool-making and complex social relationships.
Goodall's observations at Gombe showed that wild chimpanzees make and use tools and revealed complex social and family relationships. Her research changed primatology, and she later became a major international advocate for wildlife and environmental conservation.
Jane's story
Early Life
Born Valerie Jane Morris-Goodall in London, she was fascinated by animals from childhood. Her mother gave her a toy chimp named Jubilee instead of a teddy bear — friends were horrified, but Jane loved it. After travelling to Kenya she met palaeoanthropologist Louis Leakey, who later selected her to study wild chimpanzees at Gombe Stream in what is now Tanzania.
Gombe
In 1960, Goodall began her study of the chimpanzees of Gombe. For months, the chimps fled at her approach. Eventually they accepted her. Her patience paid off with discoveries that stunned the world: she saw chimpanzees making and using tools — stripping leaves from twigs to fish for termites. Until then, tool-making was thought to be uniquely human.
Changing Science
Despite having no undergraduate degree, Goodall was admitted to study for a doctorate in ethology at the University of Cambridge under Robert Hinde. She completed the doctorate in 1965. She challenged scientific conventions by giving chimpanzees names instead of numbers and describing their distinct personalities, emotions, and family bonds — ideas that were controversial then but are now accepted.
Global Advocate
In 1977 she founded the Jane Goodall Institute. In 1991 she began Roots & Shoots, a youth programme that grew to operate in dozens of countries around the world. Goodall spent the later decades of her life travelling internationally to promote conservation, animal welfare and environmental action. She died peacefully in her sleep while on a speaking tour in Los Angeles on 1 October 2025, aged 91.
What did they discover?
Chimpanzee Tool Use
Documented wild chimpanzees making and using tools at Gombe, a finding that challenged then-common claims that tool-making was uniquely human.
Chimpanzee Culture and Emotion
Documented complex chimpanzee social behaviour, individual personalities, family relationships, hunting, aggression and other behaviours during decades of field research.
Roots & Shoots
Founded a global youth environmental programme operating in over 60 countries, inspiring millions of young conservationists.
Amazing facts
Her mother gave her a toy chimpanzee instead of a teddy bear; friends were horrified, but Jane loved it.
She began the Gombe research without a university degree and later earned a PhD in ethology from Cambridge.
She gave chimpanzees names like David Greybeard and Flo, breaking scientific convention that demanded numbering.
She earned a PhD from Cambridge without ever earning a bachelor's degree.
During the later decades of her life she travelled internationally for much of each year promoting conservation and environmental action.
She became a UN Messenger of Peace in 2002, was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire, and received the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2025.
Timeline
Born in London, England
Began studying chimpanzees at Gombe Stream, Tanzania
Earned a PhD from Cambridge without a bachelor's degree
Founded the Jane Goodall Institute
Launched Roots & Shoots youth programme
Named a UN Messenger of Peace
Made a Dame of the British Empire
Received the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom
Died peacefully in Los Angeles while on a speaking tour, aged 91
Awards & honours
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