The Economic Times

A 25-year-old Canadian primatologist entered Borneos remote wild swamps with her husband in 1971 to study orangutans; after 40 years of research, she found that they give birth just once every 7.7 years and documented 400 types of food in their diet

In 1971, Canadian primatologist Birut Galdikas embarked on an extensive journey into orangutan research in Indonesian Borneo, setting up Camp Leakey as a base for her studies. Her groundbreaking findings on orangutan reproductive patterns and dietary habits significantly contributed to primatology. To further her conservation efforts, she founded the Orangutan Foundation International, significantly enhancing education and preservation initiatives, which earned her Indonesia's esteemed Kalpataru award for her environmental contributions.