BREAKING NEWSFamous Animal Welfare Activist Dr. Jane Goodall Dead at 91
Dr. Jane Goodall, the famous animal welfare activist, has died at 91 years old.
Oct. 1 2025, Published 2:19 p.m. ET
Dr. Jane Goodall, the famous animal welfare activist, has died at 91 years old.
According to a statement on Wednesday, October 1, from her eponymous institute, she died of natural causes while on the West Coast.
“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," the post read via Instagram. "Dr. Goodall’s discoveries as an ethologist revolutionized science, and she was a tireless advocate for the protection and restoration of our natural world."
Fans quickly praised the activist for the work she's done over the years.
The activist's death quickly made the rounds, prompting people to speak out about her contributions to the world.
One person wrote, "She made her mark on the world and all our hearts for wildlife. Thank you for your phenomenal legacy, Dr. Goodall," while another said, "We will always remember her, 😢she’s one of the reasons why I studied biology into the conservation world. I can’t believe 😢. Thank you so much Hero❤️."
A third person added, "Waves of sadness but also feeling this sudden surge of energy from all of us who know how important it is to carry on her legacy, inspiration, and impact. Our earth depends on it. 🌍."
Inside Jane Goodall's Career
The star 'learned so much' about animals during her career.
Goodall was known for her 60 years of studying chimpanzees in Tanzania's Gombe Stream National Park.
She was also named as UN Messenger of Peace in 2002.
Want OK! each day? Sign up here!
What Did Dr. Jane Goodall Study?
Jane Goodall wanted to learn more about the link between monkeys and humans.
"We have learned so much," she told People in 2020 about her discoveries. "We've learned how alike chimpanzees are to us, which has changed science perception. In the early 1960s, I was told that the difference between people and animals was one of kind. We were on a pinnacle, and there was an unbridgeable chasm between us and the rest of the animal kingdom."
"Hopefully, we can begin a new era of our relationship with other animals. But we're not there yet," she added.
Jane Goodall studied monkeys.
Goodall’s original mission in Gombe, Africa, was to learn everything she could about chimpanzees so she could see if their behavior "might provide us with a window on our past" since they are humans' closest living relative.
“I always am amazed at how similar we are to chimpanzees and, for that matter, other animals, too – sharing emotions like fear and pain and anger and things like that,” Goodall said.
