Even in this horrendous situation, however, there is a positive beat, that of Dr. Birut Galdikas. A soft-spoken woman of an ethereal nature, she is the world s foremost expert on Orangutans. Spending most of her time in Indonesia, she is both a researcher and the protector of these sweet, mysterious, and solitary apes. Galdikas is an inspiration to all, especially to young women. She is an example that everything is possible.
Any woman can become a super woman with a heart.
Dr. Birut , as she prefers to be called, possesses incredible drive, dedication, and spirituality. From a young age she was aware of her destiny. When she was a young girl she saw a picture of an orangutan and instantly knew that these creatures were in her future. This sensation of predestination continued with her from Canada to California. While walking in a hall at UCLA, she overheard a psychology professor talking about, that English woman who worked with chimps, and in that moment, somehow, I knew he was talking about me, the me I would become.