Biruté M. F. Galdikas (left)
Born: May 10, 1946
Occupation: Primatologist, Conservationist, Ethologist

While in graduate school, Galdikas decided to study orangutans, at that time the least known of the great apes. She approached Louis Leakey, the world-renowned paleoanthropologist. Leakey helped Galdikas embark on field studies of orangutans. Over the course of nearly 30 years, Galdikas has greatly expanded scientific knowledge of orangutan behavior. In 1986 she established Orangutan Foundation International, a nonprofit group that raises funds for orangutan conservation.

Jane Goodall (center)
Born: April 3, 1934
Occupation: Primatologist and Anthropologist

After reading the children’s book, The Story of Doctor Dolittle, a story about a doctor who travels to Africa and learns to talk to animals, seven-year-old Jane Goodall decided that she must go to Africa someday. She began reading every book about animals and Africa she could find.

Years later, a friend told her about a man named Louis Leakey, who was busy searching for evidence of early man in Kenya. Jane arranged an interview with Leakey. Impressed by her knowledge of animals, he hired Goodall.

Goodall has spent over 40 years studying the chimpanzees. Her goals have always been to understand and preserve the chimpanzees. Her work has been important in bringing the need for conservation to millions of people.

Dian Fossey (right)
Born: January 16, 1932
Died: December 26, 1985
Occupation: Primatologist, Zoologist, Wildlife Conservationist

Dian Fossey is considered the world's foremost authority on mountain gorillas. Throughout the 20 years she spent studying mountain gorillas in Africa, she strongly opposed the poachers (people who kill or take wild animals illegally) who threatened to wipe out the endangered primates.