Goodall’s enduring hope

In a world sinking into pessimism, Jane Goodall constantly steered it towards hope.

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The passing of the remarkable naturalist at 91 leaves a huge void for all those working to give the planet a chance, especially the many young women inspired by her to pursue environmental studies.

Dr Goodall was the face of chimpanzee research in Africa, producing the first insights into humans’ closest primate relatives six decades ago. Her discovery that chimpanzees are capable of making and using tools was hailed as one of the greatest contributions of modern science. Primate biology was infinitely enriched by her observations at the Gombe Stream Chimpanzee Reserve in Tanzania, including the revelation that female chimpanzees give birth only once every four and a half to six years, leaving their reproduction rate very low.