What to know
- Dr. Birutė Mary Galdikas devoted more than 50 years to studying orangutans and founded Orangutan Foundation International to advance research, conservation and education before her death earlier this year.
- Researchers say orangutans share about 97 per cent of human DNA and play a critical role in maintaining the rainforest ecosystems of Sumatra and Borneo, making their survival essential for biodiversity and the planet’s health.
- Orangutan populations have declined dramatically due to deforestation, illegal logging, mining, fires and habitat loss, with experts warning the species could face extinction within decades if current trends continue.
- OFI rescues and rehabilitates orphaned orangutans, restores forests, fights wildfires and is developing a Wildlife Corridor to reconnect isolated populations and improve genetic diversity.
- Conservation leaders say protecting orangutans also means supporting local communities with sustainable livelihoods, while continuing Galdikas’ legacy of scientific research, education and environmental stewardship.
A Canadian researcher dedicated decades of her life to studying orangutans and promoting conservation efforts. Now, scientists at her nonprofit organization work to continue her important legacy and save humans’ closest living relatives from extinction.
Dr. Birute Mary Galdikas was a pioneer in the study of orangutans and their tropical rain forest habitat, having spent five decades leading orangutan research and education in Indonesia.
To support her research, the researcher and her colleagues have founded the Orangutan Foundation International (OFI) back in 1986, an international nonprofit organization that aims to promote education about orangutans and promote conservation efforts on the tropical rainforest, which is their habitat.
Having dedicated her life to this important work, Galikas died earlier this year, leaving behind a new generation of conservation leaders who are now hoping to carry her legacy and further advance her work.
Why orangutans matter
Ruth Linsky, President of OFI Canada, primatologist, conservation researcher and PhD candidate at Simon Fraser University (SFU) explained to Now Toronto that orangutans are humans’ closest living relatives, sharing close to 97 per cent of our DNA. These animals are complex beings that demonstrate detailed emotions and are capable of forming deep relationships.
They also have a deep connection to the forest that is their habitat in the islands of Sumatra and Borneo, in Indonesia, and are extremely important to maintaining the ecosystem in the area.
“They have this really deep connection with the forest where they live. Without them, there is no forest, and without the forest, there are no orangutans. So, protecting orangutans means we protect the forest and a multitude of other species that live there—the vegetation, fungi, insects, mammals, birds, bats, everything,” Linsky explained.
“By protecting orangutans, you’re protecting some really important bits of our world. The forest is the lungs of the world, right? Protecting the forest cleans the air and the water for the entire planet, stuff that is so important for all of us all over the world. Orangutans are endemic only to the islands of Sumatra and Borneo, so if they’re gone, they’re gone forever.”
In addition, the habitat and the animals are also an essential part of the Indigenous Dayak people’s culture, holding a deep historical significance to locals.
Having grown up among the primates, Dr. Galdikas’ son, Frederick Galdikas, revealed it is surprising to see how close the animals are to humans.
“You may not be able to communicate directly, but maybe spiritually and physically you can. They’re also great mimics. They watch you. If you leave a bar of soap and some clothes, they will come around and try to wash clothes just like you. They’re very intelligent animals, but an interesting thing is that they’re very deep thinkers,” Frederick shared.
Orangutans face the risk of extinction
According to the OFI website, about 2,000-3,000 Bornean orangutans have been killed in the last four decades, having lost 50 per cent of its original population during this period. If their population continues to decrease at this rate, they could be facing extinction within the next 50 years.
This has mainly been facilitated by human activity in the area, including illegal logging and mining and the conversion of the habitat into settlements and road construction. In addition, large-scaled fires led by weather phenomena have also led to a decline in population.
With these animals at increased risk of extinction, Linsky emphasized the importance of local conservation efforts in these areas.
“Doctor Galdikas has always said, ‘If we can save orangutans, we can save ourselves.’ If we can
get it together as a species to protect orangutans and save their forest, it means we have a hope of humans making it through, too. If we can learn how to coexist and protect what we can while we grow and develop, it means we have a future for ourselves, not just for nature,” she said.
OFI promotes conservation efforts
OFI promotes not only research about orangutans and their habitat, but also rescue, rehabilitation, conservation, and education, aiming to help save the species from extinction.
The organization rescues and rehabilitates ex-captured orphaned orangutans in order to release them back into their natural habitat. In addition, OFI also promotes patrolling, reforestation, and firefighting, which help to conserve the forests in Sumatra and Borneo.
In addition, Frederick said OFI is currently leading a long-term project named Wildlife Corridor, which connects two national parks that are habitats to orangutans, in order to encourage them to stop inbreeding.
According to Linsky, another aspect that is leading to further extinction is inbreeding within the species, since many are confined within protected areas.
“Orangutans are super long-lived and have the longest inter-birth interval of any animal, so the actual demographic effects are going to take a long time to show, but Doctor Galdikas saw the writing on the wall. If we don’t do something now, there will be major impacts for the population in the future,” she said.
Through the Wildlife Corridor, researchers hope to reconnect isolated orangutan populations to encourage genetic diversity.
In addition, the organization also promotes education and involvement of local communities, which they say is essential to advance conservation efforts, as many of them earn money through mining, logging or palm oil plantations in the area.
“People have to be able to support themselves and their families. We need to provide alternative livelihoods to resource extraction, like having people work for the corridor, do research, or run tourism. We have to provide other options,” Linsky added.
Carrying Galdikas’ legacy
A few months after Galdikas’ passing, OFI researchers hope to keep advancing her pioneer work and conservation legacy forward.
As explained by both Linsky and Frederick, the researcher not only led groundbreaking discoveries and research about orangutans, but she also inspired other primatologists globally to study primates, bringing them to the forefront of scientific attention.
“She proved the idea that one person can change the world if they are committed,” Frederick added.
Now, they hope to help continue this legacy by following on Galdikas’ steps of promoting scientific research, education, and community involvement.
OFI Canada is a registered charity in the country, including opportunities for Canadians to donate and get involved. Those who wish to learn more about the organization’s work and contribute can visit its website.
