The Conscience of Conservation

A tribute to Dr. Jane Goodall and her lasting legacy on the natural world

In the long history of people who have changed the way we see the natural world, few names shine as brightly as Dr. Jane Goodall. The world-renowned ethologist and conservationist devoted her life to understanding our closest animal relatives and, in doing so, helped humanity better understand itself. Through her groundbreaking studies of wild chimpanzees, she reshaped modern science and forever changed the relationship between humans, animals, and the fragile environments we share.

To her lifelong friend Sir David Attenborough, Jane was “the conscience of conservation” and “a tireless advocate” for the natural world. The two pioneering naturalists — often referred to as "Tarzan and Jane" — shared one mission: to help humankind see the beauty, wonder, and urgency of the planet we call home. Together, they are proof that compassion and science are not opposites but partners, and that understanding the natural world is the first step toward protecting it.

Sir David Attenborough and Jane Goodall at Roots & Shoots event in Cambridge, England. April 22, 2017 | Photo by Mary Lewis

After 91 impactful years on this planet, Jane’s legacy echoes across forests, classrooms, laboratories, and conservation movements around the globe. 

Left: Dr. Jane Goodall, UN Messenger of Peace | Photo by Bill Wallauer
Right: Dr. Jane Goodall with chimpanzee Freud at Gombe National Park in Tanzania | Photo by Michael Neugubauer

This feature is dedicated to Jane — whom David once called “a woman who turned the world of zoology on its head” — who inspired curiosity and hope in millions, and showed us that one person’s compassion can change the future of our planet. 

Dr. Jane Goodall releases rescued chimpanzee, Wounda, into a near-wild setting at the Jane Goodall Institute's Tchimpounga Sanctuary in the Republic of the Congo, alongside Tchimpounga staff, including head veterinarian Dr. Rebecca Atencia | Photo by Michael Cox

All photos courtesy of The Jane Goodall Institute
Feature image by Chase Pickering: Dr. Jane Goodall and field staff observe Goblin at Gombe National Park, Tanzania