SPRINGFIELD—A resolution sponsored by State Senator Rachel Ventura would declare April 3, 2026 as Jane Goodall Day in Illinois in recognition of the life and work of Jane Goodall P.h.D., and the importance of conservation, sustainability, and living in peace with the environment.

“Dr. Jane Goodall dedicated her life to fostering a more sustainable society for the benefit of generations to come,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “By honoring her on the day of her birth, we help continue the work she began in raising awareness on the importance of conservation and the path to a green future.”

Dr. Goodall began studying wild chimpanzees at Gombe, Tanzania in 1960, and her field studies led her to developing a unique understanding of chimpanzee behavior, including mating rituals, parenting, and warfare, and making the ground-breaking discovery that chimpanzees use tools. Her work revolutionized humankind's understanding of and connection to wild animals and led to a massive surge of public interest in the welfare of our closest animal cousins.

Dr. Goodall founded the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) in 1977 to initially support research at Gombe, and it has evolved into one of the world's largest nonprofit global research and conservation organizations, with 25 JGI offices operating diverse programs around the world. She also became a celebrated author of 32 books, with her most recent publication The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times, which expressed her optimism for the future of humankind, releasing in 2021 and being translated into more than 20 languages.

Dr. Goodall’s numerous accolades include being named a United Nations Messenger of Peace, being made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE), and being awarded the United States Presidential Medal of Freedom, France's La Legion d'honneur, the Benjamin Franklin Medal in Life Science, Japan's Kyoto Prize, the Ghandi-King Award for Nonviolence, the Medal of Tanzania, and the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement. Dr. Goodall died on Oct. 1, 2025, at the age of 91, still an active champion of conservation education and the environmental movement.

“Dr. Goodall’s lifelong legacy continues to inspire conservation, sustainability, and respect for all living being,” said Ventura. “It now falls to us to carry that legacy forward, and continue the extraordinary work that she tirelessly pursued for over six decades.”

Senate Resolution 487 was adopted on Wednesday.