The British researcher revolutionized biology by documenting social behaviors in Tanzanian chimpanzees that resembled those of humans.
Jane Goodall, ethologist: “What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make”
Jane Goodall revolutionized our understanding of humanity when she ventured into the Gombe forest in Tanzania armed with nothing but binoculars, a notebook, and infinite patience. If we know today that we are not the only species capable of making tools, feeling empathy, or passing on culture across generations, we owe that knowledge to her. It was in the 1960s that the British ethologist discovered that chimpanzees use tools, possess feelings, form deep family bonds, and have distinct personalities.
Goodall left an immense legacy—not only for science but for humanity as a whole—encapsulated in words like these: “What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”
Dr. Jane Goodall filmed an interview in March 2025 with the understanding it would only be released after her death. This is her final message from it. pic.twitter.com/ViMgNm6C37
— Time Capsule Tales (@timecaptales) October 5, 2025
When Goodall arrived in Tanzania at the age of just 26 — without a university degree, though funded by paleontologist Louis Leakey—the scientific community viewed her work with skepticism. Everything changed when she observed a chimpanzee, whom she named David Greybeard, stripping the leaves from a twig to insert it into a termite mound and extract food.
Gombe Stream National Park became Jane Goodall’s vast outdoor laboratory and the setting for her groundbreaking discoveries. There, she documented that chimpanzees were omnivores and hunted in groups—disproving the belief that they were strictly vegetarian—and recorded complex behaviors such as the adoption of orphans, mourning following a mother’s death, and territorial wars between communities.
Ultimately, Goodall was one of those figures who transcended their work and field of expertise to become an icon of conservation and even culture. She spent more than 300 days a year traveling the globe to raise awareness about habitat destruction and climate change. Her scientific and ideological impact led to her appointment as a UN Messenger of Peace. Goodall also offered a powerful message for those who believe their actions do not matter, however small: “You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. Every detail counts.”
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