In honor of Dame Jane Goodall
A pioneer, conservationist, and inspiration to millions.
In honor of Dame Jane Goodall
The world has lost a true legend. Throughout my conservation career, I’ve had the privilege of meeting celebrities and influential figures, and I often wondered why I didn’t feel starstruck. That changed the day I had the incredible honour of meeting Dame Jane Goodall. Just being in her presence was extraordinary. Her warmth, compassion, and genuine nature were unlike anything I had ever experienced. She felt both larger than life and welcoming like a grandmother at the same time.
She was sitting with a small group of us and said, ‘Today, you get to meet the real Jane, not the public Jane’. My nervousness faded, and we all instantly felt at ease. We then started chatting about her work for Great Apes, the planet, and her hopes for our future. I must say, seeing both the private and public sides of her that day made me realise that even though she could stand in an auditorium of thousands and inspire them to action, she was a private person at heart. She never sought out fame, nor really relished in its benefits. She simply wanted to bring as much attention to the plight of Great Apes and the issues our planet faces with this unwelcome fame bestowed upon her.
In her talk with us, she vowed to continue to advocate for the planet as long as this life would give her. With her tragic passing, I can say she did just that, with a class and commitment second to none. Few of us could ever keep the schedule she did, travelling, talking, and inspiring at any stage of life, let alone into your 90s.
Dame Jane Goodall’s legacy is still unfolding, as she has so powerfully passed on her spirit, passion, and unwavering dedication to generations of people of all ages who continue her work. Despite the many challenges we still face, I shudder to think where Great Ape conservation would be today had she not raised the alarm so many decades ago.
During a video call I had with her later in 2020, we discussed partnerships and whether certain industries or companies should be avoided. She genuinely believed there is good to be found everywhere—even recounting how she saw it in the people caring for research chimpanzees during a visit to assess their conditions and offer help. It’s easy to cast others as villains, but when we look beyond hatred, we often find more that unites us than divides us.
In a world that seems to be getting more divided, that message has stayed with me and is what drives our work here at BOS. We are all living on this tiny blue marble, floating through space, and we can only depend on each other to survive. Let’s live her message and carry on her legacy by uniting to save the planet and its incredibly unique biodiversity, which she loved so much.
Rest in peace, Jane, you will never be forgotten.
Ben Callison
CEO Borneo Orangutan Survival USA
In honor of Dame Jane Goodall
The world has lost a true legend. Throughout my conservation career, I’ve had the privilege of meeting celebrities and influential figures, and I often wondered why I didn’t feel starstruck. That changed the day I had the incredible honour of meeting Dame Jane Goodall. Just being in her presence was extraordinary. Her warmth, compassion, and genuine nature were unlike anything I had ever experienced. She felt both larger than life and welcoming like a grandmother at the same time.
She was sitting with a small group of us and said, ‘Today, you get to meet the real Jane, not the public Jane’. My nervousness faded, and we all instantly felt at ease. We then started chatting about her work for Great Apes, the planet, and her hopes for our future. I must say, seeing both the private and public sides of her that day made me realise that even though she could stand in an auditorium of thousands and inspire them to action, she was a private person at heart. She never sought out fame, nor really relished in its benefits. She simply wanted to bring as much attention to the plight of Great Apes and the issues our planet faces with this unwelcome fame bestowed upon her.
In her talk with us, she vowed to continue to advocate for the planet as long as this life would give her. With her tragic passing, I can say she did just that, with a class and commitment second to none. Few of us could ever keep the schedule she did, travelling, talking, and inspiring at any stage of life, let alone into your 90s.
Dame Jane Goodall’s legacy is still unfolding, as she has so powerfully passed on her spirit, passion, and unwavering dedication to generations of people of all ages who continue her work. Despite the many challenges we still face, I shudder to think where Great Ape conservation would be today had she not raised the alarm so many decades ago.
During a video call I had with her later in 2020, we discussed partnerships and whether certain industries or companies should be avoided. She genuinely believed there is good to be found everywhere—even recounting how she saw it in the people caring for research chimpanzees during a visit to assess their conditions and offer help. It’s easy to cast others as villains, but when we look beyond hatred, we often find more that unites us than divides us.
In a world that seems to be getting more divided, that message has stayed with me and is what drives our work here at BOS. We are all living on this tiny blue marble, floating through space, and we can only depend on each other to survive. Let’s live her message and carry on her legacy by uniting to save the planet and its incredibly unique biodiversity, which she loved so much.
Rest in peace, Jane, you will never be forgotten.
Ben Callison
CEO Borneo Orangutan Survival UK
“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”