Jane Goodall dies at the age of 91

Jane Goodall, known for her groundbreaking work on chimpanzees in East Africa, died on Oct. 1 at the age of 91. She first observed chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) eating red meat in Gombe, Tanzania, and was among the first to witness the animals using stick tools to extract termites from their mounds. Her research focused on the social and family dynamics among wild chimpanzees in Gombe across more than 60 years.

Beyond research, Goodall was active in global activism, from humanitarian to environmental work. In 1991, she founded Roots & Shoots, a global youth organization encouraging students to get involved in environmental action within their communities. In 2002, she was made a United Nations messenger of peace and, until her death, continued to travel the world on a mission of human rights and environmental care.

Goodall has also inspired generations of wildlife professionals and women across industries to pursue their dreams, especially if they lie in male-dominated fields. “In middle school, I checked out a book about Jane Goodall. It was the first time I was ever late on returning a book to the library because I kept reading it over and over,” said TWS Managing Editor Dana Kobilinsky.

Read more at The Jane Goodall Institute.