AWI Celebrates the Life of Dr. Jane Goodall, a Revolutionary Animal Advocate

Washington, DC—Dr. Jane Goodall, world-renowned scientist and passionate advocate for animals, has died at the age of 91.

“Dr. Jane Goodall was a force of nature,” said Susan Millward, executive director and chief executive officer of the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI). “For decades, she tirelessly sought to improve the public’s understanding of animal behavior—work that shaped generations of animal advocates, scientists, students, policymakers, and more.”

As a longtime friend of Christine Stevens, AWI’s founder, Dr. Goodall was a confidante and colleague. In 1987, AWI awarded Dr. Goodall the Schweitzer Medal for her lifetime of work as a defender of chimpanzees. When Christine died in 2002, Dr. Goodall attended her service in Washington, DC, and said, “Christine was a giant voice for animal welfare. Passionate, yet always reasoned, she took up one cause after another and she never gave up. Millions of animals are better off because of Christine’s quiet and very effective advocacy.” Most certainly, one could apply Dr. Goodall’s gracious words that day to her own indefatigable spirit and unparallel legacy.

This past May, Dr. Goodall reached out to ask for AWI’s support in the launch of an International Declaration on Abolishing Trophy Hunting—for presentation at the 2025 UN General Assembly—to coincide with the 10th anniversary of Cecil the lion’s death at the hands of an American trophy hunter. AWI agreed without hesitation, joining a core group of cofounding signatories.

AWI sends our condolences to Dr. Goodall’s family and friends, including the staff of the Jane Goodall Institute. We remain deeply inspired by her passion, her rigor, and her steadfast belief in the importance of ensuring animal welfare—which, together, built a legacy that will endure for many years to come.