Creusa Hitipeuw, a.k.a Tetha, is one of few female marine species scientists in Indonesia. She has been working with WWF Indonesia for over 17 years now. She passed away yesterday (Dec 22) in Jakarta, following a brief and unexpected battle with cancer. She was 44 years old.  
Tetha got her Master degree on Marine Biology from the Vrije Universiteit in Belgium. With WWF-Indonesia, she has worked for various marine conservation projects in Kepulauan Aru in Maluku, Kepulauan Derawan in East Kalimantan, in the Bird’s Head Seascape and the Teluk Cenderawasih of Papua, and in the Kei Kecil Island in Maluku.
 
Tetha conducted researches on migratory and internesting habitat of leatherback turtles in Papua and Western Pacific with satellite transmitters, a research conducted in collaboration with NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) that reveals the mystery of migratory paths of the species. One of the leatherback turtles has been seen to swim across the Pacific to Monterrey Bay in the West Coast of the United States, a 12.000 km distance and 18 months away from Jamursbamedi nesting beach in the Bird's Head Papua.
 
Beside running researches on turtle migration and habitats, Tetha also lead a study on whale shark migration in Teluk Cenderawasih, Papua. The research uses satellite transmitter and aims to indentify important habitas and the impact of ecotourism on whale shark behaviour.
 
Her love to marine species grows during her undergraduate study in Pattimura University in Ambon. Her study in fisheries science and a research on Dugong in Kepulauan Aru have brought her to meet WWF.
Those days, the commercial exploitation of turtles in Aru was so high, so WWF and Center of Environmental Studies of Pattimura University conducted a research on turtle identification in Aru Tenggara Wildlife Reserve in 1992 in which she was involved. That experience became her first engagement with WWF. Because of her passion and dedication with marine conservation, Tetha finally joined WWF in 1996.  
 
Tetha got seriously sick when she return to Jakarta from a business trip in California USA, on October 20, 2013, attending ""Leatherback Turtle Summit"". She was diagnosed with cancer, and since then her condition continue to decline.
 
Tetha was a very special person. A woman who loved life, nature, and people. She was known as a friendly and sociable person among her friends. Her smile, passion, and positive energy has inspired people around her. We are honored to have had her as part of our lives
 
Goodbye, Tetha! May you Rest in Peace.