Jane Goodall, the renowned British primatologist and UN Messenger of Peace, has passed away at the age of 91. Mourned in China as “Grandma Jane,” she leaves a lasting global legacy.
Jane Goodall, the British primatologist who dedicated her life to listening to the voices of animals and teaching humans to live in harmony with nature, has passed away at the age of 91. The Jane Goodall Institute said she passed away from natural causes in California on October 1 while on a lecture tour.
A girl from London
Goodall was born in London in 1934. As a child, she once disappeared for hours, hiding in a chicken coop to see how a hen laid its egg. Her family thought she was lost. She called it “the start of my scientific journey.”
At 26, she travelled to the forests of Tanzania. Alone with a notebook and binoculars, she began watching chimpanzees. She soon made a discovery that changed science: chimpanzees make and use tools. It was proof that humans are not the only toolmakers.
Her courage broke barriers in a field long dominated by men. She became not only a scientist but a storyteller, bringing the lives of animals into the human heart.
A Life of Guidance and Hope
In 1991, Goodall founded Roots & Shoots, a youth program that encourages young people to care for animals, people, and the environment. Today, it has branches in more than 100 countries. In 2002, the United Nations named her a Messenger of Peace.
She often told young audiences: “What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”
Her words became a compass for many who saw themselves as too small to change the world.
A lasting bond with China
Goodall’s first lecture in China took place in 1998. The following year, Roots & Shoots opened in Beijing and Shanghai. Since then, she returned almost every year, meeting students and inspiring volunteers.
“Visiting China has been an amazing experience for me, and this drew me back each year since 1998,” she said in her 2015 documentary Jane Goodall’s China Diary.
In 2018, Goodall appeared on the popular CCTV program The Reader. One year later, she spoke about the challenges of returning giant pandas to the wild, stressing that habitat protection is the key in Chengdu. In late 2024, Goodall visited China for the 17th time, joining ten public events in Beijing in just five days. Crowds of young people surrounded her, eager for a moment, a word, a photograph.
Today, on Chinese social media, millions joined in to remember her, with hashtags such as “My memories of Jane Goodall” trending widely. Many affectionately called her “Grandma Jane.” One fan wrote, “She encouraged me to explore nature, record it with my camera, and share knowledge about wildlife.” Another commented, “Her existence inspired me to believe in the power of small actions. Everyone matters, and everyone can make a difference.” Yet another reflected, “It feels lucky that a female leader in my biology textbook continues to inspire a new generation.”
A spirit that crosses borders
In Britain, she is remembered as the girl who followed a dream to Africa and came back with lessons for the world. In China, she became a beloved elder, whose gentle voice filled classrooms and whose message shaped a generation.
Her passing closes a remarkable chapter. Yet her seeds remain — in forests where chimpanzees roam, in classrooms where children raise their hands, in every young person who believes they can make a difference.
Jane Goodall listened to the voices of animals. Now her own voice, full of hope and courage, will echo far into the future.
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