Jane Goodall’s legacy deserves better

To the editor,

The world-renowned British primatologist Jane Goodall died Oct. 1 at age 91. Goodall’s studies of chimpanzees in their natural habitat in Tanzania revolutionized our understanding of chimps, who are genetically our closest relatives.

Spurred in part by the increasing destruction of habitats crucial to the survival of chimpanzees and countless other living things — including the Tanzanians who depend on the same environment for sustenance — she devoted much of her later life to raising awareness about the urgent need to preserve our environment, not only for other species but for ourselves and future generations.

She founded the Jane Goodall Institute in 1977, headquartered in Washington, D.C., with that mission in mind.

The Trump administration’s massive cuts in foreign aid led to her institute’s loss of about $5 million — roughly 20 percent of its annual budget — forcing her to lay off many staff members. With nearly 30,000 Americans whose net worth in 2025 exceeds $100 million, and nearly 1,000 billionaires, it strikes me as profoundly shameful that none of these ultra-wealthy individuals came to her aid.

Miriam Helbok