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.

 

[robphy]

I know Wikipedia links are scorned

Really? What’s the problem with them?

 

[DennisN]

A true legend. May she rest in peace.

 

[sbrothy]

Really? What’s the problem with them?

Being a non-native English "speaker" I have a certain.... book-smart (pejoratively meant) way of expressing myself in writing. If you heard me talking Danglish you'd probably laugh.

I meant simply that my experience (and the guidelines) tell me that Wikipedia is not generally appreciated as a source for anything on this forum. Where the word "scorned" came from I have no idea. To put it bluntly I really have no idea what it triggers in a native English speaker's mind.

So there....

 

[Baluncore]

Wikipedia may not be peer-reviewed, but it is the best way to quickly get a summary of the subject to a non-academic needing some entry level understanding. Beginners should have used Wikipedia before asking here, but not knowing the key term needed makes entry into the new field difficult.

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".

You need to give the link because the list may not be in the English language version.

 

[sbrothy]

That would be a good point if I wasn't using English Wikipedia. But here you go:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Primatologists

EDIT: Now, having been so smart-a.. I sincerely hope you see the same thing I do. +, A, G, ....

EDIT2: And yes, I realize why. It was meant as a joke.

EDIT3: An extremely meanderingly macadamized joke, but still.

 

[berkeman]

I meant simply that my experience (and the guidelines) tell me that Wikipedia is not generally appreciated as a source for anything on this forum.

That's not quite true, and if you can DM me a quote from the rules that says that, I can look into updating them. Wikipedia by itself is of course not an Acceptable Source in the rules for advanced technical discussions, but it can be used for simpler discussions and as introductory articles for new folks to read through. And often the Wikipedia article will have peer-reviewed articles listed in their references, which can be a good jumping-off point for folks to read more about a subject. Certainly a Wikipedia reference is fine for this thread here.

 

[Bandersnatch]

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

 

[difalcojr]

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

 

[sbrothy]

That's not quite true, and if you can DM me a quote from the rules that says that, I can look into updating them. Wikipedia by itself is of course not an Acceptable Source in the rules for advanced technical discussions, but it can be used for simpler discussions and as introductory articles for new folks to read through. And often the Wikipedia article will have peer-reviewed articles listed in their references, which can be a good jumping-off point for folks to read more about a subject. Certainly a Wikipedia reference is fine for this thread here.

I did in fact just reread the rules (ironically to spoonfeed them to someone else) and you’re right. I must’ve internalized them somewhat brutally and literally. Maybe outta fear of doing something stupid. Again.