Dian Fossey1932-1985

Dian Fossey1932-1985

“No one loved gorillas more”“No one loved gorillas more”

An Introduction• Born in San Francisco, California in Jan 16, 1932

• Had a strong interest in animals

• Studied and obtained her degree in San Jose State College

• She was initially a pre-veterinary student , but switched to occupational therapy

Her Inspiration

• She was inspired by the writings of naturalist

and conservationist George B.Schaller

• She was also encouraged by Dr Louis Leaky,

an anthropologist and the good work of Jane

Goodall on chimpanzees

"An occupational therapist with lung

problems, a great fear of heights and no

training in animal behaviour, Dian was hardly

tailor-made for the job of following gorillas

among the steep ravines of a 14,000-foot,

rain-shrouded volcano. With only a two-day

crash course on data collection from Jane

Goodall to guide her, Dian recorded

everything she saw, and from the beginning

she saw clearly that gorillas were doomed

unless something was done about the

uncontrolled encroachment and poaching that

was going on."

Dian Fossey as described by wildlife film-maker, Dian Fossey as described by wildlife film-maker,

Alan RootAlan Root

"An occupational therapist with lung

problems, a great fear of heights and no

training in animal behaviour, Dian was hardly

tailor-made for the job of following gorillas

among the steep ravines of a 14,000-foot,

rain-shrouded volcano. With only a two-day

crash course on data collection from Jane

Goodall to guide her, Dian recorded

everything she saw, and from the beginning

she saw clearly that gorillas were doomed

unless something was done about the

uncontrolled encroachment and poaching that

was going on."

Dian Fossey as described by wildlife film-maker, Dian Fossey as described by wildlife film-maker,

Alan RootAlan Root

Research Findings• Dian founded the Karisoke Research Centre in 1967

• In 1970, she made a breakthrough when Peanuts, an adult

male, touched her hand. That was the first friendly gorilla-to-

human contact ever recorded

• She supported "active conservation" i.e. antipoaching patrols

and preservation of natural habitat as opposed to "theoretical

conservation" which includes the promotion of tourism

• Her detailed records of gorillas’ habits and behaviour

contributed greatly to our understanding of these great apes

and therefore their link to human species

Dian watches Coco and Pucker grooming each otherDian watches Coco and Pucker grooming each other

Observing the shy and elusive gorillas in the heavy covering of foliage was very difficult.

Observing the shy and elusive gorillas in the heavy covering of foliage was very difficult.

Visoke research camp, 1969. The camp was later renamed to Karisoke Research Center in 1972, and is the international center for gorilla

research

Visoke research camp, 1969. The camp was later renamed to Karisoke Research Center in 1972, and is the international center for gorilla

research

• Her observations of the gorillas’ behavior dispelled

myths that they were fierce creatures, that instead

they are very much the opposite--gentle, social

creatures that attack only in self-defense

• Dian set up the Digit Fund (now the Dian Fossey Gorilla

Fund) to attract international support for gorilla

conservation

• The work of Dian Fossey has raised the awareness of

the danger mountain gorillas face

Challenges• Though she had no formal training in the field of animal

study her determination saw her through her study

• She had to stay in adverse conditions in the mountains for her field studies despite her poor physical health

• To get the gorillas to accept her into their world, she learned to imitate how the gorillas walked and ate

• At the last part of her career, she was fighting a war with the gorilla poachers (“Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned”)

Gorilla head and carcassGorilla head and carcass

Dian spent a lot of her own money trying to motivate the Conservateur and Rwandese Park Guards.

Dian spent a lot of her own money trying to motivate the Conservateur and Rwandese Park Guards.

• Dian Fossey was murdered in her cabin at

Karisoke on December 26, 1985

• Her death remains a mystery, but many

suspect that she was killed for her outspoken

protection of gorillas. She was buried in a

cemetery next to her beloved gorillas

"When you realize the value of life, you

dwell

less on what is past and concentrate on

the

preservation of the future."

Dian’s last diary entry

In 1988 the life and work of Dian Fossey

was portrayed in the major motion picture

Gorillas in the Mist, starring Sigourney

Weaver.

She received an Oscar nomination for her

role as Dian.

Inspired by Dian’s life story, Sigourney

Weaver is now the patron of the DFGF.

In 1988 the life and work of Dian Fossey

was portrayed in the major motion picture

Gorillas in the Mist, starring Sigourney

Weaver.

She received an Oscar nomination for her

role as Dian.

Inspired by Dian’s life story, Sigourney

Weaver is now the patron of the DFGF.

How she inspires• Dian was a feminist icon in America and England -

the gutsy lady doing her thing

• In Rwanda she became a legend, where the people called her Nyiramacibili, the Woman Who Lives Alone in the Forest

• Dian was not academically qualified to study gorillas, and that always bothered her. In 1973, at 41 years old she went back to college (Cambridge) to get her Ph.D

• Her determination to work in adverse conditions in the wild

• Her passion and dedication in working with gorillas and later, her mission to protect the gorillas

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