'Mother of Chimpanzees' Jane Goodall Passes Away at 91

by Oh Suyon

Published 02 Oct.2025 06:44(KST)

World-renowned zoologist and environmental activist Jane Goodall passed away on October 1 (local time) at the age of 91.

The Jane Goodall Institute announced on its Instagram account that Dr. Goodall died of natural causes while staying in California during her U.S. lecture tour.

Dr. Jane Goodall. AP Yonhap News

The institute stated, "As a zoologist, Dr. Goodall's discoveries revolutionized science, and she tirelessly advocated for the protection and restoration of our natural world."

Born in London, England, in 1934, Goodall began her primate research after visiting Kenya at the invitation of a friend while working as a secretary in 1957, where she met renowned paleoanthropologist Louis Leakey.

Goodall made waves in the academic community in 1964 by publishing in Nature her discovery that wild chimpanzees are capable of making and using tools-a trait previously believed to be unique to humans.

Unlike previous studies that focused on captive chimpanzees, Goodall systematically observed and researched wild chimpanzees over an extended period, establishing herself as a pioneer in animal behavior studies.

She earned her doctorate in animal behavior from the University of Cambridge in 1965 and gained global recognition and the nickname "Mother of Chimpanzees" through broadcasts such as National Geographic.

After witnessing the loss of chimpanzee habitats, Goodall began her environmental activism in earnest. In 1977, she established a nonprofit research institute bearing her name to support research in Gombe and protect Africa's environment. In 1991, she launched the "Roots and Shoots" program to nurture children as environmental activists.

Even in her 90s, she traveled to countries around the world for an average of 300 days each year, urging humanity to change for the sake of nature conservation. Most recently, she gave a lecture in New York and was scheduled to speak in California on October 3, remaining active until the very end.

Throughout her life, Goodall never doubted the Earth's resilience, stating, "There is hope. It is in our hands. Leave as light an ecological footprint as possible." In a 2023 interview with The Guardian, she said, "We still have time to change the direction of the planet, but that window is closing rapidly. However, if governments keep their promises, we still have a chance."

In recognition of her achievements, she was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire by the British royal family in 2003, and earlier this year, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from former U.S. President Joe Biden.