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Jane Goodall poses for a portrait in 2017.
Jane Goodall poses for a portrait in 2017.
David Levene/eyevine/Redux

Jane Goodall’s life in pictures

Published 3:59 PM EDT, Wed October 1, 2025
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Conservationist Jane Goodall, whose work revolutionized the study of primates and helped broaden the world’s understanding of animal behavior and emotions, has died at the age of 91.

Goodall’s field studies with chimpanzees not only broke barriers for women and changed the way scientists study animals, but documented emotions and personality traits within these primates that blurred the line between humans and the animal kingdom.

“Dr. Goodall’s discoveries as an ethologist revolutionized science, and she was a tireless advocate for the protection and restoration of our natural world,” her institute said in a statement on social media.

Goodall holds a chimpanzee during a visit to the National Geographic Society in 1962. She had long been fascinated with Africa and its animals, but she had no formal higher education when she began her groundbreaking work observing and studying chimpanzees in 1960.
Goodall holds a chimpanzee during a visit to the National Geographic Society in 1962. She had long been fascinated with Africa and its animals, but she had no formal higher education when she began her groundbreaking work observing and studying chimpanzees in 1960.
Jack Fletcher/National Geographic/Getty Images
Goodall marries wildlife photographer and filmmaker Hugo van Lawick in 1964. They met in Tanganyika, where she was studying chimpanzees. Tanganyika is now part of Tanzania.
Goodall marries wildlife photographer and filmmaker Hugo van Lawick in 1964. They met in Tanganyika, where she was studying chimpanzees. Tanganyika is now part of Tanzania.
Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Goodall appears in the television special "Miss Goodall and the World of Chimpanzees" in 1965. Goodall arrived at the Gombe Stream Chimpanzee Reserve in 1960 at the request of her boss, renowned anthropologist and paleontologist Louis Leakey.
Goodall appears in the television special "Miss Goodall and the World of Chimpanzees" in 1965. Goodall arrived at the Gombe Stream Chimpanzee Reserve in 1960 at the request of her boss, renowned anthropologist and paleontologist Louis Leakey.
CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images
Goodall runs her fingers through the hair of her 7-year-old son, Hugo, in 1974.
Goodall runs her fingers through the hair of her 7-year-old son, Hugo, in 1974.
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Goodall and van Lawick behind the camera in 1974. Goodall was the first to observe chimps eating meat. Before that, they were thought to be vegetarians. She also observed the first recorded instance of chimps making and using tools.
Goodall and van Lawick behind the camera in 1974. Goodall was the first to observe chimps eating meat. Before that, they were thought to be vegetarians. She also observed the first recorded instance of chimps making and using tools.
AP
Goodall goes through slides before making a presentation in Chicago in 1982.
Goodall goes through slides before making a presentation in Chicago in 1982.
Charles Knoblock/AP
Goodall attends a Britannica Awards ceremony in New York in 1989. With her, from left, are diplomat George F. Kennan, art historian Ernst Gombrich, economist Paul Samuelson and astrophysicist Stephen Hawking.
Goodall attends a Britannica Awards ceremony in New York in 1989. With her, from left, are diplomat George F. Kennan, art historian Ernst Gombrich, economist Paul Samuelson and astrophysicist Stephen Hawking.
Mario Cabrera/AP
Goodall and Conoco vice president Max Pitcher hold chimpanzees in the Republic of Congo. Conoco partnered with Goodall in the early '90s to build a sanctuary for orphaned and injured chimpanzees.
Goodall and Conoco vice president Max Pitcher hold chimpanzees in the Republic of Congo. Conoco partnered with Goodall in the early '90s to build a sanctuary for orphaned and injured chimpanzees.
Michael Nichols/National Geographic/Getty Images
Goodall listens to Aboriginal dancer Dianne McNaboe and her daughter Beccy explain the meaning of an Aboriginal painting in Australia in 1997.
Goodall listens to Aboriginal dancer Dianne McNaboe and her daughter Beccy explain the meaning of an Aboriginal painting in Australia in 1997.
Megan Lewis/Newscom
Goodall joins United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and his wife, Nane, as they plant a tree during a visit to the Soweto Mountain of Hope in South Africa in 2002.
Goodall joins United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and his wife, Nane, as they plant a tree during a visit to the Soweto Mountain of Hope in South Africa in 2002.
Pedro Ugarte/AFP/Getty Images
Goodall and actor Michael Douglas speak in Washington, DC, as they attend a bipartisan task force hearing on nonproliferation in 2003.
Goodall and actor Michael Douglas speak in Washington, DC, as they attend a bipartisan task force hearing on nonproliferation in 2003.
Stephen J. Boitano/Getty Images
Goodall poses for pictures after she was invested as a dame of the British Empire in 2004.
Goodall poses for pictures after she was invested as a dame of the British Empire in 2004.
Stefan Rousseau/AFP/Getty Images
Goodall plays with Pola, a 14-month-old chimpanzee, at the Budapest Zoo in Hungary in 2004. Goodall was the first scientist to give names to her research subjects instead of the conventional practice of assigning them numbers.
Goodall plays with Pola, a 14-month-old chimpanzee, at the Budapest Zoo in Hungary in 2004. Goodall was the first scientist to give names to her research subjects instead of the conventional practice of assigning them numbers.
Bela Szandelszky/AP
Goodall hugs Bryana Schroder of the Davis/Sacramento branch of Roots & Shoots after delivering a speech in Chico, California, in 2005. In 1991, Goodall began the Roots & Shoots environmental program for young people.
Goodall hugs Bryana Schroder of the Davis/Sacramento branch of Roots & Shoots after delivering a speech in Chico, California, in 2005. In 1991, Goodall began the Roots & Shoots environmental program for young people.
Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record/AP
Goodall studies chimpanzees in Tanzania in 2006.
Goodall studies chimpanzees in Tanzania in 2006.
Michael Nichols/National Geographic/Getty Images
Goodall and actress Rachel Weisz attend a Live Earth event in East Rutherford, New Jersey, in 2007.
Goodall and actress Rachel Weisz attend a Live Earth event in East Rutherford, New Jersey, in 2007.
Mat Szwajkos/Getty Images
Goodall appears on stage with actress Debra Messing at Glamour magazine's Women of the Year Awards in 2008.
Goodall appears on stage with actress Debra Messing at Glamour magazine's Women of the Year Awards in 2008.
Larry Busacca/WireImage for Glamour
Goodall accepts a Minerva Award at the Women's Conference in Long Beach, Califonia, in 2009.
Goodall accepts a Minerva Award at the Women's Conference in Long Beach, Califonia, in 2009.
Phil McCarten/Newscom/Reuters
Goodall demonstrates a chimpanzee greeting call as she visits the California state Senate in 2011.
Goodall demonstrates a chimpanzee greeting call as she visits the California state Senate in 2011.
Rich Pedroncelli/AP
Goodall shakes hands with Britain's Queen Elizabeth II after a Commonwealth Day Observance Service in London in 2012.
Goodall shakes hands with Britain's Queen Elizabeth II after a Commonwealth Day Observance Service in London in 2012.
Leon Neal/WPA Pool/Getty Images
Goodall acts as the grand marshal for the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, in 2013.
Goodall acts as the grand marshal for the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, in 2013.
Jerod Harris/WireImage
Goodall holds a baby white-faced capuchin while visiting Chile in 2013.
Goodall holds a baby white-faced capuchin while visiting Chile in 2013.
Hector Retamal/AFP/Getty Images
Goodall meets with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at his office in Ottawa in 2016.
Goodall meets with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at his office in Ottawa in 2016.
Chris Wattie/Newscom/Reuters
Goodall attends a conference for the RBA Foundation in Madrid in 2016.
Goodall attends a conference for the RBA Foundation in Madrid in 2016.
GTRES/AP
Goodall joins actor Leonardo DiCaprio and musician Stevie Wonder at the UN headquarters in New York on the International Day of Peace in 2016. Goodall had been designated a United Nations Messenger of Peace in 2011.
Goodall joins actor Leonardo DiCaprio and musician Stevie Wonder at the UN headquarters in New York on the International Day of Peace in 2016. Goodall had been designated a United Nations Messenger of Peace in 2011.
Mark J Sullivan/Pacific Press/LightRocket/Getty Images
Goodall listens to a journalist's question during a news conference at the National Geographic summit in Lisbon, Portugal, in 2017.
Goodall listens to a journalist's question during a news conference at the National Geographic summit in Lisbon, Portugal, in 2017.
Rafael Marchante/Newscom/Reuters
Goodall poses at the premiere for the documentary "Jane" in 2017. The film was about her early work with chimpanzees.
Goodall poses at the premiere for the documentary "Jane" in 2017. The film was about her early work with chimpanzees.
Mario Anzuoni/Newscom/Reuters
Goodall sticks her tongue out at a photographer while visiting a cafe in Paris in 2018.
Goodall sticks her tongue out at a photographer while visiting a cafe in Paris in 2018.
Sipa USA
Goodall is recognized at UNESCO headquarters during her visit to Paris in 2018.
Goodall is recognized at UNESCO headquarters during her visit to Paris in 2018.
Sipa USA
Goodall attends the Roots & Shoots Day of Peace at the Los Angeles Zoo in 2018.
Goodall attends the Roots & Shoots Day of Peace at the Los Angeles Zoo in 2018.
Chelsea Guglielmino/Getty Images
Britain's Prince Harry holds Goodall's hands as he attends a Roots & Shoots global leadership meeting at Windsor Castle in England in 2019.
Britain's Prince Harry holds Goodall's hands as he attends a Roots & Shoots global leadership meeting at Windsor Castle in England in 2019.
Kirsty Wigglesworth/WPA Pool/Getty Images
Goodall gives a lecture, "Reasons for Hope," while in Munich, Germany, in 2019.
Goodall gives a lecture, "Reasons for Hope," while in Munich, Germany, in 2019.
Sven Hoppe/picture alliance/Getty Images
Goodall and Gayle King speak at the Global Citizen Festival in New York in 2024.
Goodall and Gayle King speak at the Global Citizen Festival in New York in 2024.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Global Citizen
Goodall is awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Joe Biden in January. "Jane’s activism, vision, and message of hope have mobilized a global movement to protect the planet," Biden said. "Above all, she has taught us that when we search for humanity in the natural world around us, we discover it within ourselves."
Goodall is awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Joe Biden in January. "Jane’s activism, vision, and message of hope have mobilized a global movement to protect the planet," Biden said. "Above all, she has taught us that when we search for humanity in the natural world around us, we discover it within ourselves."
Tom Brenner/Getty Images
Goodall and Coldplay's Chris Martin speak on stage at the Sierra Club's Trail Blazers Ball in Los Angeles in April.
Goodall and Coldplay's Chris Martin speak on stage at the Sierra Club's Trail Blazers Ball in Los Angeles in April.
Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images
Goodall speaks at the Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Business Forum in New York in September.
Goodall speaks at the Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Business Forum in New York in September.
Michael Nagle/Bloomberg/Getty Images

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