Who is Hugo Eric Louis van Lawick’s wife? What we know of Jane Goodall’s grandchildren and daughter-in-law

English primatologist, conservationist, and animal activist Dame Jane Goodall died of natural causes in Los Angeles, California, while on a U.S. speaking tour, on October 1, 2025. She was 91. Her fundraising nonprofit, the Jane Goodall Institute, announced her death.

Dr. Goodall is survived by her only son, Hugo Eric Louis van Lawick, her daughter-in-law Maria, and her three grandchildren, Angel, Merlin, and Nick.

Hugo Eric Louis van Lawick Jr., 58, who goes by Grub, raised his three children with his wife, Maria, in Tanzania.

Grub is the son of Jane Goodall and her now-late first husband, Baron Hugo van Lawick Sr., a Dutch nobleman, filmmaker, and wildlife photographer for The National Geographic Society. Dame Goodall and Lawick Sr. were married for a decade until their divorce in 1974. Grub was born in 1967, three years after their wedding.

---

All you need to know about Jane Goodall’s grandchildren and daughter-in-law

According to The Citizen, Jane Goodall’s son, Hugo Eric Louis van Lawick, lives with his wife Maria in his mother’s home in Mikocheni, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, along the shores of the Indian Ocean. It was in this compound that the couple raised their three children.

Not much is known about Maria van Lawick. However, her eldest child, son Merlin van Lawick, 32, is involved with the Jane Goodall Institute as the Communications Associate, Africa Programs and Science for the USA Communications & Partnerships team, according to Green Matters.

Merlin studied MBA at Arden University in England and also serves as a board member of the Earth Species Project, a nonprofit aimed at using artificial intelligence to preserve nature. During a February 2023 interview with Green Matters, Jane Goodall’s grandson shared:

“I naturally developed a love for nature as a young boy. I feel privileged to have had such role models as my grandmother growing up… She helped me create a sense of connection to the environment around me,” Merlin stated.

He continued, “From observing her and listening to her advice, I learned that we are all connected in this tapestry of life, that we need each other, and that each of us has a role to play. This has been such a valuable lesson.”

Merlin van Lawick recalled his grandmother reading him and his siblings books at their family’s vacation home in England, when they were children. It helped him develop a love of nature, foster an interest in protecting the environment, conserve wildlife, and climate activism.

Merlin told the out how he was “fascinated with the connections between humans, other animals, and all life forms,” just like his grandmother. He added that he wanted to use his energy to “advocate for increased efforts to understand other animal species and our relationship to nature.”

“As a result, people will naturally become more compassionate toward other species and respectful of the environment we all share,” Merlin van Lawick noted.

He explained that he had always “admired and deeply respected” his grandma’s “lifelong dedication to her work” and originally joined Jane Goodall Institute’s youth program, the Roots & Shoots club. Later, Merlin joined the organization as an adult when he was interested in advocating for animal welfare and the future of the planet, thus following in the footsteps of his grandmother.

“She travels the world tirelessly to spread her message of hope and call to action, inspiring all generations, and especially young people, to roll up their sleeves and fight for their future, to fight apathy. To be part of the solution and to follow their hearts. This is a worthy cause that I feel drawn to, so I joined her mission,” Merlin explained.

Van Lawick is involved in the Tacare model of community-led conservation at the Jane Goodall Institute, which began in western Tanzania. The word Tacare means “to take care” and is largely part of the initiative at the Pugu Nature Center in Tanzania. Merlin is also an author who has penned the 2022 book, Local Voices, Local Choices: The Tacare Approach to Community-Led Conservation.

Merlin’s sister, Angel van Lawick, is also involved in wildlife conservation. According to a May 2014 article by The Press Democrat, then-19-year-old Angel was rescuing orphaned barn owlets at the Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue, California, as her grandmother thought “it would be good for me.”

She had travelled from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to the USA to do volunteer work after her high school graduation. It was part of her young program, Roots & Shoots, the global JGI effort run by Jane Goodall to encourage youngsters in “environmental, animal-welfare, and humanitarian pursuits.”

Besides owlets, Angel van Lawick also rescued orphaned or sick raccoons, skunks, squirrels, and other animals. She told The Press Democrat that she was initially “scared” but at the end, “it felt good.”

At the time, she added, “I hope to be helping animals in one way or another. But just now, I really don’t know how… My grandmother never really pushes us to do anything. She just tells us, ‘Never lose hope. If you really want to do something, go ahead and do it.’”

Angel also noted being close to her grandmother, meeting her at least twice a year, celebrating birthdays together, and corresponding daily via email. An alum of St. Constantine’s International School in Arusha, Tanzania, van Lawick shared that she was looking forward to attending college in the USA or Europe.

As for Angel and Merlin’s other sibling, Nick, he is a filmmaker, music video director, editor, and photographer, according to his LinkedIn. Nick van Lawick is based in London and attended John Leggott College.

Previously, he worked as a sports teacher at his own school, Dar es Salaam Independent School in Tanzania. He was also the founder and host of the Unyama podcast, visual director at Third World Baby, and a freelance visual artist who was part of the ‘NEXT’ squad of the YouTube Creative Studios, via YunoJuno.

---

Dr. Goodall was also married to a Tanzanian member of parliament and Director of National Parks, Derek Bryceson, for five years until he passed away in 1980. They did not have any children, and she did not remarry after that.

According to the BBC, Dame Jane Goodall was active until her final day and was travelling the globe as part of a speaking tour and campaign dedicated to her life, career, and understanding of the natural world.