Jane Goodall: A Message of Hope

Sixty-five years ago, a young woman arrived in the forests of Gombe and changed the world’s understanding of animal behaviour. Today, the world mourns her loss.

Like so many wildlife conservationists, I idolised Dr Jane Goodall.

Growing up, I wanted nothing more than to be her.

I imagined exploring the forests of Gombe as she had, living among animals that no one else understood. Connecting with them on a level that seemed almost magical. I often daydreamed about becoming a famous scientist and dedicating my life to saving endangered species.

But most of all, I wanted to make a difference in the world - just like Jane did.

Dr Jane Goodall passed away peacefully in her sleep at the age of 91 while on a speaking tour in California. Until her very last moment, she championed her message of hope and positive change for the future of our planet. She was and will continue to be one of the most influential voices of conservation.

They say that grief is the last great act of love. Together, the world is united in grief for a loss so profound that there are no words to quite do it justice.

While I may never live in the forest and study wild Chimpanzees, I am proud to admit that Dr Jane Goodall had a monumental influence on my life. She inspired me to pursue a career in wildlife conservation, advocating for the welfare of endangered species ex situ.

As a young girl living in rural Ireland, I may as well have proclaimed that I wanted to be an astronaut or a famous pop star when I grew up. It wasn’t seen as a conventional ‘normal’ career choice, and the chances of succeeding were slim - but it was my dream.

And I held on to it like Jane held on to hers.

Jane taught me not to give up in the face of adversity.

I even wrote about her in my university application essay. So, you can imagine what a full-circle moment it was to have the opportunity to attend her talk, “Pollination for Change”, to meet the legend herself when she visited Dubai in January of this year.

My childhood dreams came true when I was able to speak with her and tell her that I am who I am because of her; that she had inspired the trajectory of my life.

To say that I was star-struck was an understatement. When she shook my hand, I had to employ some serious self-control techniques just to avoid spontaneous combustion into a puddle of tears.

Now with her passing, I’m immensely grateful that I had the opportunity to tell her just how much of an impact she had on me, fundamentally.  She kindly signed my well-loved copy of her book "Hope for Animals and Their World: How Endangered Species Are Being Rescued from the Brink," and conspiratorially told me that it was one of her favourites, to which I shared that it was mine too.

I will treasure the privilege of meeting her for as long as I live.

And even though she’s no longer with us, I still feel incredibly hopeful. While the forest has lost a beautiful tree, from its seeds have sprouted many others. It’s up to us, those who have been inspired by her messages, to carry on her work.

Her legacy lives on in every piece of nature that is preserved, in every animal that is protected and every mind that is awakened to the wonder of the natural world.

As she once said, “You cannot go through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of a difference you want to make.”

Jane taught us that our actions matter, no matter how small or insignificant they may seem in the face of things.

Together, we can make our world a better place for the wondrous species that share this beautiful planet with us.

To me, Jane will always be a symbol of hope.

And hope never dies.