On October 1st, 2025, the world lost one of its most luminous voices for nature and compassion, Jane Goodall, at the age of 91. A pioneer in primatology, peace advocate, and global icon of empathy-driven science, Jane reshaped our understanding of animals, nature, and what it means to be human.
In a heartfelt tribute published in Svenska Dagbladet, Mattias Klum — a longtime friend and collaborator — reflects on Jane’s life and legacy. He recounts their first meeting in Washington, D.C., in the mid-1990s and how their shared mission for the planet sparked a lasting friendship.
Mattias writes about Jane not only as a scientist but as a deeply courageous moral force — one who dared to speak of animal emotions, who broke conventions with quiet persistence, and who brought science out of the labs and into classrooms, parliaments, and communities across the globe.
“Jane leaves behind more than groundbreaking science,” he writes. “She leaves behind a living legacy, a way of seeing the world where humans are not rulers, but threads in a greater web of life.”
Mattias’ full tribute — availablel at Svenska Dagbladet — is a moving meditation on hope, humility, and the urgent task of carrying Jane’s message forward.
