Dr. Jane Goodall, a remarkable scientist, primatologist and conservation advocate, has died at the age of 91, leaving behind an immense contribution to science and inspiration for millions of people. Her research on chimpanzees in the 1960s led to a crucial discovery: these animals can make and use tools. Jane was the first to replace impersonal primate numbers with names, showing that they have individual personalities, emotions and complex social bonds. This discovery quite literally transformed the scientific approach to studying animals and laid the foundation for a new — more ethical and humane — view of the wild.
Goodall was not only a researcher but also an influential activist — she founded a number of international organizations, including her namesake institute, a legacy foundation and the youth program Roots and Shoots. She firmly advocated for forest restoration, supported initiatives of the World Economic Forum, and drew attention to the importance of corporate responsibility for nature.
Jane's legacy is the millions of people around the world whom she helped to feel a personal responsibility for the planet. She taught that even the smallest action matters: “You have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”
