SAVE International joins the outpouring of gratitude and fond remembrances of Jane Goodall, world-renowned scientist on animal behavior and advocate for environmental conservation, who died on October 1, 2025.
Over her decades-long career — through books, articles, lectures, and appearances on television and film — Dr. Goodall inspired millions of young people across the world to choose careers in the sciences, exploring the frontiers of human knowledge and deepening our understanding of the world. She was a particular hero to many young women and girls, who had not seen many role models among the majority-male ranks of scientists.
Indeed, several members of SAVE’s Executive Committee count themselves among the inspired, and credit Dr. Goodall as a leading early influence in their academic and professional lives.
SAVE was not merely a distant admirer of Dr. Goodall, but spoke with her and enjoyed her support over the years. She endorsed SAVE during the successful campaign to protect Chiku Lagoon from the proposed Bin-nan Industrial Complex, as we quoted in our 2001 press kit:
“SAVE International’s work to help protect the endangered black-faced spoonbill provides a wonderful model for the future of ecological preservation. This rare bird appeared to be a lost species until SAVE intervened with a strategy that combines scholarly research, innovative planning, grassroots economic development, and political action. SAVE challenges the prevailing scientific beliefs about spoonbill habitat needs through a systematic synthesis of research from seemingly unrelated disciplines. Were it not for SAVE’s work, and its ability to work with many groups, the spoonbill would certainly be headed for extinction.
“Most important to imperiled species everywhere is the fundamental lesson SAVE teaches by example. They have successfully integrated conservation science and local people’s needs in a singularly creative way. SAVE’s commitment to protecting the black-faced spoonbills, and the rich wetlands that are their home, is an inspiration.”
– Jane Goodall, Ph.D., CBE
Although Dr. Goodall focused on a primate (the chimpanzee) and SAVE International focuses a bird (the black-faced spoonbill), we rely on many of the same principles and have achieved some similar results. Goodall’s work led Tanzania to designate Gombe Stream Reserve as a national park, and years later SAVE’s work led Taiwan to designate the Southwest Coast (formerly Yun-chia-nan) National Scenic Area for its critical role in sustaining the black-faced spoonbill.
In honor of Dr. Goodall, we recognize the interdependence of life and the integral place of humanity in the natural world. We share the joyful reverence that comes with studying Nature, and the responsibility to protect it.
SAVE International 