Copyright WLTX.com
LOS ANGELES — Renowned primate researcher Jane Goodall died of cardiac arrest, according to her death certificate obtained by media outlets on Monday nearly three weeks after she died in her sleep. The document lists cardiac arrest as the cause of death for the 91-year-old conservationist, who passed away Oct. 1 in California while on a speaking tour. The certificate also noted epilepsy as a condition, though it remains unclear whether it contributed to her death. The Jane Goodall Institute announced her death earlier this month, stating she had died "due to natural causes" while traveling through the United States. "Dr. Goodall's discoveries as an ethologist revolutionized science, and she was a tireless advocate for the protection and restoration of our natural world," the institute said in a statement. Goodall is best known for her groundbreaking research at Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania, which challenged long-held assumptions about animal intelligence by documenting chimpanzees using tools, displaying complex emotions and forming lasting social bonds. She was the first scientist to observe chimps using twigs to harvest termites, debunking the belief that only humans used tools. Born April 3, 1934, in London, Goodall founded the Jane Goodall Institute in 1977 to support wildlife protection and conservation programs throughout Africa. She published 32 books and was featured in more than 40 films during her career. Goodall received numerous honors throughout her life, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Biden in January 2025, the Templeton Prize in 2021 and the Stephen Hawking Medal for Science Communication in 2022. She was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2003. Despite her age, Goodall maintained a rigorous schedule of speaking engagements and advocacy work until her death. In a 2024 appearance on TODAY, she said, "'Slow down, Jane, you're 90.' I have to speed up because I don't know how many years left I have."
