PETA names Jane Goodall ‘person of the year’ for 2025

The world-renowned primatologist and chimpanzee expert died of natural causes in California, USA, on October 1 at the age of 91.

The animal rights group said Goodall "reshaped how humans perceive other animals" and "turned prejudices and preconceived notions about other species on their head."

The global conservation icon has now been named the charity's person of the year to commemorate her "legacy of kindness."

Goodall began researching free-living chimpanzees in Tanzania in 1960 and founded the Jane Goodall Institute in 1977.

She was considered the leading expert on chimpanzees and her research was pivotal in proving the similarities in primate and human behaviour, including how they grieved.

Goodall supported various PETA campaigns to end animal exploitation, particularly concerning primate research and was among the first scientists to back PETA in 1986.

It followed her helping PETA US expose a laboratory in Maryland that confined hundreds of chimpanzees to cramped, barren “isolette” chambers in a windowless room.

Goodall described the visit to the lab as “the worst experience of my life” and went on to become an outspoken critic of experiments on animals.

She also urged UPS to stop shipping hunting trophies, called for SeaWorld’s closure, and to persuade Air France to stop shipping primates to laboratories.

PETA Founder Ingrid Newkirk said: “Jane Goodall turned prejudices and preconceived notions about other species on their head, and along the way, helped to redefine all animals as someone, not something.

“PETA encourages everyone to honour Goodall’s memory by following in her compassionate footsteps and going vegan.”

Peta US has now dedicated a monkey puzzle tree and a plaque in her honour in its Bea Arthur Dog Park memorial garden beside its Norfolk, Virginia headquarters.

Peta UK will also be donating copies of Animal Liberation - a book Goodall credited for turning vegan - to every library in her home town of Bournemouth.