Honoring a Legacy of Compassion and Discovery
On Monday, October 6, 2025, Project Chimps held a candlelight vigil to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Jane Goodall, the pioneering primatologist whose work forever changed the way we understand and relate to our closest animal relatives. Staff, volunteers, and members of the public gathered in quiet reverence, reflecting on the profound impact Jane had not only on the scientific community but on the hearts of millions around the world.
Jane Goodall’s journey began in the forests of Gombe, Tanzania, where she defied convention and entered the world of wild chimpanzees with nothing but a notebook, binoculars, and boundless patience. Her discovery that chimpanzees make and use tools shattered long-held beliefs about human uniqueness and opened the door to a deeper understanding of animal intelligence, emotion, and social complexity. Through decades of fieldwork, she documented their intricate family bonds, their capacity for empathy, and even their darker behaviors—revealing a species as nuanced and emotionally rich as our own.
Her legacy lives on in sanctuaries like Project Chimps, where captive chimpanzees are given a second chance at life, and where her message of hope and conservation continues to inspire caregivers and advocates. Many of those caregivers had the privilege of meeting Jane last September in Atlanta, following her presentation at the Fox Theatre. Among them was India Sloan, who recalled “how small in stature, but bold in presence” Jane was when she met her in person.
Executive Director Ali Crumpacker gave the following speech that is transcribed:
Jane taught us that hope is not passive, it is action through her groundbreaking work with chimpanzees in the forest of gum. She revealed to the world that these beings once thought so different from us, share our emotions, our intelligence, and our capacity for love and grief. She showed us that by observing and respecting other species, we learn more about ourselves and our place in the natural world.
Tonight. as we light our candles, we honor the flame she carried so fiercely the flame of compassion, curiosity, and courage. Each flicker represents the lives she touched and the minds that she inspired. Let this vigil be more than a moment of silence. Let it be a moment of awakening, a moment to reflect on how we too can carry forward permission by choosing kindness, by listening deeply, by acting boldly for this sake of our shared home.
And let us not forget who first inspired her journey, the chimpanzees. Jane reminded us that they are not so different from us, that they feel joy, sorrow, and love, and grief in her honor. Let us commit to protecting and caring for them. In Jane’s words. Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play.
Every individual makes a difference. May this evening remind us that her light has not gone out because it lives on in each of us.
In spirit of remembrance, unity, and gratitude, we come together not only to mourn the passing of a remarkable woman, but to celebrate the extraordinary life and legacy of Dr. Jane Goodall, a scientist, a humanitarian, a messenger of peace, and above all, a voice for the voiceless.
Jane’s influence runs deep—not only through the lives of the chimpanzees she fought to protect, but through the people she empowered to carry her mission forward. From Gombe to Georgia, her spirit endures.
