Last month, the world lost Dr. Burité Galdikas, a scientist and conservationist who had studied and worked to protect orangutans starting in her 20s. She was 79 at the time of her death following a battle with lung cancer.
Dr. Galdikas passed away in Los Angeles, but her main home was in Borneo, where today she will be laid to rest.
Orangutan Foundation International, the organization she founded, will be live-streaming her funeral at this link: https://www.youtube.com/live/zH_g7hOs9L4?si=p7Y-cmWsRVvBlw6j
The formal funeral will start around 8:00 p.m. PT / 11:00 p.m. ET. The stream should be available starting around 4:30 p.m. Pacific Time, during which time some semi-ceremonial preparations like the digging of her grave may be shown. OFI shared that there may be some open-casket time during and before the funeral.
Biruté’s contributions to the understanding of orangutans and the perils they are facing in their wild habitats in Borneo and Sumatra and her tireless work to help them, cannot be overstated.
Every profile of Dr. Galdikas mentions her association with Dr. Jane Goodall, who died last year at 91 after decades of non-stop speaking engagements that highlighted chimpanzees and humans’ obligation to protect the natural world, and Dian Fossey, who was killed in Rwanda in 1985 while studying and protecting gorillas. These three influential women were often referred to as “The Trimates.”
We were honored with a visit from Dr. Galdikas exactly eight years ago today, on April 14, 2018.
Here’s a photo that Katelyn took of Dr. Galdikas with then interns Jake Funkhouser and Ruth Linsky, both of whom continue their ape advocacy and conservation work and primatology education by pursuing doctoral degrees, with Ruth working closely with Dr. Galdikas and the orangutans in Borneo.
I’ve read several obituaries since her passing, and this one from The Guardian I particularly liked for it’s depth of information and, especially, for this quote from primatologist Mireya Mayor upon meeting Dr. Galdikas at a wildlife film festival where they were both being honored, “She seemed like someone who had stepped out of the forest temporarily … her heart and mind were still there.”
I am just now learning of the passing of Dr. Galdikas. I am sad to read of her death, even as, like her colleagues and sisters in primate research and advocacy (Drs. Fossey and Goodall), Birute Galdikas put her life and career to such good and necessary purpose. May what all three of these great scientists sought for the great ape species whom they studied and for whom they spoke come to pass, that our great ape cousins may yet again be able to thrive in their natural habitats.
Peace be with her.
oh, I’m so sorry to hear this. I admired her so very much. She was truly unique. I wish I could have visited her on site. Oh, if I could only live my life over. she and others have been so inspiring to me. thank you for this blog and the information.
Thank you Diana, for the link to the ceremony. I am happy she will rest in peace in the place she worked so diligently to bring attention to the dangers orangutans faced in their natural environment.
Thank you, Diana. I had heard of her passing. May she and those she worked so hard to save enjoy peace in the jungle.
Thank you for the information on the funeral for Dr. Biruté Galdikas. When I received the email from OFI informing everyone of her passing I was deeply saddened. Not only did it feel like a deep loss for the orangutans and the forests of the Borneo, both which she loved and protected, it also punctuated the reality that the last of The Trimates was now no longer with us. I always marveled over the fact that Leakey selected three young women, moved them into wild habitats that were relatively unknown, and all three devoted their lives to the stations they were placed. I have often wondered about his gift to see something extremely unique in each young woman.
The quote is beautiful. Thanks for including it.
Thank you for that, Diana, and what a touching post on a truly amazing lady. And like Dr Jane and Dian, Birute’s memory will live on along with her legacy as she paved the way for so many young people to take up the baton and help the primates and our wonderful planet.:sparkling_heart::sparkling_heart::sparkling_heart: Oh, yes, they made a difference.