From the desk of Save The Snakes Founder and Executive Director, Michael G. Starkey:
It is with profound sadness and immense gratitude that the global conservation community mourns the passing of Dr. Jane Goodall, UN Messenger of Peace, who left us yesterday, October 1, 2025, at the age of 91. Her life was an extraordinary testament to courage, compassion, and the power of individual action, fundamentally changing our understanding of chimpanzees and our place in the natural world.
On behalf of the entire Save The Snakes organization, we extend our deepest sympathies to her family, the Jane Goodall Institute, and the millions of people worldwide she inspired.
A Beacon of Hope for All Creatures
Dr. Goodall traveled the world for decades, sharing her message of hope even as she faced the realities of our planet’s overwhelming environmental challenges. This relentless dedication to finding and fostering the positive is the defining core of her legacy, one that embraced all wildlife.
Like many, I was greatly inspired by Dr. Goodall’s work and I was personally privileged to experience her powerful wisdom, during a small wildlife conservation meeting in San Francisco, California. I posed to her the question that burdens so many in our field: How do you maintain optimism in the face of such overwhelming obstacles?
Her answer was a beautiful and necessary lesson for me and for all conservationists. She explained that while she was constantly surrounded by the atrocities of the world, she consciously chose to focus on the positive efforts of the passionate individuals she met. She taught us to shift perspective and align ourselves with the good we observe—the incredible accomplishments that constantly amazed and inspired her.
For an organization dedicated to snakes, Dr. Goodall’s endorsement of animals often misunderstood resonates deeply. Earlier this year, upon learning a newly described snake species, Tachymenoides goodallae, had been named in her honor, she shared, “I’m not sure you know… how much I love snakes.” This sentiment perfectly encapsulates her universal message of compassion for every species, regardless of its popularity.
Dr. Goodall’s extraordinary life will forever remain a beacon of hope and positive action for the future. We pledge to honor her legacy by continuing our mission with renewed determination, grounded in the belief she instilled in us all: that in spite of the darkness, there is always a reason for hope, and that we must work together to make a positive impact every single day.
Michael G. Starkey
Save The Snakes Founder & Executive Director
