Key points

Jane Goodall's discovery of primate tool use redefined animal intelligence and human distinction.

Caring for animals is a shared responsibility.

According to Goodall, the fate of humans and animals is interconnected.

This essay was written by Marc Bekoff, Ph.D., and Colorado's First Gentleman, Marlon H. Reis.

Now more than ever, we must recognize that animals do matter. They are more than symbols of geographic and political divides. They deserve more out of life than to be casualties in our own failed efforts to coexist with one another, much less the natural world. Their worth is not a function of how “human” they look or act. And just as we appreciate individuality in people, so too must we value it in other animals.

On Oct. 1, 2025, Jane Goodall passed away. Marc has wo

See Full Page