Dr Jane Goodall’s cause of death has been revealed.
The renowned conservationist passed away earlier this month at the age of 91, she was found dead in her sleep in Los Angeles during a speaking tour.
According to TMZ, her death certificate listed cardiac arrest (cardiopulmonary arrest) as the official cause of death.
Epilepsy was also noted on the certificate, though it is unclear if it contributed to her passing.
The Jane Goodall Institute confirmed her death on October 2 (AEST), stating she died of natural causes while in California.
“With great sadness, the Jane Goodall Institute confirmed this morning the passing of the organisation’s founder, Dr Jane Goodall, age 91, who died peacefully in her sleep while in Los Angeles, CA for her speaking tour in the United States,” the post read.
“Dr Goodall’s life and work not only made an indelible mark on our understanding of chimpanzees and other species, but also of humankind and the environments we all share.”
Goodall rose to global prominence in the 1960s through her pioneering research on wild chimpanzees in Tanzania’s Gombe National Park.
Her work revealed insights into chimpanzee behaviour and their use of tools, influencing both science and public understanding of animal intelligence.
She first appeared on the cover of National Geographic in 1963, with her findings from the chimpanzee study in Tanzania.
She founded the Jane Goodall Institute, which has branches in more than 25 countries, including Australia, to continue research and conservation efforts.
Richard Buzas, primates supervisor at Taronga Zoo in Sydney, recalled her visits with fondness.
“She really wanted to know our community here,” he said.
“The time when she said ‘if I were to be a chimpanzee in a zoo setting, I’d want to be at Taronga Zoo’.
“Sitting with her and learning from her … was very special.”
Taronga Conservation Society chief executive Cam Kerr highlighted her impact on women in science.
“In the patriarchy of the time, people just wrote her off,” he said. “But she persisted, provided the evidence like a true scientist, and today we all know that so many animals use tools.”
Images: Instagram
