Jane Goodall was a highly esteemed British primatologist, anthropologist, and conservationist known worldwide for her groundbreaking research on wild chimpanzees in East Africa. She first began studying chimpanzees in Gombe Stream National Park, Tanzania, in 1960, producing revolutionary discoveries about their social behaviors, communication, and use of tools, fundamentally changing scientific understanding of primates and bridging the connection between humans and animals. Goodall founded the Jane Goodall Institute in 1977 and launched the Roots & Shoots youth program to promote conservation globally. She was also recognized as a United Nations Messenger of Peace in 2002 and received numerous honors including the Presidential Medal of Freedom from the U.S. In 2025, she passed away at the age of 91 while on a speaking tour. Her lifelong work has left a lasting legacy on animal conservation, environmental advocacy, and the scientific community.
