When Jane Goodall first visited Africa in the late 1950s, she was smitten. Goodall had discovered a land that she loved and a world of wildlife she adored. But it was one particular species that caught her eye: the chimpanzee. She decided then and there to devote her life to the study of primates, and especially chimps.
Goodall passed away this October 1. She was the world's foremost authority on chimpanzees, and for over six decades she has helped us understand more about this extraordinary creature, an animal that shares 98.8% of its DNA with humans. But what exactly was the moment that sparked her interest in primates, and what happened next?
Click through and learn more about the world's most famous primatologist.