BBC Breakfast’s Naga Munchetty shared some heartbreaking news live on air following the tragic d3ath of a British zoologist.

During Thursday’s (October 2) episode of the BBC hit show, the presenter returned to our TV screens alongside co-host Charlie Stayt as they presented the day’s top stories.

Things took an emotional turn as the hosts paused the show to honour the memory of animal rights campaigner, Dame Jane Goodall, who passed away at the age of 91 on Wednesday (October 1).

Opening the devastating segment, Naga explained: “Dame Jane spent six decades studying the social and family interactions of chimpanzees in the wild and was considered the world’s foremost expert on them.”

The show then cut to a pre-recorded clip from BBC reporter Graham Satchell, who took a look back at her incredible life.

 

Naga Munchetty

Naga Munchetty shared some heartbreaking news (Image: BBC)

The primatologist was in California when she d!ed from “natural causes”. The Jane Goodall Institute said in a statement on Wednesday.

A statement shared to Facebook said: “The Jane Goodall Institute learned this morning, Wednesday 1 October 2025, that Dr Jane Goodall DBE, UN Messenger of Peace and founder of the Jane Goodall Institute, has passed away from natural causes. She was in California as part of her speaking tour in the United States.

“Dr Goodall’s discoveries as an ethologist transformed science, and she was a tireless advocate for the protection and restoration of the natural world.”

Tributes have since poured in for the ethologist, who began researching free-living chimpanzees in Tanzania in 1960, a time when it was unheard of for a woman to venture into the wilds of Africa.

Former US president Barack Obama, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are among those who paid tribute.

Dame Jane Goodall

Jane Goodall d!ed from “natural causes” at the age of 91 (Image: PA Archive/PA Images)

Prince Harry, who had developed a close relationship with the celebrated primatologist, along with Meghan, released a joint statement.

They fondly remembered how Dame Jane held their son, Prince Archie, as a newborn baby and “showered love and care to those who were privileged to know her”.

The Royal couple expressed their deep sorrow at her passing, stating: “Dr Jane Goodall DBE was a visionary humanitarian, scientist, friend to the planet, and friend to us.

“Her commitment to changing lives extends beyond what the world saw, and also to what we personally felt. She held our son, Archie, when he was first born, and showered love and care to those who were privileged to know her. She will be deeply missed.”