RIP Jane Goodall (91), primatologist and conservationist

[Astronuc]

Jane Goodall, the famed primatologist and conservationist, has died, according to the institute she founded. She was 91 years old.

"The Jane Goodall Institute has learned this morning, Wednesday, October 1, 2025, that Dr. Jane Goodall DBE, UN Messenger of Peace and Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute has passed away due to natural causes," the institute said in a statement on social media. "She was in California as part of her speaking tour in the United States."

https://abcnews.go.com/Internationa...st-conservationist-dead-91/story?id=109868347


https://www.npr.org/2025/10/01/459238450/jane-goodall-primatologist-dead-91

https://whyy.org/articles/jane-goodall-died-chimpanzee-research-environomental-advocacy/

https://freshairarchive.org/guests/jane-goodall

 

[fresh_42]

 

[berkeman]

I remember a TV documentary (NOVA episode?) many years ago that covered some of the work Dr. Goodall did with apes who had been taught sign language. One thing that stuck with me all these years is how they said that some of the behaviors by Koko (I think it was her) showed that she did more than just mimic the sign language teachers -- she actually understood the language, and used it on her own. The example they gave was one time when she realized she needed to go the bathroom pretty urgently, but the bathroom enclosure was across the compound. They saw her take off running signing to herself "Hurry, Hurry!". Pretty amazing.

https://babysignlanguage.com/dictionary/hurry/

https://news.janegoodall.org/2018/06/22/dr-goodall-remembers-koko-the-gorilla/

 

[fresh_42]

I think we generally still underestimate our fellow animals on this planet.

 

[robphy]

(1965) Miss Goodall and the Wild Chimpanzees


(1988) National Geographic Special, Miss Goodall and the Wild Chimpanzees (1965)


(2017) Dr. Jane Goodall Teaches Jimmy About Pant-Hoots and Roots & Shoots

 

[sbrothy]

I know Wikipedia links are scorned so I won't link directly but, there is an extensive list of primatologists which can be found as a "category". I like that even though the list is ordered alphabetically Goodall is still basically listed first.

 

[DennisN]

A true legend. May she rest in peace.

 

[Bandersnatch]

This ape lived long and had fun talking to other apes. It was a good ape, worth aping.

 

[difalcojr]

....................................................

[Mentor Note: Dr. Goodall has commented that she liked the cartoon above, which was also used to help raise funds for her institute. See the news interview below.]
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-chimp-change/182161880/

 

[difalcojr]

Yes, I meant no disrespect to Dr. Goodall. Thank you to Mentor for helping on that. I was going to followup too.

I heard the story on the radio yesterday. After Gary Larson and "Far Side" published the joke, her foundation reacted furiously against it, but when Goodall saw it, she laughed and thought it was funny. Larson visited her, the story went, they became friends, and he donated to her foundation. He owed her.

 

[berkeman]

Thread closed temporarily.

 

[berkeman]

After deleting an off-topic discussion, the thread is reopened provisionally. Please stay on-topic for this thread. Thank you.

 

[fresh_42]

And why is post #10 on topic? Because you liked it? Asking for Jane Goodall.

 

[berkeman]

And why is post #10 on topic? Because you liked it? Asking for Jane Goodall.

Because it is on-topic and about Dr. Goodall. Please DM me if you need to discuss this more. Thanks.