Jane Goodall, a pioneering scientist best known for her work observing chimpanzees in the wild, passed away on October 1, 2025, at the age of 91. Goodall was a primatologist—a scientist who studies primates, a group that includes apes, monkeys, and humans. For 30 years, Goodall watched and studied chimpanzees in Tanzania. She learned that these apes share many traits with humans: They use tools to gather food, communicate with complex language, and mourn family members.
Though Goodall was known for her soft-spoken personality, she was also a fierce advocate for wildlife conservation. “Jane’s life shows that you don’t need to be the loudest person in the room to make a difference,” says Mireya Mayor, a primatologist who was mentored by Goodall. “You just need curiosity, compassion, and the confidence to follow your questions wherever they lead.”