02/10/2025
It is with deep sadness that we at Mpala Research Centre reflect on the passing of Dr. Jane Goodall, a visionary who changed the way the world understands animals, conservation, and hope.
Jane Goodall challenged scientific norms. She showed that chimpanzees use tools, have personalities, complex social structures, and emotional lives, insights that blurred the line between “human” and “animal.” More than that, she argued that conservation must include people: safeguarding ecosystems means engaging communities, protecting livelihoods, and rooting action in local reality.
When Jane visited Mpala in 2018, she spoke with Princeton students and then Executive Director Dino Martins about her lifelong journey in Africa, beginning with her arrival in Kenya in 1956, a moment she described as the start of her “African adventures.”
In her conversation at Mpala, Jane reminded us that while the challenges facing wildlife and ecosystems are immense, we should not lose hope. She shared her five reasons for hope:
• the energy and determination of young people
• the power of the human brain to innovate
• the resilience of nature
• the ability of social media to unite voices
• the indomitable human spirit that refuses to give up
She urged us to remember that every one of us makes an impact every day through the choices we make, what we eat, what we buy, what we use. At Mpala, her message resonates deeply: conservation is not only about protecting species like elephants, giraffes, and Grevy’s zebras, but also about working hand in hand with researchers, students, and local communities to ensure a sustainable future.
Through her Roots & Shoots program, which began with 12 high school students in 1991 and now spans 100 countries, Jane demonstrated how education empowers young people to design their own projects to help people, animals, and the environment. For Mpala, her visit was more than a talk; it was a call to integrate research and teaching, to inspire future scientists, and to ground conservation in communities.
We mourn her passing, but we honor her legacy by continuing her vision: a world where science, education, and empathy come together to protect ecosystems.
