We are saddened to hear of the passing of renowned primatologist and United Nations Messenger of Peace, Jane Goodall PhD, DBE, aged 91, in Los Angeles yesterday.

Dr Goodall’s ground-breaking studies of chimpanzees in the wild in Tanzania in the 1960s, and subsequent book ‘In the Shadow of Man’ revealed to the human world, the community and communications of a species other than our own. She described how chimpanzees use tools and said, “it isn’t only human beings who have personality, who are capable of rational thought [and] emotions like joy and sorrow.” The door was cracked open for fully recognizing the sentience of non-human animals – now widely acknowledged in different species and paving the way for a shift in public policy and new animal protection legislation around the world.

She was long regarded as the world’s leading primatologist and a conservationist, later becoming vegetarian, then vegan, and more openly critical of the commercial exploitation of animals including primates in laboratories. She acknowledged that “The climate crisis is the greatest challenge of our time — but if we act with courage and hope, change is still possible”.

Her path crossed with ADI’s on several occasions. For the 5th World Congress on Alternatives & Animal Use in the Life Sciences, ADI and others drafted a statement calling for global commitment to end primate experiments, The Berlin Declaration, which Jane signed and presented to the conference.  Following our undercover investigation of the Biomedical Primate Research Centre in the Netherlands, she said of the footage, “We know today that monkeys, along with many other animals, experience not only pain, but also emotions including fear and depression, so the way they are being treated in the video is shocking and inhumane.”

That said, our most vivid memory will always be Dr Goodall in the witness box testifying in the UK cruelty trial of circus animal trainer Mary Chipperfield for thrashing and kicking a baby chimpanzee, Trudy. Speaking in a soft, measured voice, which vividly contrasted with the video playing in court, of Chipperfield shrieking as she beat screaming and crying baby Trudy, Jane described Trudy’s extraordinary distress and fear and the cruel, barren environment, life of isolation the ADI investigation has captured. “That is a very, very unhappy chimpanzee” she said as Trudy whimpered. Jane’s expression as she calmly observed Chipperfield’s lawyer’s histrionics before the court and media, was also unforgettable. Chipperfield was convicted and, after a further legal battle over ownership, Trudy was surrendered to a sanctuary.

The animals have lost an important voice but Jane Goodall leaves a legacy of far greater understanding of the communications, emotions and intelligence of the other species who call this planet home.