Jane Goodall, the intellectual, soft-spoken conservationist renowned for her groundbreaking, immersive chimpanzee field research in which she documented the primates’ distinct personalities and use of tools, has died. She was 91.
The environmental advocate, who died Wednesday of natural causes while in California on a speaking tour, became a beloved household name who transcended generations through her appearances in documentaries and on television, as well as her travels to address packed auditoriums around the world.
Tributes from animal rights organizations, political leaders and admirers poured in following news of her death, among them Canadian G Adventures founder Bruce Toon Tip with whom she had developed a strong relationship.
In a tribute to Dr. Jane Goodall, Poon Tip wrote:
“The world has lost an angel. Dr. Jane Goodall was a great woman, an inspiration to me personally, and a dear friend. I was just with Dr. Jane a few weeks ago. We joked about her schedule and I told her that she made me feel like a part-timer and that I should get back on the road again.
“Even in her nineties, she continued to travel the world, speaking, inspiring and fighting for this planet. She dedicated her life to delivering a message of peace, and her tireless research forever connected humankind with the natural world and the challenges of biodiversity.
“Her passing leaves a void that will be felt deeply, not only by those who knew her but by communities and wildlife around the world whose lives she touched through her tireless work.
“We have had a long-standing relationship with Dr. Jane and the Jane Goodall Institute for many years that has enabled us to shape how travellers connect with nature in ways that inspire care, conservation, and a sense of responsibility to our planet – values that Jane lived and breathed every day.
“Just days ago, we were honoured to announce Dr. Jane as one of our Global Ambassadors, celebrating her as a trailblazer and driver of change. She was truly a gift to humanity, a figure of peace, and a global icon whose message of compassion and hope is needed now more than ever.
“I was privileged to meet with Dr. Jane last month where we spoke about the dual potential of tourism; for harm, but also for tremendous good. In that conversation, she reminded me and everyone listening that ‘We are all human. We all laugh, we all cry, we all hope, we can all go into despair. We are all one family.’ That belief, that we are bound together in responsibility and in hope, was at the core of who she was.
“Dr. Jane’s life work will continue to inspire us all at G Adventures. We are committed to honouring her legacy and being the messengers for her through our ongoing work with the Jane Goodall Institute and by carrying forward the principles she championed: respect, compassion, and the deep understanding that we are all connected.
“The world has lost a pioneer and relentless warrior for everything that is good in this world. She will be profoundly missed, but her spirit will live on in the forests she loved, in the animals she fought to protect, and in every person whose life she touched with her wisdom and courage.
“She was my hero. She inspired me to be better. She was a great woman, a global icon, a figure of peace, and a good friend.”
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