Pioneering Primatologist Biruté Galdikas Dies at 79

Galdikas dedicated over 50 years to studying and protecting wild orangutans in Borneo.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 9:43pm

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A bold, abstract painting in muted earth tones depicting the intricate interconnected systems of Borneo's tropical rainforest, representing the complex challenges of orangutan conservation.The life's work of pioneering primatologist Biruté Galdikas centered on preserving the fragile ecosystem that sustains Borneo's dwindling orangutan population.Los Angeles Today

Biruté Galdikas, a renowned primatologist who spent decades studying and preserving the lives of wild orangutans in the tropical rainforests of Borneo, has died at the age of 79 from lung cancer. Galdikas was one of three pioneering women, along with Jane Goodall and Dian Fossey, who revolutionized the field of primatology under the mentorship of Louis Leakey.

Why it matters

Galdikas' groundbreaking research and conservation efforts brought global attention to the plight of orangutans, whose populations have declined dramatically due to threats like deforestation, the illegal pet trade, and habitat loss. Her lifelong dedication to protecting this critically endangered great ape species serves as an inspiration for future generations of scientists and environmentalists.

The details

Arriving in Borneo in 1971, Galdikas established a research base in what is now Tanjung Puting National Park, where she meticulously documented the solitary nature, foraging habits, and reproductive cycles of orangutans over the course of more than 50 years. In addition to her research, Galdikas also played a key role in rehabilitating and reintroducing over 500 captive orangutans to the wild, and advocated for greater government protection of their habitats.

  • Galdikas arrived in Borneo and set up her research base in 1971.
  • She published her first cover story on orangutans in National Geographic in 1975.
  • Galdikas published a second cover story in National Geographic in 1980.
  • She received the prestigious Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement in 1997.
  • Galdikas passed away on March 24, 2026 in Los Angeles.

The players

Biruté Galdikas

A primatologist who dedicated over 50 years to studying and preserving the lives of wild orangutans in Borneo, becoming one of the world's leading experts on the critically endangered great ape species.

Jane Goodall

A pioneering primatologist who studied chimpanzees in Tanzania, and was one of three women, along with Galdikas and Dian Fossey, who were mentored by Louis Leakey and revolutionized the field of primatology.

Dian Fossey

A primatologist who lived among and studied mountain gorillas in Rwanda, and was one of three women, along with Goodall and Galdikas, who were mentored by Louis Leakey and revolutionized the field of primatology.

Louis Leakey

A British-Kenyan paleoanthropologist whose study of early hominid fossils established the origins of mankind in Africa, and who mentored Goodall, Fossey, and Galdikas, referring to them as his 'trimates'.

Pak Bohap

An elder in the Dayak tribe of Indigenous Borneans, who worked as a tracker on Galdikas' staff and was a founder of the Orangutan Foundation International, which Galdikas started in 1986.

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What they’re saying

“For years, her daily routine hardly varied. Rising before dawn and returning to the spot where the orangutan she was trailing had nested the night before, she would closely monitor its movements and behavior. After the orangutan nested, she would head home or sleep in a hammock in the forest.”

— Mark Starowicz, CBC Producer

“The thing with primatology is, when you're dealing with behavior and life history, you have to spend a lot of time there. You can't collect data for a year and leave. You need decades of observing. The 7.7 years between births — she had to be there.”

— Luisa Arnedo, Senior Program Officer, National Geographic Society

What’s next

Galdikas' foundation, the Orangutan Foundation International, will continue her legacy of orangutan conservation and research in Borneo.

The takeaway

Biruté Galdikas' unwavering dedication to studying and protecting the endangered orangutan species over the course of five decades serves as a powerful example of the transformative impact that one person can have on preserving the natural world.