When Jane Goodall was little, she loved animals so much that she once sat for hours in a hen house just to see how a hen lays an egg! She grew up to live among wild chimpanzees in Africa and teach the world how clever and caring they are.
Quick facts
- Born
- 3 April 1934, London, England
- Famous for
- Studying wild chimpanzees
- Big discovery
- Chimps make and use tools!
- Loves
- Protecting animals and the planet
🖼️ Photo coming soon
A dream of Africa
Jane always dreamed of living with wild animals in Africa. As a young woman she went to Tanzania to study chimpanzees, sitting quietly in the forest until the shy apes learned to trust her.
A big surprise
Jane watched a chimp strip leaves off a twig and use it to fish termites out of a mound. This proved that chimps make and use tools — something people thought only humans could do. It changed science forever!
Protecting nature
Today Jane travels the world teaching kids and grown-ups to care for animals and the Earth. She started programs that help young people make their towns kinder and greener.
"What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference to make." — Jane Goodall
Why we remember her
Jane shows that patience and love can unlock nature's secrets. Like Marie Curie, she followed her curiosity and made discoveries that help the whole world.