On 1 October 2025 the world lost one of its most beloved champions of wildlife. Dr. Jane Goodall, renowned primatologist, tireless conservationist and global advocate for the planet, passed away peacefully at the age of 91.

A Scientist Who Redefined Our Understanding of Nature



Jane's work changed how we see our closest relatives on land – and how we think about our relationship with all life on Earth, from forests to oceans.

From Science to Global Advocacy

Born in London in 1934, Jane Goodall’s fascination with animals began early. At 26 she travelled to what is now Tanzania to study wild chimpanzees in Gombe Stream National Park under the mentorship of Louis Leakey. With patience and empathy, she revealed behaviours once thought uniquely human: tool use, complex social bonds, and emotional depth.

Her meticulous observations did more than expand our knowledge of primates. They broke down the barriers we had built between humans and the rest of the animal kingdom, reminding us that we are part of, not apart from, nature.

In the late 1970s Goodall shifted from researcher to activist. She founded the Jane Goodall Institute to link science with conservation and local community engagement, and in 1991 co-founded Roots & Shoots, a youth-led programme active in nearly 100 countries.

Her later decades were devoted to speaking out on climate change, biodiversity loss and animal welfare. Even into her nineties she travelled tirelessly, inspiring millions with her message of hope and action.

Why Jane Goodall Inspires Marine Conservation

Although her field work centred on forests and primates, Goodall’s worldview resonates deeply with the ocean community.

• Interconnected ecosystems – She taught us that no species exists in isolation. Healthy forests sustain rivers; healthy rivers feed oceans.
  
  
• Empathy as a tool – Her ability to communicate animals’ individuality helped the public care about conservation. We draw on the same approach when we tell stories of whales, dolphins and sharks.
  
  
• Youth empowerment – Roots & Shoots shows the power of engaging the next generation. At ORCA Ireland we strive to do the same for young coastal stewards.
  
  
• Persistence and hope – Decades of work in the face of scepticism remind us that lasting change in marine protection also requires patience and perseverance.

Carrying Her Legacy Forward

Jane Goodall  once said, “What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” Her life embodied that conviction.

At ORCA Ireland, we honour her by:

• embedding empathy and holistic thinking into our research and outreach,
  
  
• telling stories that connect people to marine life,
  
  
• and empowering young observers and citizen scientists along our coasts.
  
  

Her passing marks the end of an era, but also a call to action. Every sighting logged, every strand of fishing gear removed from the sea, every child inspired to love the ocean is a small ripple in the tide of change she also championed.

A Final Salute

Dr. Jane Goodall showed us that science and compassion together can change the world. Her legacy lives on in the forests she helped protect, in the chimps of Gombe, and in the hearts of millions who now fight for a living planet — including those of us working for healthy seas around Ireland.

May we continue her work with the same courage, humility and hope.

Further reading & tributes:

• Jane Goodall, world-renowned primatologist, dies aged 91 — The Guardian
  
  
• Wildlife advocate and primate expert Jane Goodall dies at 91 — Reuters

• Environmentalists, politicians, celebrities recall life and influence of primatologist Jane Goodall — AP News