Jane Goodall shocked the world by admitting she ‘disliked’ chimps and loved dogs — and her reason hits home for many
It is almost disconcerting to learn that Dr. Jane Goodall, known for her groundbreaking research on chimpanzees, had a different favorite animal. Having dedicated most of her life to our close ancestors, it seemed natural that the late primatologist reserved all her love for the wild animals. However, in a former interview with host Stephen Colbert, Goodall shocked the world with her unexpected answer about her favorite animal—dogs. While it was a complete surprise, the reason behind her love for dogs resonated with millions.
“I understand that chimps are not your favorite animal,” said Colbert in a 2024 episode of The Late Show. The English researcher nodded with a prompt, “No.” Stunned by her response, the host quipped about whether the chimps, her lifelong subjects, were aware of this “scandalous” fact. However, Goodall remained composed, explaining that she did not like chimps because they are a lot like humans. “There are some I love and some I dislike,” she admitted. When Colbert pressed for her favorite animal, she did not wait to reveal that they were, in fact, dogs. Goodall continued, “You can’t have any more unconditional love than a dog.”
Though she did not have a formal education in the professional field, Goodall led her way with wonder and empathy to uncover amazing details about the wildlife, particularly primates. In one of her speeches, the late explorer opened up about her greatest teacher in life—her pet dog, Rusty. A video shared by the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada on Facebook revealed her enlightening words about empathy and humans being part of the natural world. She explained that the other scientists warned her not to name her chimpanzee subjects, but instead mark them with numbers, as typically done.
“I had a great teacher when I was a child. A teacher who had already taught me that what these professors were saying was absolute rubbish. That teacher, many of you have had, was my dog Rusty,” Goodall said. She emphasized that humans are not the only beings on the planet with personalities, minds, and emotions, as previously influenced by former scientific research. Goodall constantly cherished her dog’s presence in her life, reflecting her profound love for dogs. Rusty was a neighborhood dog living in a nearby hotel and would often run over to Goodall’s family home to spend time with them. “Rusty, I’ve never known a dog like him,” she said in a 2023 interview with the New York Times.
When the late researcher was asked how she wanted to spend her 90th birthday, a milestone, she responded, “With dogs,” according to a report by the Leakey Foundation. Therefore, the Wildlife Conservation Network put together a 90-Dog Salute to honor her wishes on March 23, 2024. Her 13-year-old dog at the time, Honey Bee, was selected among the dogs to salute the personality. Unfortunately, Dr. Goodall passed away from natural causes on 1st October, 2025. She was 91, per National Geographic.
You can follow @ColbertLateShow on YouTube and the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada on Facebook for more updates.