Statement of Tribute and Mourning: Dr. Biruté Mary Galdikas, OC

The Department of Archaeology at Simon Fraser University mourns the passing of Dr. Biruté Mary Galdikas, a cherished colleague, professor, and one of the world’s foremost authorities on primate behaviour.

Her life’s work, spanning more than five decades, reshaped our understanding of great apes and at the same time powerfully demonstrated the impact one individual can have in protecting our planet.

Dr. Galdikas dedicated her career to the study of orangutans in the rainforests of Borneo, where she first arrived in 1971. Immersing herself in one of the most challenging field environments on Earth, she conducted pioneering long-term research that would become foundational to primatology and conservation science. She was a tireless advocate for the protection of orangutans and their rapidly diminishing rainforest habitat, reminding the world that the fate of these great apes is inseparable from our own.

In 1986, she founded Orangutan Foundation International, advancing conservation initiatives that have had lasting global impact. Through her work, she brought international attention to the devastating effects of deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and species extinction, while inspiring generations to take action.

Dr. Galdikas was also a devoted educator, teaching in the Department of Archaeology at Simon Fraser University for more than 40 years. Her classrooms were places of inspiration and intellectual curiosity, where students encountered not only rigorous scholarship but also the passion of someone living the work she taught. Many regarded her courses as among the most transformative of their academic careers. Her work also reached global audiences, inspiring many through its portrayal in the acclaimed documentary Born to be Wild.

Her extraordinary contributions have been recognized worldwide and she was awarded some of the highest accolades in conservation, including the PETA Humanitarian Award, the Tyler Award, the Indonesian Satya Lencana  Pembangunan Medal and the Kalpataru (Hero for the Earth) Award, the latter presented directly by the President of Indonesia. An officer of the Order of Canada since 1995, she also received Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee Medal, Cross of the Lithuanian State, Pride of Lithuania Award, and Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee Medal.  In 2025 she was awarded The Explorers Medal—one of the highest distinctions in scientific exploration—an acknowledgement she described as the greatest of her career. Yet she remained humble, emphasizing always the importance of the work itself and the urgent need to protect rainforests and the life they sustain.  When presented with the Explorers Medal her message to students and future researchers was simple and enduring: to follow their dreams, and trust that purpose and impact will follow.

Her legacy lives on in the forests she fought to protect, in the generations of students she taught, and in the ongoing global effort to preserve endangered species. We extend our sincere condolences to her family, friends, and colleagues.

If you would like to support Orangutan Foundation International Canada, find out more here: https://orangutancanada.ca/donate/ or www.orangutancanada.ca