Jane Goodall, known for her pioneering studies of chimpanzees, has died aged 91.
A post on her institute's Instagram page said she died peacefully in her sleep on Wednesday morning while in Los Angeles for a speaking tour.
"Dr. Goodall's discoveries as an ethologist revolutionized science, and she was a tireless advocate for the protection and restoration of our natural world," said the post.
Since 2018 I have communicated with Bristol City Council both L:abour and Green Party. I have tried to show and explain all the data on wildlife deaths on our streets as well as threats to our Green spaces (when there are plenty of Brown sites.
They tried the "Oh, isn't that just terrible. Nothing we can do" response but when their own commitment to the environment and "Green Bristol" is quoted back at them they just ignore messages. I am considered, in one source's words "a pain in the ass conservationist" (that quote from a Green Councillor so I'll claim that one).
I have had badger setts interfered with, fox dens with cubs destroyed -all knowing what wildlife was present and claiming ignorance of any laws. One contractor "We just get told what to do by the Council and that's it" -the "I was only following orders" defence went out the window in 1945.
The Council is currently trying to sell off land for £400K to developers that has identified and decades old badger setts on it. The auctioneer of the land has illegally not noted that the land has badger setts on it. That must be declared.
I contacted BCC as well as as many Long Ashton Parish councillors as I could find to object to the expansion of the Longmoor "new suburb" into an area with established badger setts and other wildlife including otters. Who I contacted is on the record and I can tell you that after two weeks not one of those persons has responded
https://bristolbadgergroup.blogspot.com/2025/09/longmoor-development-and-impact-on.html
Filling in badger setts without a proper survey is also known.
I have tried and tried but this now has to stop. If you know of badger setts or active fox dens being blocked or destroyed (foxes mainly in cub season when they are protected) then get in touch with the police on 111 and let me know. It is important to get as much photographic/video evidence as possible to back up claims.
From now on I will be reporting every infringement of the law by the City Council, contractors working for them, etc., and they will need to face the consequences.
Yesterday I announced that the number of KNOWN dead foxes reported in Bristol stood at 300 (the highest figure recorded in recent years). This morning I added 4 more to that number.
Badgers deaths (known) now totals 76.
Thankfully I do not record every species killed on the roads though I can add one otter into the mix.
If these deaths were all related to pet dogs being killed by speeding cars that do not even stop to check if the animal is dead or report hitting them so someone can check -there would be a public outcry. The fact that there isn't is what helps the Bristol City (Green Party run) Council and South Gloucestershire ignore things....and those biscuits and cups of tea take a lot of concentration.
This is Bristol so if we have lost a (known) 304 what are the losses like elsewhere. Some idiot at The Guardian writes that there is a fictional boom in the fox population while those in the know believe we have lost 60-65% of the UK fox population.
With new government regulations for development that it wants to push through Parliament badger protection (such as it is) will be gone. Badgers have lost over 50% of their population.
By the 2030s foxes, badgers and hedgehogs will be a rare sight -where they have not become extinct.
We have no idea how many badgers have actually died in Bristol this year but the register says 75.
I can tell you that the current number of KNOWN dead foxes this year in Bristol just hit 300. The real total I do not want to think about.
Bristol City Council (GREEN party) has made it clear that they do not care about wildlife death or tackling it. South Gloucestershire Council simply shrug in silence.
I have done everything one person can do and at this rate I expect to see the kn own total hit 400 by end of year.
Back in 1997-1999, as most people will know, I was asked to be the wildlife consultant for Terry Adams Ltd and their plans to turn the old Yanley tip into a park for Ashton Vale.
SAVE (Save Ashton Vale's Environment) and those involved at the time were opposed to this plan which would have seen a small woodland park with benches, a water and wildlife features. I received a lot of verbal abuse and even vandalism to my garden and planting projects -which the City Council knew about. I stuck with it but Terry Adams Ltd decided against the project.
I have recorded and observed wildlife in Ashton Vale since 1994 and I have never stopped recording. I observe the changes caused by work to build new homes and so on.
When the Longmoor 'village' project was announced I found that no one was interested locally. The same thing still applies but I put in objections based on the impact of building based on the 1998 survey which showed the presence of protected species (a couple others have appeared since 1998).
I had no idea that SAVE was still going and asking neighbours they were unaware that it was still going so I assume that this is a localised area SAVE?
The question is, if you are objecting to a development based in part on the potential impact to local nature WHY do you not contact the local wildlife record keeper? My being in Ashton Vale is no secret and I am easily contactable.
Then there is a wildlife map apparently put together by the "Greater Bedminster Wildlife Group" -again, I have posted frequently on BS3, BS4 and other wildlife groups so I assume there is no interest in the records already available.
I have had some nasty "you ought to retire and pass all the info on to the GBWG" messages in the past and I just do not understand WHY wildlife groups do not cooperate unless it is because of ego and "this is MY/OUR group" stances.
I will stop doing what I do when I am unable to and I don't intend that to be any time soon. I've been doing this 50 years so ....
To be honest after ten years of trying to battle Labour and Green BCCs to take measures to protect and conserve wildlife and habitats in and around the City, the Fox Deaths Study (6 years) with the report officially suppressed and arguing with the BCC and developers about badgers sites and no help from the Badger Trust I am worn out.
At times I seem to be regarded as "law enforcement" for wildlife in the City and I do appreciate the people who give up time to help out when they can but I am only one man. I set up the BBG in 1994 when the Avon BG went defunct and I have pushed it as much as possible but even amongst wildlife groups there has been no interest.
In fact, foxes and badgers rather like otters and deer are often looked at as "the nasty, smelly" wildlife.
I am just exhausted.
With regard the Eastville Park land grab I can report that all of those named in the post never responded -apart from BRERC who then got a tad narky over absolutely nothing. Not even the Friends of Eastville Park have responded.
As I have always found with Bristol the City Council and public always shouts about how green it is and how it is fighting the current ecological emergency.... there is no interest. Guzzling pizzas and watching TV while the money "floats around" is all you get. That and complete and utter silence.
Bristol City Council (supposedly Green) and the people of Bristol...look up the phrase "hang your heads in shame"
Jane Goodall, known for her pioneering studies of chimpanzees, has died aged 91. A post on her institute's Instagram page said she die...
