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Dr Jane Goodall, born in April 1934, passed away on October 1st 2025. This British scientist was known worldwide for her work with primates.
Jane Goodall notably studied chimpanzees in Tanzania, in Gombe National Park, from the 1960s onwards. This is how she discovered that chimpanzees have many similarities with humans; they use tools to feed themselves and have social behaviors such as expressing emotions, interacting or being violent. For example, Jane Goodall had observed a ‘young chimp, anguished by the loss of his mother, fall into depression and die’. She also said that ‘she saw a dark side as well: Males that bullied their way to the top. And when the cohort split into two warring factions: murder.’ This shows the organisation that chimpanzees are capable of.
Studying chimpanzees helped her, and the world, to question prejudices about humans and animals, thus questioning the treatment of the latter. Unlike other scientists who were doing similar work, ‘instead of assigning numbers or her subjects, she gave them names. She assigned emotions to them’. She lived close to them, loved, and respected them instead of just using them for her studies.
In 1977, she founded the Jane Goodall Institute which studies and acts for the protection of the environment by teaching respect for wildlife. Indeed, she fought very hard against animal cruelty. Jane Goodall is also at the initiative of Roots & Shoots, a program established in 1991 for young people to take action on issues regarding the environment, humans and animals. ‘Roots & Shoots groups take positive action through local and international projects that benefit the environment and improve the lives of people and animals. They learn about issues affecting our world, become better global citizens and share insights and ideas for making positive change happen. Most importantly they learn that…Every Individual Can Make a Difference’.
She also wrote books for adults and children, and created a podcast: the “Jane Goodall Hopecast”. Jane Goodall won many awards and titles, including ‘UN Messenger of Peace’ or ‘The French Legion of Honour’. Dr. Jane Goodall’s studies still have an influence today and are used in many scientific fields about human activity, animals or the planet in the context of global warming.
The always current and inspiring message of Dr. Jane Goodall shows all generations that each individual can make an effort and make history :
-Jane Goodall
Edited by Ruby Fry
Image: Európai gondolkodók by Adrián Zoltán, 2018 // Attribution 2.0 Generic Deed
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