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The worldwide conservation community is honoring British primatologist and environmental advocate Dr. Jane Goodall, who passed away on October 1 at the age of 91. The Jane Goodall Institute stated that she died from natural causes in Los Angeles, California, during a speaking tour — highlighting her lifelong dedication to motivating efforts for the Earth.

Goodall gained recognition in the 1960s due to her pioneering research on wild chimpanzees in what is currently Gombe Stream National Park, Tanzania. She challenged established scientific ideas by recording chimpanzees using tools, displaying advanced emotions, and creating complicated social relationships that were previously considered exclusive to humans. Her extensive research at Gombe turned into the world’s longest ongoing study of wild chimpanzees.

As time passed, Goodall expanded her work from research into worldwide activism. In 1977, she established the Jane Goodall Institute, created a conservation approach focused on communities that connects wildlife preservation with human welfare, and initiated the Roots & Shoots program for young people in 1991, aiming to inspire them to safeguard animals, humans, and the environment.

Her contributions have been recognized with some of the world’s most prestigious awards, including being appointed a UN Messenger of Peace in 2002 and being honored with the title Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2004. She has also influenced many through her widely read books, such asUnder the Influence of Man and The Book of Hope.

In a statement, the United Nations commended Goodall’s “remarkable” life of dedication and her contribution to defining contemporary conservation and environmental values. Globally, scientists, advocates, and fans have celebrated her lasting message that “each person can bring about change.”