Famed conservationists worldwide pay tribute to the world’s top primatologist and conservationist, Dr. Jane Goodall

The world’s renowned naturalists and conservation advocates, as well as global organisations, have mourned and paid tribute to the world’s top primatologist and conservationist, Dr. Jane Goodall, who passed away in her sleep peacefully at the age of 91 during her speaking tour in the U.S.

The Jane Goodall Institute released the announcement of her peaceful death on Thursday morning, confirming the passing of its founder, Dr. Jane Goodall, age 91, who the institute said had died peacefully in her sleep while in Los Angeles, CA, for her speaking tour in the United States.

“Dr. Goodall’s life and work not only made an indelible mark on our understanding of chimpanzees and other species, but also of humankind and the environments we all share. She inspired curiosity, hope and compassion in countless people around the world, and paved the way for many others — particularly young people who gave her hope for the future,” read the institute’s statement.

According to the institute, Dr. Goodall was known around the world for her 65-year study of wild chimpanzees in Gombe, Tanzania. However, in the latter part of her life, she expanded her focus and became a global advocate for human rights, animal welfare, species and environmental protection, and many other crucial issues.

Dr. Goodall established the longest-running wild chimpanzee study in Gombe National Park, Tanzania, in 1960, which continues to this day. She also pioneered and sustained the Jane Goodall Institute’s community-centred conservation initiatives across the chimpanzee range for over four decades.

Her legacy includes the creation of JGI’s international environmental and humanitarian youth program Roots & Shoots, which is actively driving change in 75 countries and counting around the world.

During her life, Dr. Jane Goodall authored more than 27 books for adults and children, and featured in numerous documentaries and films, as well as two major IMAX productions. In 2019, National Geographic opened Becoming Jane, a travelling exhibit focused on her life’s work, which is still touring across the United States.

Her latest publication, The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times, has been translated into more than 20 languages.

Throughout her life and remarkable career, she inspired generations of scientists, brought hope to countless people from all walks of life, and urged us all to remember that “every single one of us makes a difference every day – it is up to us as to the kind of difference we make”. (Read her life and legacy @Remembering Jane)

The University of Cambridge, where she received her PhD, posted on its Facebook Page, expressing that it was deeply saddened to hear of her passing.

“Jane was a much-loved and highly respected member of the conservation community in Cambridge and around the world. She completed her PhD at Darwin College, Cambridge and was an Honorary Fellow at Newnham College, Cambridge, and was awarded an Honorary Degree from Cambridge.

“Jane was always generous in sharing her passion for encouraging new generations of conservationists,” the university noted on her kindness and compassion to the young generation.

National Geographic also posted on its FB Page to mourn her death. The world’s top geographic and exploration magazine said Dr. Goodall’s decades of research into the lives of wild chimpanzees in Africa radically changed people’s understanding of these intelligent apes, humans’ closest relatives.

Her groundbreaking work helped people understand that animals are sentient and intelligent, the magazine noted, while inviting readers to look back at her life and work covered by it. (Check it out @https://on.natgeo.com/4gQHtSE )

The world’s renowned naturalist and documentary broadcaster, Sir David Attenborough, also paid a touching tribute to her. He praised her as a “tireless advocate” of chimpanzees and “a great champion of environmental protection”, according to the BBC. In his statement as reported by the BBC, Sir David said: “Jane Goodall was the first to prove that an investigating scientist and a great ape living in the wild could become true friends and in doing so she came to transform our understanding of chimpanzees.”

The London-based news agency also reported on the tribute made by Prince William, the Prince of Wales, who said Dr. Goodall inspired him personally and “her boundless curiosity, compassion and pioneering spirit transformed our understanding of the natural world”. 

In his post on X, he added: “the world has lost an extraordinary voice”: “she challenged us all to make a difference and inspired me and countless others to work to protect our planet. Jane Goodall made a difference.”

Former US Vice President and 2007 Nobel Prize Laureate Al Gore also paid a touching tribute to her on his FB Page, saying the world has lost a giant in the struggle for a better future, “Jane Goodall”. 

“I deeply admired her advocacy for our natural world, which was both fearless and tireless. Her groundbreaking research helped increase humanity’s understanding of and respect for the animal kingdom and our natural world — and our understanding of ourselves. 

“Jane could command a room with her wisdom and inspire a global movement with her compassion. I am proud to have called her a friend and will miss her terribly. May she rest in peace and may we all strive to continue her important work,” said Mr. Al Gore, who has been advocating to turn the causes of climate change and is renowned for his Academy Award-winning documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, released in 2006.

Another conservationist and Hollywood actor, Leonardo DiCaprio, also posted on his FB Page: “Today we have lost a true hero for the planet, an inspiration to millions, and a dear friend.”

He said Dr. Jane Goodall devoted her life to protecting the planet and giving a voice to the wild animals and the ecosystems they inhabit. Her groundbreaking research on Chimpanzees in Tanzania transformed “our understanding of how our closest relatives live, socialise, and think—reminding us that we are deeply connected not only to Chimpanzees and the other great apes, but to all life.”

For decades, Mr. DiCaprio said, Dr. Goodall 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.

“She inspired millions to care, to act, and to hope. She never stopped,” he posted.

“…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,” said Mr. DiCaprio.

Global conservation communities’ tributes

Other global conservation advocacy organisations and communities, the UN included, also paid tribute to the late conservation advocate.

The UN posted on its FB Page upon her death on Wednesday: “Today, the UN family mourns the loss of Dr. Jane Goodall. The scientist, conservationist and UN Messenger of Peace worked tirelessly for our planet and all its inhabitants, leaving an extraordinary legacy for humanity and nature.”

Executive Secretary of the CBD Astrid Schomaker, also said on behalf of the UN Biodiversity: “The passing of Dr. Jane Goodall is very sad news for all of us at United Nations Biodiversity. Her contributions as a woman scientist and her commitment to raising awareness of the need to live in harmony with nature are part of her immense legacy.”

UNEP said: “We are deeply saddened by the passing of United Nations Messenger of Peace Dr. Jane Goodall. Her life’s work championing conservation, humanity and the natural world leaves an enduring legacy. Our condolences to her family, the Jane Goodall Institute and all who draw hope from her example.”

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) released its official tribute statement, saying that while the WCS community mourns the loss of Jane Goodall, it also celebrates the extraordinary gift of her long life and her many achievements. The organisation said Dr. Goodall had three qualities that made her unique and allowed her to transcend her discipline, becoming an icon of conservation beyond chimpanzees and beyond Gombe.

First, she understood that her scientific training not only enabled her to make groundbreaking discoveries about chimpanzees but also provided an extraordinary framework for understanding conservation more broadly.

Second, she carried a deep and abiding empathy—not only for the chimpanzees she studied, but also for Indigenous Peoples, local communities, schoolchildren around the world, and even political leaders. People sensed this empathy and responded to it.

Finally, she recognised that lasting change required inspiration and communication, and she consciously grew into that role. Through the combination of science, empathy, and inspiration, she became a global force for conservation, bringing together and motivating world leaders, scientists, communities, and educators alike.

“These three qualities—science, empathy, and a commitment to communication and inspiration—form the heart of Jane’s legacy, and they remain central to how WCS delivers its conservation impact today. We hope to honour her legacy in our continued work to save wildlife and wild places. 

“Thank you, Jane,” said the world’s leading conservation organisation. (Read its full statement @Tribute to Dr. Jane Goodall (1934–2025))

The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) released a statement in memory of Dr. Goodall. The organisation noted that Dr. Goodall was considered by many to be the world’s foremost expert on chimpanzees, but her impact reached far beyond the scientific community. 

With her warm demeanour and patient, compassionate approach to observing animals, Dr. Goodall became a beloved global icon – someone who showed that “you didn’t need to be a traditional scientist to make revolutionary discoveries”. 

“Her ability to communicate the emotional lives of chimpanzees made complex science accessible to everyone, and her message that every individual can make a difference inspired generations to care about conservation.

“Dame Jane Goodall’s legacy lives on in every researcher who approaches their work with both rigour and compassion, in every conservationist fighting to protect endangered species, and in every young person who believes they can make a difference for our planet,” said the ZSL. (Read its full statement @ In memory of Dame Jane Goodall 1934-2025)

The International Ranger Federation also released a long statement in memoriam of her: “We gather our thoughts today (October 2) with heavy hearts yet uplifted spirits to honour the life of Dr. Jane Goodall—a woman whose compassion, courage, and indomitable sense of purpose changed our world forever.”

The organisation said that from her earliest days among the chimpanzees in Gombe, Dr. Goodall taught them what it means to see the natural world not just as an object of scientific study, but as a living, breathing, feeling community to which we ourselves belong. 

“She showed us that every creature has a personality, every habitat a value, and every act of kindness toward the earth ripples outward.  

“Her legacy is not simply the breakthroughs she made—discovering tool-use among chimpanzees, opening our eyes to their emotional lives, dissolving false barriers between “us” and “them. It is her steadfast advocacy: for conservation, for the wilderness, for the rangers who guard it, for the youth she inspired through Roots & Shoots, and for the hope she carried even when facing overwhelming odds,” the organisation wrote in its statement.  

When one thinks of those unsung heroes, the rangers who stand guard in remote forests, risking much to protect species and ecosystems, Dr. Goodall stood with them—not just in word, but in action, the organisation said.

She lifted their stories, acknowledged their sacrifices, championed their safety, and gave them a voice in the global chorus for conservation, it noted.

“Her work reminded us that the front lines of protecting our planet are often gritty, dangerous, and lonely—but never without purpose. So today, as we mourn her passing, let us also give thanks—for the knowledge she shared, the conscience she awakened, and the lives she changed,” said the IRF. (Read its full statement @In Memoriam: Dr. Jane Goodall, 1934-2025)

WWF also posted on its FB Page saying it also joined the world in mourning the loss of Dr. Jane Goodall, a voice of hope, compassion, and courage for our planet.

“She reminded us that when we come together, we can shape a better future for people, wildlife, and the natural world we share. Let’s celebrate her life and honour her legacy with the same determination and love she lived by. Together, we can carry her vision forward,” said the organisation.