Dr. Jane Goodall – Pioneer, visionary, and outstanding personality
- News
An obituary
Yesterday, Dr. Jane Goodall passed away at the age of 91. With her, we have lost not only an outstanding scientist but also a pioneer and visionary whose tireless voice resonated far beyond the boundaries of research. In her unwaveringly positive way, she taught us that humanity is inseparably connected to nature and all living beings, and that true progress is only possible in harmony with our environment.
As a visionary primatologist, she recognized through her decades-long studies in Tanzania’s Gombe Stream National Park that chimpanzees not only use tools but also maintain complex social bonds, individual personalities, and emotions—discoveries that have profoundly shaped our understanding of both humans and animals.
She was one of the greatest scientific figures of our time. Yet Dr. Goodall’s impact went far beyond research. She founded the Jane Goodall Institute, active in numerous countries, initiated the youth program Roots & Shoots, and tirelessly fought worldwide against environmental destruction and species extinction.
Time and again, she also raised her voice against animal experimentation. Unforgettable for us remains the lecture evening organized by our association in December 2016, when the great auditorium of the University of Tübingen was filled with 750 attendees.
We are deeply grateful for the long-standing close connection between Doctors Against Animal Experiments and the Jane Goodall Institute Germany (JGI). For example, the JGI supports our current petition to the German parliament to abolish primate experiments.
Jane's legacy lives on – in the projects she founded and in the inspiration she gave to millions of people. The world will miss her in the fight for animal welfare and nature conservation. Rest in peace, dear Jane – your life's work remains an example, a commitment and an inspiration to us all.
The Board and Management of Doctors Against Animal Experiments e.V.
Unforgettable: Dr. Jane Goodall during her lecture on December 7, 2016, in Tübingen.