British primatologist Jane Goodall’s cause of death has surfaced weeks after she passed away in her sleep in Los Angeles.
The author and speaker died from cardiac arrest (cardiopulmonary arrest), as reported by TMZ, citing her death certificate.
On October 1, the Jane Goodall Institute released a statement saying that Goodall had died “peacefully” in L.A. while on a speaking tour, at the age of 91.
The institute confirmed that Goodall died of natural causes.
Goodall rose to prominence as the world’s leading authority on chimpanzees after dedicating decades to observing them in their natural habitat at Tanzania’s Gombe Stream National Park.
She is survived by her son, Hugo, and three grandchildren.
“Dr. Goodall’s discoveries as an ethologist revolutionized science, and she was a tireless advocate for the protection and restoration of our natural world,” her institute said.
Paying tribute to her legacy, the institute added that her “life and work not only made an indelible mark on our understanding of chimpanzees and other species, but also of humankind and the environments we all share. She inspired curiosity, hope and compassion in countless people around the world, and paved the way for many others.”
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