It is with profound sorrow that we at Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary join the global conservation community in mourning the passing of Dr. Jane Goodall — a visionary, a mentor, and above all, a friend to chimpanzees and to those who have dedicated their lives to their care.
Dr. Goodall’s love for chimpanzees was not an abstract ideal. It was deeply personal, rooted in years of patient observation, compassion, and respect. She gave the world a new understanding of these remarkable beings — their intelligence, their emotions, their social bonds — and in so doing, she also gave us a new understanding of ourselves.
For us at Ngamba, her passing is especially poignant. Dr. Goodall was not only an inspiration but also one of the founders of this sanctuary, lending her name, her wisdom, and her boundless energy to the mission of giving rescued chimpanzees a second chance at life. Over the years, she visited us, encouraged us, and reminded us of the profound responsibility we hold as custodians of these animals. Her bond with Ngamba was woven into the very fabric of our sanctuary’s existence, proclaiming Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary as a model sanctuary.
To sit with her on the beach of Ngamba Island, listening to nature’s sounds and hearing her gentle words of encouragement, was to witness the depth of her connection. She saw in every chimpanzee a story worth telling and a life worth saving. And she never let us forget that their well-being is inseparable from the well-being of our forests, our communities, and our shared planet.
As we celebrate more than two decades of Ngamba’s work, we know that Dr. Goodall’s spirit will continue to guide us. Her legacy lives in the faces of the chimpanzees who play, forage, and rest safely on our island. It lives in the passion of the staff she inspired and in the young people she encouraged to dream of a better, kinder world.
On behalf of all of us — the team, the caregivers, and the chimpanzees themselves — I extend our deepest gratitude for her life and her love. Ngamba will always remain part of her living legacy, and we are committed to carrying forward her vision with renewed strength and hope.
May she rest in peace, and may we honour her by continuing the work she so passionately began.
Dr Joshua Rukundo
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
