Tributes pour in for Jane Goodall following her death, aged 91

Tributes are continuing to pour in for chimpanzee expert and conservationist Jane Goodall following her death at the age of 91.

The scientist reportedly died of natural causes yesterday, in California, as confirmed by the Jane Goodall Institute.

Leonardo DiCaprio commented on the news saying, "Today we have lost a true hero for the planet, an inspiration to millions, and a dear friend."

"Jane Goodall devoted her life to protecting our planet and giving a voice to the wild animals and the ecosystems they inhabit."

"Now, we all must carry the torch for her in protecting our one shared home."

The American actor was made a UN Messenger of Peace in 2014, 12 years after Goodall was given the same honorific title.

 

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An additional tribute came from the UN.

"Today, the UN family mourns the loss of Dr. Jane Goodall," read an X post.

"The scientist, conservationist and UN Messenger of Peace worked tirelessly for our planet and all its inhabitants, leaving an extraordinary legacy for humanity and nature."

Today, the UN family mourns the loss of Dr. Jane Goodall.

The scientist, conservationist and UN Messenger of Peace worked tirelessly for our planet and all its inhabitants, leaving an extraordinary legacy for humanity and nature. pic.twitter.com/C0VMRdKufF

— United Nations (@UN) October 1, 2025

Other tributes came from Greenpeace, Maria Shriver (former first lady of California) and Chris Packham (TV presenter).

Goodall started her research on free-living chimpanzees in Tanzania in 1960. Her study is the longest field study ever done on a group of animals in the wild.

The primatologist and anthropologist discovered that chimpanzees are capable of making tools, debunking the previous belief that only humans were capable of this.

In 1977, she founded the Jane Goodall Institute, which protected wildlife and the environment.

In 2004 Goodall was awarded a damehood and was invested by the then-Prince of Wales, now King, at Buckingham Palace.