InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – The world has lost one of its most dedicated conservationists, Prof. Dr. Birutė Mary Galdikas, who passed away on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, in Los Angeles.

Her passing marks not only a loss for science, but also for tropical forests and wildlife she spent decades protecting.

Born in Wiesbaden, Germany, on May 10, 1946, Galdikas was more than a scientist—she was a symbol of lifelong dedication to conservation.

Her journey began with a childhood dream of exploration, which led her to meet renowned anthropologist Dr. Louis Leakey. Alongside Jane Goodall and Dian Fossey, she became part of the legendary “Leakey’s Angels,” pioneering research on great apes.

Unlike her peers who studied chimpanzees and gorillas in Africa, Galdikas chose Indonesia, dedicating her life to orangutans in Tanjung Puting, Central Kalimantan, since 1971.

For more than five decades, she lived and worked in the forests, establishing one of the world’s leading orangutan research and rehabilitation centers.

“Orangutans are distant relatives of humans,” she once told InfoSAWIT in 2014.

Her commitment went beyond research. She became an Indonesian citizen, reflecting her deep connection to Borneo’s forests and wildlife.

Throughout her life, she witnessed firsthand the threats faced by orangutans—from habitat loss to conflicts with humans.

“The existence of orangutans is an essential part of life and must be protected,” she emphasized.

Her dedication earned global recognition, including Indonesia’s Kalpataru Award, the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement, and honors from the United Nations.

Through the Orangutan Foundation International (OFI), which she founded in 1986, her legacy will continue.

Her life’s work leaves behind not only scientific contributions, but also a powerful message: protecting nature means protecting ourselves. (T2)