Hear personal stories from scientist’s four decades in the jungle with orangutans
Birutė Galdikas
The public is invited to a free presentation on Monday, April 7, by primatologist, conservationist, and ethologist Birutė Galdikas. It is the final event in this season’s Distinguished Speaker Series, presented by UBC’s Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences.
In her talk, Curious Orange?, Galdikas transports her audience to the lush rainforests of Borneo, to meet the endangered orangutans. Through personal stories and anecdotes, Galidikas paints a picture of four decades spent in the jungle studying and working closely with orangutans, focusing on the remarkable bond between humans and the endangered primates, gentlest of the great apes. She speaks of love, dedication, and hope for the survival of the species.
Galdikas has been working in Central Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo), studying and protecting wild orangutans and forest since 1971. Galdikas is concerned with wild orangutan behaviour, the development of orangutan conservation programs, and the re-introduction of captured individuals into the wild. She established the first orangutan rehabilitation and release program in Kalimantan.
Galdikas is often referred to as the third in the trio of primatologists called “The Trimates” along with Jane Goodall and the late Dian Fossey, who were all mentored and encouraged by the late Louis Leakey. She is a professor in the archaeology department at Simon Fraser University.
Curious Orange? takes place Monday, April 7, 7 p.m. at the Kelowna Community Theatre, 1375 Water St., Kelowna. The event is free and open to the public, with online registration at: dss-galdikas.eventbrite.ca Seating is limited and registration is recommended.
Visit www.ubc.ca/okanagan/speakers for more information.
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