For more than six decades, Dr. Jane Goodall was known as being among the world's foremost primatologists and conservation activists.

However, Goodall's legendary career came to an end this week when she passed away during a speaking tour of the United States. 

Scientist died at the age of 91 due to natural causes

According to Breitbart, Goodall's passing was confirmed in a statement released by the Jane Goodall Institute on Wednesday.

"Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute, UN Messenger of Peace and world-renowned ethologist, conservationist, and humanitarian, has died at the age of 91 of natural causes," it began.

The statement noted how "Dr. Jane was known around the world for her 65-year study of wild chimpanzees in Gombe, Tanzania."

"However, in the latter part of her life she expanded her focus and became a global advocate for human rights, animal welfare, species and environmental protection, and many other crucial issues," it stressed.

Goodall's fascination with apes dated back to her childhood

Breitbart pointed out how Goodall's interest in primates began in childhood when her father presented her with a stuffed toy chimpanzee, which she kept for the remainder of her life.

Another factor was Goodall's reading of the book Tarzan, a story that centers around a boy who is raised by apes and later falls in love with a woman named Jane.

She began working for famed paleontologist Louis Leakey in 1957, who was at the time based in Kenya. He subsequently sent her to study chimpanzees in neighboring Tanzania.

Goodall would ultimately become one of three female scientists who were internationally renowned for their work with great apes. The other two were Birute Galdikas, who studied orangutans in Borneo, and Dian Fossey, who focused on gorillas in Rwanda.

National Geographic: Goodall "transformed our understanding of" apes

News of the British scientist's passing was quickly met with a flood of tributes on social media, including from National Geographic.

Primatologist, conservationist, animal advocate, educator, and National Geographic Explorer Jane Goodall has died at age 91. Goodall’s decades of research into the lives of wild chimpanzees transformed our understanding of these intelligent apes. https://t.co/i3qzfDIAzg pic.twitter.com/7uCK30uwwr

— National Geographic (@NatGeo) October 1, 2025

"Primatologist, conservationist, animal advocate, educator, and National Geographic Explorer Jane Goodall has died at age 91," the publication declared.

It went on to recall how "Goodall’s decades of research into the lives of wild chimpanzees transformed our understanding of these intelligent apes."