In Memoriam: Biruté Galdikas, PhD, MED’25

To the Members of The Explorers Club,

It is with great sadness that we mourn the passing of Biruté Galdikas—a true giant in the world of exploration and conservation.

She was an extraordinary primatologist and the world’s foremost authority on orangutans, dedicating her life to promoting the protection of orangutans and their rainforest home. She was part of Louis Leakey’s extraordinary trio of primatologists, alongside Jane Goodall and Dian Fossey. With Biruté’s passing, and the recent loss of Jane, we are witnessing the closing of a remarkable chapter in the history of science and exploration.

Last year, the Club recognized her remarkable work with our highest honor – The Explorers Club Medal, placing her in our pantheon of legends.

I had the privilege of spending time with Biruté in the last year of her life, including the honor of interviewing her on stage just before she received our Medal. In private, we spoke often. What struck me most was her humility, her deep respect for her peers, and her unwavering commitment to protecting orangutans and their fragile habitat.

There are individuals whose work shapes a field. And then there are those rare few whose lives shape how we see the world. Biruté was among the latter.

In reflecting on her life, I am reminded that, in many ways, all of us carry a bit of Biruté within us—curious, passionate, and driven by a desire to make the world better through understanding it. That spirit lies at the very heart of The Explorers Club.

We have lost a giant. But her legacy lives on—in the forests of Borneo, in the science she advanced, and in each of us who continue the work of exploration.

With respect and remembrance,

Richard Wiese

President, The Explorers Club