10/02/2025
Jane Goodall was an inspiration and role model for more than animal lovers and scientists; she embodied strength, internal fortitude and true empathy and compassion. She showed us all how to be better human beings. There is no greater honor in this world than to live a life of purpose and meaning, and to be able to share your passion until your body no longer holds its breath is icing on the cake. You’ve left this world a better place than it was when you were born. May we carry on in your tradition, with thoughtfulness, respect, intellect and kindness. With gratitude.
Jane Goodall, who died today at the age of 91 while on a speaking tour in Los Angeles, leaves behind a legacy that extends far beyond her groundbreaking observations of chimpanzees in Tanzania's Gombe Stream Reserve. She understood that her life's work was not just about advancing science, but about inspiring future generations to protect the natural world.
As she once reflected, "Since young girls began reading about my early life and my career with the chimps, many, many, many of them have told me that they went into conservation or animal behavior because of me." This ripple effect transformed primatology from a male-dominated field into one where women came to lead, opening doors for countless others who followed in her footsteps.
At the heart of Dr. Goodall's message, even as she often focused on the threats facing our planet's ecosystems later in her career, was an unwavering sense of optimism. Her final book, published in 2021, was titled "The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times," a testament to her lifelong belief in humanity's capacity for positive change.
This hope found its most practical expression through the Jane Goodall Institute, which she established in 1977 as a nonprofit dedicated to increasing global awareness and understanding about the natural world, and in particular the lives and habitats of primates. The Institute's Roots and Shoots program, launched in 1991, teaches young people about conservation in 75 countries, embodying her conviction that children hold the key to our planet's future.
She spent her later decades traveling the world -- making more than 300 appearances annually -- and her tireless animal welfare and conservation efforts inspired millions worldwide. Her efforts were widely recognized; she was named Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2003 and a UN Messenger of Peace in 2002, the United Nations' highest honor for global citizenship. The Institute evolved into one of the world's largest nonprofit global research and conservation organizations, with offices in 35 nations, ensuring that her message of hope would reach generations to come.
Through her scientific work and her advocacy, Dr. Goodall didn't just advance our knowledge of primates -- she fundamentally changed how we see ourselves and our place in the natural world. As she reminded us, "What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make." Her extraordinary life embodied this principle, demonstrating that the most profound legacy is not just what we discover, but how we inspire others to carry that knowledge forward in service of a better world.
To help continue Dr. Goodall's lifelong work, especially her beloved international environmental and humanitarian youth program, Roots & Shoots, please consider making a donation in her honor to the Jane Goodall Institute at https://janegoodall.org/donate
To share the inspiring story of this trailblazer with young children, we highly recommend the board books "I Am Caring: A Little Book about Jane Goodall" for ages 1 to 4 (https://www.amightygirl.com/i-am-caring), the picture book "Jane Goodall" for ages 5 to 8 (https://www.amightygirl.com/jane-goodall), and the chapter book "Jane Goodall" for ages 4 to 7 (https://www.amightygirl.com/jane-goodall-champion)
For older children and teens, we recommend "Who is Jane Goodall" for ages 8 to 12 (https://www.amightygirl.com/who-is-jane-goodall), an autobiography by Goodall for readers 8 and up entitled "My Life with the Chimpanzees" (https://www.amightygirl.com/my-life-with-the-chimpanzees), and the graphic novel “Primates” for ages 12 and up (https://www.amightygirl.com/primates)
Adult readers will be inspired by these works by Dr. Goodall herself: "The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times" (https://www.amightygirl.com/book-of-hope), "In The Shadow of Man" (https://www.amightygirl.com/in-the-shadow-of-man), and "Reason for Hope: A Spiritual Journey" (https://bookshop.org/a/8011/9780446676137)
For children's books that celebrate more pioneering female environmentalists -- many of whom were inspired by the work of Dr. Goodall -- visit our blog post "25 Kids' Books About Female Environmentalists" at https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=14831
To read the new tribute to Dr. Goodall's life and legacy in The New York Times, visit https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/01/obituaries/jane-goodall-dead.html?unlocked_article_code=1.qE8.HFtg.bm59LbI-9w8x&smid=url-share
