Jane Goodall, trailblazing primatologist and activist, passed away on Oct. 1 from natural causes. She was 91 years old.

Dr. Valerie Jane Morris-Goodall was born on April 3, 1934, in England. During her childhood, she grew her love for animals and nature through pets and media. She often cited her love of the novels “Tarzan of the Apes” and “Dr. Doolittle” for fueling her early dreams of working with animals.

In 1960, Goodall began working as a secretary for a respected anthropologist, Louis Leakey. Under his mentorship, she began her research on chimpanzees in Gombe. There, Goodall first discovered that chimpanzees use tools. She observed chimps using blades of grass to “fish” for termites. This discovery contradicted previous beliefs, which stated that the difference between humans and animals was our ability to make and use tools.

Within the scientific community, Goodall was controversial for her research methods. She insisted that chimpanzees have emotions and personalities. Further redefining what was known about life, Goodall recorded instances of chimpanzees feeling empathy, showing behaviors like hugging, kissing and tickling. Additionally, instead of using a number to identify them, she named the chimpanzee. While her discoveries were initially discredited, these breakthroughs eventually led to large scale research being done today on the personalities of animals. Her findings are widely supported today.

In the 1970s, Goodall began to fight against deforestation. She founded the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) in 1977 with the goal of conserving chimps’ habitats. She gave speeches to government officials and businesses to promote the important work of JGI. In the months leading up to her passing, Goodall continued to work to raise awareness for issues of climate change, endangered species and conservation of nature. Dr. Jane Goodall’s groundbreaking research and activism has forever changed our understanding of the connection between humanity and the natural world. She leaves behind a legacy of passion and curiosity for the natural world.