Jane Goodall, Renowned Primatologist and Conservationist, Dies at 91

The trailblazing animal welfare advocate was on her speaking tour in the U.S. when the news of her passing broke. She remained committed to her work until the very end.

The trailblazing animal welfare advocate was on her speaking tour in the U.S. when the news of her passing broke. She remained committed to her work until the very end.

Jane Goodall, the renowned conservationist and animal welfare advocate who studied the personalities and social interactions of chimpanzees, revolutionizing humanity's relationship with the animal kingdom, has died.

A portrait of Jane Goodall ahead of her "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" appearance on April 13, 2023. | Source: Getty Images

According to a statement from her namesake institute, Goodall passed away in Los Angeles while on a speaking tour. She was 91.

"The Jane Goodall Institute has learned this morning, Wednesday, October 1, 2025, that Dr. Jane Goodall DBE, UN Messenger of Peace and Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute has passed away due to natural causes," the statement read.

It continued, "She was in California as part of her speaking tour in the United States. Dr. Goodall's discoveries as an ethologist revolutionized science, and she was a tireless advocate for the protection and restoration of our natural world."

Jane Goodall with a chimpanzee in her arms, circa 1995. | Source: Getty Images

In another tribute, the institute revealed that Goodall had "died peacefully" in her sleep. She was recognized as the world's leading expert on chimpanzees after spending decades studying the species in Tanzania's Gombe National Park.

Goodall famously traveled about 300 days a year for her work — which also included climate advocacy — and while it was admittedly exhausting, she was determined to keep going. "I do it because I have to," she told host Alex Cooper in a May 2025 episode of "Call Her Daddy."

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"It probably sounds strange to you, by now being you know 90, I feel that I was put on this planet with a mission. And right now, as I said, we're going through dark times and the big problem is people are losing hope," she continued.

Goodall's legacy has endured for decades and will continue to have a lasting impact for generations to come as her initiatives around the globe remain active. The late primatologist is survived by her son, Hugo, and her three grandchildren.