Jane Goodall, the world-renowned primatologist, has died at the age of 91, the Jane Goodall Institute confirmed.

The institute announced that Goodall passed away of natural causes while in California during a US speaking tour.

“Dr Goodall’s discoveries as an ethologist revolutionised science,” the statement said. “She was a tireless advocate for the protection and restoration of our natural world.

Goodall transformed her childhood fascination with primates into a groundbreaking career that began in Africa, where she conducted landmark studies on chimpanzee behaviour. Her work was particularly remarkable given that she entered the field in the 1960s, a time when female scientists were rare in primatology.

Her research methods and discoveries fundamentally changed scientific understanding of chimpanzees and their close relationship to humans. Goodall’s pioneering approach also opened doors for other female researchers, including the late Dian Fossey.

Over the course of her life, Goodall expanded her focus from studying chimpanzees to championing wider conservation efforts. She travelled the world advocating for environmental protection and the preservation of natural habitats, leaving a lasting legacy both in science and global conservation.