On October 1, 2025, Dr. Jane Goodall, a world-renowned scientist, humanitarian, and conservationist, died in her sleep at the age of 91 in Los Angeles, California. The legacy she left, however, lives on strong.
Several weeks after her passing, the cause of death has been revealed. According to People, she died of a cardiac arrest. She was found in her bed while on a speaking tour in Los Angeles.
She is survived by her son, Hugo, and three grandchildren.
Born Valerie Jane Morris-Goodall, she is perhaps best known for her early life studying chimpanzees in Gombe, Tanzania, where she fully immersed herself in their environment to truly connect and understand them. She famously discovered human-like behavior in these animals, such as the use of tools, personalities unique to each chimp, and the expression of many emotions that were thought to be unique to humans, like grief.
According to Wikipedia, what set her apart from other researchers of the time was the extremely close, passionate bond she developed with the chimpanzees, so much so that she became the only person ever to be accepted by them into their society. She named many of them, including David Greybeard, Goliath, Mike, Humphrey, Gigi, Mr. McGregor, Flo, Flint, and Frodo, among many others. She documented and publicized her findings across numerous books, articles, and TV programs. In 1977, Goodall established the Jane Goodall Institute, a global non-profit organization that supports her research in Gombe. According to its site, its mission is to protect chimps and their habitats, achieving this through community-centered conservation.
On October 3, 2025, just two days after her death, her episode of Famous Last Words was released on Netflix, featuring one final message Goodall wanted to leave to the world.
Goodall shares her message:
“In the place where I am now, I look back over my life. I look back at the world I’ve left behind. What message do I want to leave? I want to make sure that you all understand that each and every one of you has a role to play. You may not know it, you may not find it, but your life matters, and you are here for a reason.
“And I just hope that reason will become apparent as you live through your life. I want you to know that, whether or not you find that role that you’re supposed to play, your life does matter, and that every single day you live, you make a difference in the world. And you get to choose the difference that you make.
“I want you to understand that we are part of the natural world. And even today, when the planet is dark, there still is hope. Don’t lose hope. If you lose hope, you become apathetic and do nothing. And if you want to save what is still beautiful in this world – if you want to save the planet for the future generations, your grandchildren, their grandchildren – then think about the actions you take each day.
“Because, multiplied a million, a billion times, even small actions will make for great change. I want to – I just hope that you understand that this life on Planet Earth isn’t the end. I believe, and now I know, that there is life beyond death. That consciousness survives.
I can’t tell you, from where I am, secrets that are not mine to share. I can’t tell you what you will find when you leave Planet Earth. But I want you to know that your life on Planet Earth will make some difference in the kind of life you find after you die.
“Above all, I want you to think about the fact that we are part – when we’re on Planet Earth – we are part of Mother Nature. We depend on Mother Nature for clean air, for water, for food, for clothing, for everything. And as we destroy one ecosystem after another, as we create worse climate change, worse loss of diversity, we have to do everything in our power to make the world a better place for the children alive today, and for those that will follow.
“You have it in your power to make a difference. Don’t give up. There is a future for you. Do your best while you’re still on this beautiful Planet Earth that I look down upon from where I am now.
“God bless you all.” (janegoodall.ca)
Dr. Jane Goodall transformed our understanding of nature and scientific study. Until the day she died, she encouraged others to make a difference and to leave Earth better than they found it. She was truly an inspiration who brought hope and empowerment to the generations she left behind.
