WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) introduced a bipartisan resolution honoring Dr. Jane Goodall on her 90th birthday today that recognizes her legacy as an ethologist, conservationist, and activist. The resolution was also cosponsored by Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.).
“On Dr. Goodall’s 90th birthday, let us celebrate her unwavering dedication to animals, conservation, and the planet as a whole by recognizing April 3, 2024, as National Jane Goodall Day,” said Senator Coons, Co-Chair of the International Conservation Caucus. “Dr. Goodall’s extraordinary contributions to the scientific world have shaped generations of young women everywhere and pushed the boundaries of what we know about primates, our environments, and ourselves.”
“What a tremendous honor,” said Dr. Goodall, Founder, the Jane Goodall Institute. “It’s my hope that National Jane Goodall Day will inspire others to spread hope and turn it into action, building peaceful, global communities that protect people, other animals, and the environment.”
Goodall has dedicated her life to conservation projects worldwide and advocated for the well-being of animals and the environment. Born on April 3, 1934, Goodall has been the driving force behind the world’s longest-running wild primate study, the research of chimpanzees in their natural habitat in Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania. Her findings on the tool-making practices of chimpanzees revolutionized science and redefined the way animals are perceived and studied. Goodall was one of the first female wildlife field researchers and inspired countless other women to follow in her footsteps. Through the Jane Goodall Institute, Goodall has provided over 300 scholarships to young women to support their education and promote women in science.
The Jane Goodall Institute, which Goodall established in 1977, spearheads the Gombe Stream National Park study, supports the protection and restoration of the natural world, innovates new practices in community-led conservation, and promotes environmental education. The Jane Goodall Institute established the Tchimpounga Rehabilitation Center in the Republic of Congo in 1991 to care for chimpanzees orphaned by the illegal commercial bushmeat and pet trades and has cared for over 200 chimpanzees since its founding. In 2002, Goodall was named a U.N. Messenger of Peace – the United Nations’ highest honor – in recognition of her peacebuilding work with the Roots & Shoots Youth Program, which has empowered nearly 1.5 million young people in over 65 countries to engage in activities that make a difference in their communities.
The text of the bill is available here.