Famed Chimp Expert & Conservationist Jane Goodall Dies at 91

Famed conservationist Dr. Jane Goodall, renowned for her work with chimpanzees, has died at the age of 91.

In a statement, the Jane Goodall Institute announced that she died of natural causes in California.

At the time of her death, Goodall, a UN Messenger of Peace, was on a speaking tour. She made her last public appearance at the Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Forum 2025 at the Plaza Hotel last week.

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

In 2020, she told People magazine, “We have learned so much. 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."

Goodall had celebrity admirers in Prince Harry, Leonardo DiCaprio, Angelina Jolie and many more.

Known for her common-sense appearances on talk shows, she visited "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" last year to sound the alarm about climate change.

After hearing the news of her death, Jon Stewart wrote on X, "Jane Goodall was just the best…damn."

Maria Shriver posted, "Jane Goodall was a legendary figure and a friend. I admired her, learned from her, and was so honored to get to spend time with her over the years. She stayed at her mission and on her mission. She changed the world and the lives of everyone she impacted. The world lost one of its best today, and I lost somone I adored. ♥️."

In a statement, former Canadian PM Justin Trudeau wrote, "Heartbroken to hear of Dr. Jane Goodall’s passing. She was a pioneer whose research and advocacy reshaped our understanding of the natural world. Her wisdom and compassion will live on in every act of conservation. All of us who were so greatly inspired by her will miss her deeply."

New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker wrote on X, "Thank you Jane Goodall for a lasting legacy of conservation, service to all of us, and for always being brave."

Goodall left behind her son Hugo and three grandkids.