Frans de Waal – a pioneer who shone a light on the intelligence and emotional life of our great ape cousins

Biology has just lost one of its greatest thinkers. An intellectual pioneer and exceptional observer of animals, de Waal inspired us all to think differently about animals as well as ourselves - his far-reaching impact within and beyond biology and psychology cannot be overstated. He was especially known for his ground-breaking work investigating the social minds of our two closest great ape cousins, the chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and bonobos (P. paniscus), well as other primates. He leaves behind him a rich and varied legacy of research that continues to inspire and push the field forward.