1969
Dr. Biruté Mary Galdikas meets Louis Leakey, a distinguished guest lecturer at UCLA. Leakey is known as the “Darwin of Human Evolution”
278 + orangutans under our care
Indonesiawhere we work
Orangutan Foundation International (OFI) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation of wild orangutans and their rainforest habitat. OFI also supports research on orangutans and forests, education initiatives, both local and international, and brings awareness concerning orangutans wherever it can.
OFI is profoundly committed to the welfare of all orangutans, whether captive, ex-captive, or wild. Established by Dr. Biruté Mary Galdikas and associates in 1986, OFI operates Camp Leakey, an orangutan research center, within Tanjung Puting National Park. OFI also runs the Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine (OCCQ) facility in the Dayak village of Pasir Panjang near Pangkalan Bun, which is home to 330 displaced orangutans.
It also helps manage the Lamandau Wildlife Reserve, where rehabilitated wild born ex-captive orangutans were released into the wild. Through its field programs, OFI also provides employment at these facilities for over 200 local Indonesians. OFI also owns Rusti, an adult male orangutan rescued from a backyard zoo in New Jersey, now on permanent loan to the Honolulu Zoo in Hawaii. OFI built his magnificent enclosure which covers a good part of an acre.
Orangutan Foundation International’s (OFI) core mission is the conservation of orangutans and the tropical rainforest that is their habitat.
The Orangutan Foundation International Board of Directors consists of a diverse group of people drawn from many walks of life representing five different nationalities who are joined together in a passionate commitment to orangutans and the tropical rain forests that sustain them. Most board members have visited OFI’s facilities in Borneo. A few board members have visited multiple times.
Timeline of OFIDr. Biruté Mary Galdikas meets Louis Leakey, a distinguished guest lecturer at UCLA. Leakey is known as the “Darwin of Human Evolution”
Dr. Galdikas visits Dr. Jane Goodall and Dr. Louis Leakey in London to begin planning a long term orangutan study. Dr. Dian Fossey joins them
Dr. Galdikas and Rod Brindamour visit Dr. Jane Goodall and her wild chimpanzee population in Gombe Stream Reserve in preparation for Galdikas’ orangutan study.
Galdikas arrives, along with Rod Brindamour, in Tanjung Puting Reserve to establish the Orangutan Research and Conservation Program (ORCP). The ORCP is the precursor to the Orangutan Foundation International
The first wild-born ex-captive orangutans are confiscated for rehabilitation and release.
December 24, 1971. Dr. Galdikas succeeds in following wild orangutans, Beth and Bert, for five consecutive days
First Indonesian students from the faculty of biology at Universitas Nasional, begin data collection under Dr. Galdikas’ supervision for their “Sarjana” theses
(Sarjana degree equivalent to honors bachelor or masters degree)
National Geographic Magazine publishes cover article, “Orangutans, Indonesia’s ‘People of the Forest’” written by Galdikas and featuring photographs by Rod Brindamour
Education program begins with local guests getting tours of Camp Leakey and talks on orangutan conservation and ecology are given to village heads, villagers and officials in local area. This low-key education program continues for decades
First botanical plot established in Camp Leakey for the purpose of monitoring forest phenology on a monthly basis
A second botanical plot is established in Camp Leakey study area forest for the purpose of monitoring forest phenology on a monthly basis. In total 9 botanical plots are established with continuous monitoring over the years
Galdikas receives a PhD from UCLA based on her thesis consisting of 6,804 hours of direct observation on wild orangutans in the Camp Leakey study area from 1971 – 1975
Dr. Galdikas begins work with then graduate student Gary Shapiro to teach sign language to free-ranging orangutans
1980s
National Geographic Magazine publishes second cover article written by Dr. Galdikas called, “Living with the Great Orange Apes” with photographs by Rod Brindamour
In 1982 the Indonesian government announces the decision to change the status of Tanjung Puting Reserve to a National Park. Management Plan for the National Park is written by John MacKinnon with input from Galdikas
By 1982 the ORCP has rehabilitated and released approximately 100 wild-born ex-captive orangutans back to the wild in the general area of Tanjung Puting National Park
Dr. Galdikas is awarded Guggenhiem Fellowship
Teams of EarthWatch volunteers begin working in the field under Dr. Galdikas’ supervision. The EarthWatch volunteer program continues for ten years. At the time, this was one of the most popular EarthWatch programs
Dr. Galdikas, with academic colleagues and interested laypeople, establishes Orangutan Foundation International (OFI) in Los Angeles. Dr. Galdikas becomes President
Massive strip mining for gold begins in the upper reaches of the Sekonyar River while the Park is invaded by large numbers of illegal loggers. OFI, at great risk to its personel, will continue to fight against loggers and miners in the Park, with the support of the police, for the next 10 years until the problem is brought under control
OFI establishes Tanjung Harapan as a release site at the request of the Park Authority
1990s
Dr. Galdikas receives PETA Humanitarian Award
Dr. Galdikas’ husband, Pak Bohap bin Jalan, and a former student, Edy Hendras, established the Orangutan Foundation Indonesia on July 4, 1993 in Pangkalan Bun, Kalimantan Tengah (Central Borneo), Indonesia.
In conjunction with Park authorities, OFI established several other release sites within Tanjung Puting National Park (TPNP) including Pondok Tanggui
By 1995 OFI (and its precursor ORCP) has released approximately 200 wild-born ex-captive orangutans in the general area of Tanjung Puting National Park
Dr. Galdikas Publishes her autobiography, “Reflections of Eden”
Dr. Galdikas serves as senior adviser on orangutans to Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry for the next two years
Dr. Galdikas receives “Kalpataru Award” from Indonesian government for outstanding environmental leadership
OFI establishes “International Orangutan Awareness Week” to be celebrated during the first full week of November
Julia Roberts visits Tanjung Puting National Park study area and OFI’s facilities to make a documentary entitled “In the Wild”
Massive forest fires burn throughout Borneo due to drought exacerbated by the El Nino weather phenomenon. OFI staff mobilize to fight the fires in the Park from July to October 1997. Julia Roberts departs Borneo mid-July in a small cargo plane, the last plane to leave Pangakalan Bun Airport until November as visibility in the area plummets due to thick smoke
OFI establishes the Orangutan Care Center & Quarantine in the village of Pasir Panjang under the authority of the Indonesian Forestry Department. The OCCQ now cares for almost 300 ex-captive orangutans and other wildlife as they make their way back to the wild
OFI builds its first camp in Lamandau Reserve and releases 5 wild-born ex-captive orangutans there into the wild
2000s
OFI stops releasing wild-born ex-captive orangutans from the Care Center into Lamandau Wildlife Reserve. Since the beginning of OFI’s program in Lamandau over 150 wild-born ex-captive orangutans have been released there as well as a dozen wild orangutans translocated from dangerous situations to safety in Lamandau
OFI begins releasing wild-born ex-captive orangutans in the “Seruyan Forest” area on the eastern side of the Park as well as other areas. By 2019 OFI has released approximately 600 wild-born ex-captive orangutans back to the wild
2010s
With the support of local people OFI establishes, by purchase, the “Orangutan Legacy Forest” which by 2013 consists of 6,400 hectares (15,815 acres) of forested land, mainly peatswamp forest, and/or land adjacent to forest
Former students and a pioneering orangutan researcher now living in Canada, along with Dr. Galdikas established Orangutan Foundation International Canada (OFIC) in Vancouver, B.C. during 2011. Tax-deductible charity status was granted by the Canadian government in 2012.
OFI and Dr. Galdikas are featured in the IMAX film “Born to be Wild”
OFI builds guard posts in the area of the “Orangutan Legacy Forest” and begins routine patrols of the area
Massive forest fires begin during the dry season lasting for several months. OFI staff fight fires relentlessly both in the National Park and in the Orangutan Legacy Forest. A permanent fire-fighting team is established.
OFI staff begin tree planting program in the wake of the massive 2015 fires. By the end of 2018 200,000 native trees have been planted in burned areas
OFI begins an intensive education program in the schools of the local regency “Kotawaringin Barat.” By mid-2019 OFI’s educators have given talks concerning orangutan and forest conservation to over 150 schools totaling contact with 30,000 students
At the request of the Park Authority, OFI establishes a new release camp on the Sekonyer River bringing the total of release camps established by OFI to 15 of which 11 are not open to the public