TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Jane Goodall, the world-renowned primatologist and conservationist, died at the age of 91, the Jane Goodall Institute confirmed Wednesday.

Goodall was in the middle of a speaking tour in the US, according to the institute. She was best known for her pioneering research into the behavior of primates, fundamentally altering scientific understanding by demonstrating that humans are not the only species capable of thought and emotion.

Goodall had a long-standing relationship with Taiwan, beginning in 1996 when she was invited to deliver a speech. In 2018, she recalled being motivated to accept the invitation after receiving positive feedback from then-Chief of the Government Information Office Hu Chih-chiang (胡志強) regarding animal welfare concerns.

At the time, vendors in Taipei’s Huaxi Street Night Market were known to butcher snakes alive and keep orangutans for entertainment. Goodall later noted that Taiwan had made significant progress in wildlife preservation.

She was directly involved in the conservation of several of Taiwan’s iconic species, including the Formosan landlocked salmon, the black-faced spoonbill, and the pheasant-tailed jacana. She recalled the plight of the pheasant-tailed jacanas, whose wetland habitats were threatened by the construction of the Taiwan High Speed Rail.

Goodall met with then-Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation Chair Nita Ing (殷琪), urging action to protect the species. Ing responded by working with local governments to establish new wetlands as a sanctuary for the birds.

In addition to her fieldwork, Goodall’s Roots & Shoots program focused on educating and empowering the next generation of environmental activists. She once said she hoped young Taiwanese would plant native trees to help restore butterfly habitats.

Goodall believed that through the efforts of Taiwan’s youth, the island could remain the “kingdom of butterflies” and create a better future for all.