Jane Goodall Celebrates Turning 90 with a Message About Animals: 'The Gift I Want to Give'

Mercy For Animals and the Jane Goodall Institute created a short film with celebrity appearances to honor the conservationist's milestone birthday

Dr. Jane Goodall is celebrating her 90th birthday by sharing an important message with a few of her famous friends.

On April 3, Goodall, a beloved ethologist and conservationist, will turn 90. To mark the occasion Mercy For Animals and the Jane Goodall Institue — the conservation organization founded by Goodall —created a short film titled Voices of Hope — Words of Wisdom by Dr. Jane Goodall.

PEOPLE has an exclusive first look at the film, which includes quotes from Goodall recited by her famous friends and fans, including Ellen Burstyn, James Cromwell, Sen. Cory Booker, Alicia Silverstone, Paul Wesley, Joseph Morgan, Nikki Reed, Gus Kenworthy, Mya, and several more.

Voices of Hope — Words of Wisdom by Dr. Jane Goodall was created by Mercy For Animals and the Jane Goodall Institue to honor the impact Goodall's decades-long work has had on people, animals and the planet.

"As Mercy For Animals celebrates its 25th year, we are amazed by all that Dr. Goodall has accomplished throughout her decades of advocacy. Dr. Goodall has made the world a better place for all its inhabitants and has educated and empowered several generations to take action to create a more just, sustainable, and beautiful future. Dr. Goodall’s mission and vision for animals, people, and the planet is central to Mercy For Animals’ work, and we are honored to share her inspiring words of wisdom through this moving tribute," Leah Garcés, CEO and president of Mercy For Animals, said in a statement about what inspired the film.

The video opens with Goodall speaking over clips from her early life and career. "I've spent my life working with and for animals. I was born loving them and wanting to learn about them," Goodalls says to open the short film. I'm sure all of you will agree; you can't spend time with an animal and not know that we are not the only beings with personalities, minds and emotions."

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The film continues with public figures and famous voices continuing Goodall's quote about the importance of protecting our planet, and treating all the creatures within it with kindness.

Mercy for Animals and the Jane Goodall Institute hope this tribute to Goodall and her advocacy inspires other to follow in her footsteps.

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Goodall herself is using her birthday to reflect on and reinforce the importance of connecting with the Earth and it inhabitants, big and small, and sees this film as a "gift" to herself and others.

"As I celebrate my 90th birthday and reflect on my journey, the gift I want to give to the world is a message about the connection between animals, people, and the planet we share, and this film by Mercy For Animals and JGI inspires that universal understanding," Goodall shared in a statement to PEOPLE.

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Read the original article on People.