Renowned Primatologist Jane Goodall passed away | Arulagam pays respect and homage
Jane Goodall, the renowned Primatologist and guardian of biodiversity passed away on the 1st of October, 2025 peacefully in one of her speaking tours around the world. Jane was 91 but soldiered on to speak on behalf of wildlife.
In her early 20s, even as she was working after high school as she couldn't afford university, she accepted a friend's offer to travel. Serendipitously, her life took many turns and she eventually moved to Tanzania to study the endangered Chimpanzee behaviour and ecology. Jane did not have the luxury of a college education however holds the honors of holding a PhD without any formal university experience. Jane pioneered many important thesis and methodology on Chimpanzee ethology which proved seminal to primate evolutionary theories and research thereafter. She opened the door and prepared the ground for many female conservationists and ethologists.
Jane inspired me to do what I do, to spread the word on importance of our wildlife, and to speak to young ones on the natural marvels of our world. Her words, “Only if we understand, can we care. Only if we care, we will help. Only if we help, we shall be saved" finds a sacred space in all my talks and conversations on conservation.
She instituted the Roots and Shoots Organisation, an offshoot of the Jane Goodall Institute, through which she paved way to reach millions of young children and youth, across the world. She was appointed as the UN Ambassador of Peace in 2002 and has won a number of other awards through her life.
She has visited Chennai twice. I even got an opportunity to see her in person in Hawaii while I was there to receive the Biodiversity Hotpost Hero Award in 2016. She was mobbed by young conservationists and students and I can only steal a peek at her.
Arulagam pays their respect and homage to Jane and the legacy of conservation and love for wildlife and nature she has left behind. I believe the best way to continue to memoralise her and pay our respects and gratitude for her contributions to our lives is to continue her legacy. Goodbye, Jane. We will miss you!