As a child my favourite moment before bedtime was listening to my father’s allegorical tales where animals spoke. My fascination for animals deepened further with stories of Tarzan and Jane of the jungle, and I would drift into dreams of living among those wondrous creatures.

Little did I know that a few years later, I would be reading about another Jane and dream of working and living in Africa just like her. Over the years, many things in my life changed, and my early allures began to seem childish and naive. However, my admiration for the real Jane-life — Jane Goodall —only grew stronger and deeper with time.

Who is Dr Jane Goodall? Well Jane Goodall is the women who has conducted research on chimpanzees for over 65 years, beginning her groundbreaking field study — the longest such study ever undertaken by any individual — in Gombe, Tanzania, in 1960. Although she transitioned from direct field research to focussing on conservation and activism in the late 1980s, she persistently travelled widely, advocating for animal welfare, and studying environmental issues until her death.

Dame Valerie Jane Morris Goodall born in 1934, passed away on October 1, 2025 at the age of 91. She was an English primatologist, anthropologist and a leading conservationist of recent times. She was regarded as a pioneer in primate ethology, and described by many publications as "the world's preeminent chimpanzee expert." The most fascinating fact about her is that she could speak like chimpanzees and exchange greetings with them.

One word that comes to my mind after all my reading, research and viewing the documentaries on her is astounding. Beginning her journey in 1960, under the mentorship of the palaeontologist Louis Leakey, she ended up being an iconic figure of recent times. Leakey was working on human evolution, he believed that the study of primates in natural habitats was key in understanding human progression. He personally focused on three female researchers, Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Birutė Galdikas, calling them “the trimates.”

Without any formal education Jane Goodall went to Gombe Stream National Park on July 14, 1960, becoming the first of Louis Leakey's "trimates" to study primates in their natural environment. She was accompanied by her mother to meet safety concerns raised by David Anstey, the chief warden, her mother also played a key role in encouraging Goodall to pursue a career in primatology, a field that was male-dominated and not welcoming to women during that period. From a young age, Jane was fascinated by wildlife and harboured a dream of living in Africa among animals. This passion was first ignited when her mother gave her a stuffed chimpanzee toy named Jubilee. As she grew older, another stuffed toy, a monkey named Mr H was given to her by a friend. Later Mr H became her constant companion and her unofficial mascot.

During her initial months, she spent a lot of time tracking and observing the elusive chimpanzee troops, particularly the Kasakela community. The chimpanzees were initially wary and secretive, but slowly they accepted her presence. It took several months for Goodall to gain the trust of the chimpanzees, which allowed her to observe intimate details of their social and family life, marking a breakthrough in primatology research.

Her early findings were criticised by scientists as instead of numbering the chimpanzees she was studying, she named them. Leakey was undeterred rather managed funds and the support of National Geographic Society for Jane which helped her continue with her study.

Nearly 40 years after Dr Goodall first started studying the chimpanzees, science discovered that human DNA and the chimpanzees DNA were 99 percent identical. Which made the chimps our closest relatives in this world. Good enough for Goodall to name them David Greybeard, Goliath, Flo, and Mike. Her special relationship with FIo was deeply personal and empathetic. She spent years closely observing and interacting with Flo, her daughter Flint and her son Fifi, gaining intimate insights into their emotions, social bonds, and personalities.

Dr Goodall noted that chimpanzees exhibited behaviors akin to humans such as affection (hugs, kisses, pats) and also they grieved the death of a dear one.

Jane Goodall first appeared on the cover of National Geographic magazine in December 1965. This cover featured her work with chimpanzees, which brought her international recognition. The iconic National Geographic film "Miss Goodall and the Wild Chimpanzees" aired in 1965, further highlighting her significance in the field.

DrnGoodall revealed that chimpanzees had individual personalities, emotions, and behaviours once thought unique to humans. And they were smart enough to make tools and use them. She showed they are omnivores who coordinated group hunts, challenging the belief that they only ate plants. Additionally, she documented their complex social behavior, including aggressive, strategic attacks on other groups, highlighting both peaceful and violent elements in their communities.

In 1965, Jane Goodall was awarded a PhD in ethology from the University of Cambridge. During the 1960s, she published several accounts of her research in Tanzania, including articles in National Geographic. Her first extensive book on her findings, In the Shadow of Man (1971), was translated into 48 languages, highlighting the broad impact of her work.

An aerial view of Gombi National Park in mid-1980 during a flight made her realise the dwindling forest which was alarming for the chimpanzee population in general. Thus the quiet shy women who just wanted to be with animals had to take up the fight for the environment now and later turned her into the most sought after speakers in the world.

She founded the Jane Goodall Institute in 1977 to promote wildlife conservation and launched the Roots & Shoots youth programme in 1991, expanding it into a global network. She established wildlife sanctuaries and reforestation projects in Africa and advocated for the ethical treatment of animals. In recognition of her work, she was named as the United Nations Messenger of Peace in 2002 and advised organisations such as Save the Chimps.

I believe that there are lessons to be learnt from the life of Dr Goodall — lessons of patience, understanding, environment, the utmost importance of flora and fauna around us and to develop a conscious sense of empathy for the wild life.

My father’s funny and humorous stories about animals, combined with the towering influence of Dr Jane Goodall, sparked a deep love for animals in me as a child and I developed a special bond with the animals. My unconventional approach to caring for animals often worried my mother. I remember my pet parrot, Blu, never had his wings clipped, once flying away, he returned three days later and sat right on my shoulder—his favourite spot. Challenging the common notion that parrots are unfaithful!

Even now, my small house is surrounded by towering trees that are home to birds and wild squirrels. Whenever I step outside, I can feel the wild animals fluttering and calling excitedly, probably signalling it’s time to feed. I truly believe that if each of us take small steps to care for animals, and teaches our children to do the same, we can help preserve the natural world. This is essential if we want future generations to witness our planet in its lost glory.

Pakistan is currently facing severe consequences of climatological changes. Following the footsteps of Dr Goodall we need to understand the importance of prioritising trees over maintaining lush lawns. Our school curriculums must be updated to include topics on wildlife extinction and environmental challenges, and establish a direct connection between wildlife and the massive tourist industry, unfortunately a topic never addressed in our country. Authorities need to work diligently and sincerely to halt deforestation, not only to protect the shrinking wildlife but also for the wellbeing of humanity. It is crucial that we act swiftly before it’s too late.

In a 2025 Netflix interview released posthumously, Jane Goodall shared a heartfelt message of hope. Knowing she would no longer be around, she urged everyone to recognise that each day offers an opportunity to make a difference. She encouraged people not to lose hope, emphasising the urgent need to act now to save the planet for future generations. Dr Goodall stressed the importance of protecting biodiversity and combating climate change. Even at 91, she travelled extensively almost 300 days a year, spreading her message of hope with the belief that her words would inspire positive change now and for posterity.

The writer is Assistant Professor at the Department of English Literature, IUB and a wildlife life enthusiast. She can be reached at safiabwp1@gmail.com

All facts and information are the sole responsibility of the writer