Along with the science fiction reviewed here at borg, we’ve covered “science fact” and making the world a better place through natural science and ecology. We also love superheroes, especially real heroes. No superhero ranks higher on our list than Dr. Jane Goodall, known first and best for her study of wild chimpanzees in Tanzania–now 60-year study–and more recently as a protector and advocate for the planet. Ecologist, naturalist, environmental activist. A leading zoologist, anthropologist, and primatologist. Protector of animals and advocate for animal rights. Protector of nature. Protector of Planet Earth. A pioneer for women leading in scientific research fields.
Dr. Goodall taught us how to live as equals among animals. She taught us that protecting Earth should be our number one priority. Dr. Goodall passed away of natural causes at age 91, October 1, 2025. She was on her U.S. speaking tour where she had already inspired millions of a new generation about the importance of conservation.
Mentored by Louis Leakey in the 1950s, she worked at Olduvai Gorge before she would embark on her most famous project, studying and living among the chimpanzees in Tanzania’s Gombe Stream National Park. She learned and shared with the world that “it isn’t only human beings who have personality, who are capable of rational thought [and] emotions like joy and sorrow” and that animals and humans share lifelong bonds of family and friendship. She was the first to identify that non-human primates could use tools. For the first time the world would meet primates and know of them forever by name, familiar peers of Goodall named David Greybeard, Goliath, Gigi, and Flo and her children.
She would go on to spend her entire life as advocate of chimpanzees and the environment. She spoke out year round into her nineties, promoting institutes for the protection of the environment, educating on climate change, and advocating for animal causes, some that she founded.
By way of popular culture she is a fixture in the international consciousness. Kids can plays with LEGOs in her and her famous chimpanzee friends’ images. In her eighties a Barbie doll was released in her image honoring her. Stevie Nicks wrote a song about her. She was the subject of a memorable Gary Larson The Far Side cartoon. She wrote dozens of books and hundreds of books and films have been made about her.
Interviewed in Time Magazine in 1981, she said, “When I was a little girl, I used to dream as a man, because I wanted to do things that women didn’t do back then such as traveling to Africa, living with wild animals and writing books… I didn’t have any female explorers or scientists to look up to but I was inspired by Dr. Dolittle, Tarzan and Mowgli in The Jungle Book — all male characters. It was only my mother who supported my dream: ‘You’ll have to work hard, take advantage of opportunities and never give up,’ she’d tell me. I’ve shared that message with young people around the world, and so many have thanked me, and said, ‘You taught me that because you did it, I can do it too.'”
In a New Year’s message in 2018 she said, “So this is the message I share with you now in the hope that throughout 2018 we shall be energized by the beauty that is all around us, and rather than becoming discouraged and rendered helpless by the ignorance and evil that is so obvious, we shall become strengthened by the goodness and love that is also everywhere.”
Biologist and wildlife conservationist Jeff Corwin wrote on his social media, “A somber day, we’ve lost a pioneer and icon in conservation, a woman that I am proud to say was a friend and mentor. Farewell Jane Goodall, and a heartfelt thanks for your many decades of groundbreaking work to save our wild planet! Today, there are thousands of extraordinary and dedicated conservationists, fighting the good fight, all of us inspired by you, Jane!”
The Jane Goodall Institute shared:
More about Dr. Goodall can be found here at borg.
Today we salute and honor the life of our greatest superheroine and Earth’s greatest champion.
C.J. Bunce / Editor / borg
