PRIMATOLOGIST Dr Birute Mary Galdikas 63 is the world’s foremost authority on orangutans, having spent 40 years living among these creatures in the forests of Indonesian Kalimantan. Thanks to her research, man now has a better understanding of his closest cousin which may even have pleased Charles Darwin, who famously pondered on the origin of the species.

She is one of three western women to dedicate their lives to studying apes, the others being Jane Goodall (chimpanzees) and late Dianne Fossey (gorillas) who was murdered by poachers. While both Jane and Diane worked in Africa, Galdikas turned to Borneo – and all looked upon Dr Louis Leakey as mentor.

Galdikas is Founder-President of Orangutan Foundation International (OFI) dedicated to the conservation of wild orang utans, and their rainforest habitat. Her research camp, dubbed “Camp Leakey”, which she established in Tanjung Puting National Park (Kalimantan Tengah) 38 years ago is now a world centre for orang utan studies and tourist destination.

Now an Indonesian citizen, the Lithuanian-born Dr Galdikas’ efforts in lobbying for the preservation of the tropical rainforests, in Kalimantan Tengah, resulted in saving close to two million hectares of forests for the orang utans.

She reckoned, her dedication to the orang utan cause also cost her first marriage with both her first husband and some who grew up with orang utans deciding to return to western civilization. She decided to stay on and has since remarried a rice farmer who is also a Tribal President. She has a son and daughter from him.

Dubbed by some as Mother Theresa of the Orang Utan, she recently visited Sabah where she talked to Daily Express Special Writer Mary Chin and Chief Editor James Sarda about how she ended up becoming best friend, spokesperson and saviour of these creatures… [Read more]

Extracted from the Daily Express Sabah, Sunday 26th July 2009 Page 7.

Borneo Eco Tours organizes tours to the World Famous Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre or you may see them in their natural habitat through our Sukau Tours. Just contact info@borneoecotours.com for more information on the packages we offer.

Photo Credit: 1) Baby orang Utan by SCOTCROW     2) Birute Galdikas and Orang Utan by TRAVEL_LILA