Each year on April 3, the world honors Dr. Jane Goodall by celebrating her legacy and carrying forward her mission to inspire hope and turn action into impact.
Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE inspired millions of people throughout her remarkable lifetime. While Jane became a household name for her landmark wild chimpanzee research, she spent her final decades as a lauded conservation advocate who traveled approximately 300 days a year to share her message of hope for our planet. Her compassion and persistence in the face of climate change and biodiversity loss continues to resonate and her enduring influence has only grown since her passing on October 1st, 2025, with a far-reaching outpouring of support from around the globe.
Each April 3rd, Jane’s birthday, individuals of all ages are encouraged to mark Jane Goodall Day by taking action locally. This initiative is in keeping with the ethos of Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots, the Jane Goodall Institute’s youth program, which encourages and supports young people as they take on projects that benefit people, other animals, and their shared environment. On Jane Goodall Day, people can honor Jane by making a positive difference: planting a tree, participating in community clean-ups, donating to a cause, choosing plant-based meals, advocating for animal welfare, and sharing what Jane meant to them using #JaneGoodallDay on social media. Participants can take action in a way that matters to them, and these individual actions will inspire others to make their own impact and find hope.
Jane Goodall Day is designed to be celebrated in many ways.
Volunteer locally, reduce waste, help a neighbor, start a community project, or share a story about how Jane inspired you.
A donation to JGI USA supports the work Jane dedicated her life to: protecting chimpanzees and other at-risk wildlife, strengthening community-led conservation, advancing science, and inspiring young people to take action.
Posting about #JaneGoodallDay to social media is a simple way to show you are part of this growing movement, invite others to join, and share how Jane inspired you.
Photo credits: Andy Anderson, Eric Guzzetta, JGI Australia, Stephano Lihedule, Fernando Turmo
“Dr. Jane Goodall cared so deeply about people, other animals, and our shared environment, and her groundbreaking work continues. Jane Goodall Day is not just a celebration of Jane — it is a reminder that we all have the power to uphold her remarkable legacy, and to work towards a bright future together.”
- Anna Rathmann, Executive Director, JGI USA