Primatologist, conservationist, orangutan expert
Biruté Marija Filomena Galdikas, a pioneering Lithuanian-Canadian anthropologist, primatologist, and conservationist, passed away on March 24, 2026, in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 79. Renowned globally as a leading authority on orangutans, Dr. Galdikas dedicated over five decades of her life to the study and protection of these magnificent great apes in their natural habitat in Indonesian Borneo. Her tireless efforts significantly advanced scientific understanding of orangutan behavior and ecology, while also spearheading critical conservation initiatives to safeguard their rapidly diminishing rainforest homes.
Born on May 10, 1946, in Wiesbaden, Germany, to Lithuanian refugee parents, Biruté Galdikas's family soon immigrated to Canada, where she spent her formative years in Toronto. Her early fascination with animals and exploration, sparked by childhood stories, set her on a path toward a remarkable career in natural sciences. She pursued higher education in the United States, earning bachelor's degrees in psychology and zoology in 1966 and a master's degree in anthropology in 1969 from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
It was during her graduate studies at UCLA that Dr. Galdikas met the esteemed paleoanthropologist Dr. Louis Leakey, who had famously mentored Jane Goodall and Dian Fossey. Despite initial skepticism about the feasibility of studying the elusive orangutans in the wild, Dr. Galdikas's unwavering passion and persistence ultimately convinced Leakey to support her groundbreaking research. This pivotal encounter led to her journey to Indonesian Borneo, where she would establish one of the longest continuous studies of a wild mammal in history.
In November 1971, at the age of 25, Biruté Galdikas arrived in the remote Tanjung Puting Reserve in Borneo with her then-husband, photographer Rod Brindamour. There, she founded Camp Leakey, a research station that would become the epicenter of her life's work. Facing immense challenges in the dense, swampy rainforest, she meticulously documented the complex lives of orangutans, revealing unprecedented details about their diet, social organization, and reproductive patterns. Her discoveries, including the orangutan's remarkably long birth interval, reshaped scientific understanding of the species.
Dr. Galdikas's work gained international recognition, notably through a 1975 National Geographic cover story that brought the plight of orangutans to a global audience. She completed her Ph.D. in biological anthropology from UCLA in 1978, solidifying her academic contributions. Beyond her scientific endeavors, she became a fierce advocate for orangutan conservation, establishing the first orangutan rehabilitation and release program in Kalimantan.
In 1986, Dr. Galdikas co-founded Orangutan Foundation International (OFI), an organization dedicated to the protection of wild orangutans and their rainforest habitat, as well as the rehabilitation of orphaned and ex-captive orangutans. Her commitment to Indonesia and its wildlife was recognized in June 1997 when she received the prestigious Kalpataru award, the nation's highest honor for outstanding environmental leadership, making her the first person of non-Indonesian birth to be so honored.
Her autobiography, "Reflections of Eden: My Years with the Orangutans of Borneo," published in 1995, offered a deeply personal account of her extraordinary experiences and profound connection with the "people of the forest." Throughout her career, Dr. Galdikas navigated numerous challenges, including political complexities, health risks, and the immense logistical demands of living and working in a remote environment.
Biruté Galdikas's legacy is immense, marked by her groundbreaking research, her unwavering dedication to conservation, and her role in inspiring generations to care for the natural world. Her work ensured that the orangutans, once little understood, now have a powerful voice and a dedicated champion. She leaves behind a profound impact on primatology and global conservation efforts, continuing to inspire through the ongoing work of Orangutan Foundation International.
Those who wish to honor Biruté's memory are invited to .
Remembering those we recently lost
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Her passing is an indescribable loss. I am wishing her family and friends comfort and solace, and her a peaceful rest. Behind every legend — and indeed Dr. Galdikas is legendary — is a real human being. We, from a parasocial position, have lost a hero. They have lost so much more. Her benevolence, courage, intelligence, and selflessness are eternal, as is the impact that has come from those things. She and the other Trimates taught us that societal ignorance and scientific obscurity are as much of a threat to any animal as poaching and habitat loss. They were part of the first generation of scientists to teach us that the wellbeing of animals and ecosystems and the wellbeing of humanity are inseparable from one another. We owe a deep gratitude to them. It was through Dr. Galdikas’s work that I learned of the ecological and social horrors of palm oil and palm kernel oil. That was nearly 9 years ago. Thus, I started to (and still) check the ingredients label of everything I buy, not only to avoid those things but also to be physically healthier myself too. There is still much work to be done, and even more so after the earthly departure of such a pioneer and luminary. Not all of us will be talented, hardworking, insect-and-humidity enduring scientists at Camp Leakey, but all of us can do our parts in conserving orangutans, their homes, and the other animals that live there too even as consumers faraway from places such as Borneo. We can listen to those who are there, and make their efforts easier for them. Reflections of Eden is as much a guide as it is a memoir, and she was as talented of a writer as she was a scientist and communicator. She is no small part of the reason I am a conservation and anthropology enthusiast. We will remember Biruté Galdikas (and Jane Goodall). After all, we still remember their friend and colleague Dian Fossey after all this time, do we not? We will remember them all, forever. They all did their parts to make Earth a better place for all of its creatures, human and otherwise; for those who are living and those who have yet to live. Let us (continue to) do ours.
So sorry to hear this news. She was a hero of mine and I had the pleasure of meeting her a few years ago. She signed her book for me and was interested in hearing about my work with medical students. She did so much for animals and I'm so grateful for her work. I will always treasure this photo.
Rest, my friend. You have earned it with your well-lived life.
Biruté’s lifelong devotion to orangutans and the rainforests they call home has left an indelible mark on our world. Her tireless work and profound spirit will continue to inspire generations of conservationists to protect the creatures and places she held so dear.
Her passing is an indescribable loss. I am wishing her family and friends comfort and solace, and her a peaceful rest. Behind every legend — and indeed Dr. Galdikas is legendary — is a real human being. We, from a parasocial position, have lost a hero. They have lost so much more. Her benevolence, courage, intelligence, and selflessness are eternal, as is the impact that has come from those things. She and the other Trimates taught us that societal ignorance and scientific obscurity are as much of a threat to any animal as poaching and habitat loss. They were part of the first generation of scientists to teach us that the wellbeing of animals and ecosystems and the wellbeing of humanity are inseparable from one another. We owe a deep gratitude to them. It was through Dr. Galdikas’s work that I learned of the ecological and social horrors of palm oil and palm kernel oil. That was nearly 9 years ago. Thus, I started to (and still) check the ingredients label of everything I buy, not only to avoid those things but also to be physically healthier myself too. There is still much work to be done, and even more so after the earthly departure of such a pioneer and luminary. Not all of us will be talented, hardworking, insect-and-humidity enduring scientists at Camp Leakey, but all of us can do our parts in conserving orangutans, their homes, and the other animals that live there too even as consumers faraway from places such as Borneo. We can listen to those who are there, and make their efforts easier for them. Reflections of Eden is as much a guide as it is a memoir, and she was as talented of a writer as she was a scientist and communicator. She is no small part of the reason I am a conservation and anthropology enthusiast. We will remember Biruté Galdikas (and Jane Goodall). After all, we still remember their friend and colleague Dian Fossey after all this time, do we not? We will remember them all, forever. They all did their parts to make Earth a better place for all of its creatures, human and otherwise; for those who are living and those who have yet to live. Let us (continue to) do ours.
So sorry to hear this news. She was a hero of mine and I had the pleasure of meeting her a few years ago. She signed her book for me and was interested in hearing about my work with medical students. She did so much for animals and I'm so grateful for her work. I will always treasure this photo.
Rest, my friend. You have earned it with your well-lived life.
Biruté’s lifelong devotion to orangutans and the rainforests they call home has left an indelible mark on our world. Her tireless work and profound spirit will continue to inspire generations of conservationists to protect the creatures and places she held so dear.
