Dr Jane Goodall, the ground-breaking conservationist who revolutionised study of great apespublished at 21:38 BST
Image source, Getty ImagesDr Jane Goodall, who died today at 91, devoted her life to the study and conservation of chimpanzees and the other great apes.
Through her pioneering new ways to study them, Goodall discovered that chimps used tools, created complex societies and could be so aggressive they could even kill one another.
This suggested that chimps and humans are likely to have common ancestors – and was ground-breaking information.
Goodall’s work made waves amongst her fellow researchers, and the public enthusiastically responded to her revelations.
The idea that chimps and humans were related spurred debates about what it means to be human, inspiring a rethink on animal rights. Her books were so widely read that when one of Jane’s subjects Flo died in 1972, The Sunday Times ran an obituary.
Goodall remained active until the days before her death, engaged on a speaking tour of the US, and travelled the world widely to discuss her life and campaign to better understand the natural world.
She was recognised earlier this year with a Medal of Freedom by then-President Joe Biden, in addition to her damehood in the UK and other international plaudits.
Today tributes highlighted her remarkable impact on our understanding of wildlife, and her hero status among fellow naturalists.
We’re ending our live coverage, but you can read more in our article.
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