Dian
Fossey, spent over 22 years
observing and studying gorilla behavior. In 1967 Dian Fossey began
the Kariosoke Research Center. People from all over the world
traveled to the center to study gorillas. Fossey was quite famous for
dispelling the myth that the wild gorillas in the countries of Zaire
and Rwanda were aggressive and violent.
In 1932 Dian was born in Fairfax, California. She enjoyed animals and entered college with a pre-veterinary major. However, she switched her major to Occupational Therapy and graduated from San Jose State College in 1954. Fossey eventually went to Africa in 1963. Dian's mentor in Africa was the famous British anthropologist, Dr. Louis Leakey. His enthusiasm for the gentle primates as well as the the belief that studying the apes may give some insight into human evolution, helped persuade Dian to return to Africa to study the mountain gorillas.
Fossey began a long-term study of gorillas in 1967. When a wild gorilla approached Dian and touched her hand she was the first documented human to have animal initiated contact with a wild gorilla. Dian was eventually accepted into the gorillas lives. She became an adopted member of their extended family. Dian was very close to a young male gorilla, whom she named Digit. Dian was devastated when Digit was killed by poachers. She wrote about the poaching in National Geographic Magazine. After many people read about Dian and Digit's horrible fate they donated money which she used to set up the Digit Fund, as well as devoting the rest of her life campaigning to save this severely endangered species.
After completing her Ph.D. in 1980 at Cambridge University she began writing a book, Gorillas in the Mist, which was published in 1983. Eventually the book was made into a movie with the same title. This further increased the awareness of the dangers facing this gentle group of gorillas.
After spending 22 years studying mountain gorilla behavior, where she found the animals gentle and sociable, Dian Fossey was found murdered in her campsite. The tragic crime has still not been solved. Many people think Fossey was killed because she spoke out against poachers, the people who kill animals illegally. The Digit Fund was renamed the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund in her honor. Dian Fossey's great legacy is that mountain gorillas became protected by the government of Rwanda and the important work she began many years ago continues on today.
Designed by: Christie Burkhardt
"Fossey, Dian," Microsoft(R) 96 Encyclopedia. (c) 1993-1995 Microsoft Corporation.
Gorilla Fund Website [Online]. Available at http://www.gorillafund.org/002-site-ind-frimset.html
Dian Fossey [Online]. Available at http://www.anthro.mankato.msus.edu/bio/fossey.htm