We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, UN Messenger of Peace, founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and one of the most important voices in science, conservation and animal advocacy. Her life’s work changed how we see animals, the planet and our responsibilities as stewards of both.
Dr. Goodall’s pioneering studies of chimpanzees in Gombe, Tanzania, challenged long-held assumptions about the boundary between human and nonhuman animals. “Her insights as an ethologist and a conservationist have inspired generations of scientists, activists and everyday people to recognize that animals are not “other”; they are individuals with inherent dignity,” said Leah Garcés, CEO of Mercy For Animals.
Over more than six decades, she revealed their intelligence, emotion and social complexity. In doing so, she opened hearts and minds to the moral imperative of compassion and respect for all beings. Garcés continued: “Dr. Jane Goodall’s groundbreaking work didn’t just teach us about chimpanzees — it fundamentally shifted our understanding of animals. Her moral clarity and call to action are a permanent, powerful force driving the mission of Mercy For Animals.”
Mercy For Animals has been honored to work alongside the Jane Goodall Institute in shared efforts to elevate the well-being of animals and the integrity of ecosystems. This partnership builds on years of reverence for Dr. Goodall, symbolized in great part by the Hope Award that we presented to her at the 2021 Mercy For Animals Hope Gala. In 2024, Mercy For Animals partnered with the Jane Goodall Institute on the short film “Voices of Hope: Words of Wisdom by Dr. Jane Goodall” to celebrate her 90th birthday and amplify her message of veneration, action and hope. Our collaboration is one of many ways her legacy touched our work and reinforced our resolve to carry forward her torch.
Dr. Goodall’s legacy reminds us that science and compassion are inseparable. As we face the escalating crises of factory farming, her voice is our moral compass. We rededicate ourselves to carrying forward her vision, our mission: to create a world in which animals live for their own purposes, ecosystems flourish and human progress brings justice for all species.
We extend our deepest condolences to Dr. Goodall’s family, the Jane Goodall Institute, Roots & Shoots and the global community she inspired. May we honor her memory through persistent advocacy, rigorous science and compassionate action.
