Dian Fossey (January 16, 1932 – December 26, 1985) was anAmericanzoologist. She is best known for studyinggorillas inRwanda.
Fossey was inspired by a book calledThe Mountain Gorilla by George Schaller. Fossey studied mountain gorillas in Rwanda because of the book. When people want to get close to gorillas and get to know them they have to gain the gorillas trust. Fossey changed her lifestyle to match the gorillas’. She wanted to protect the gorillas from hunters. Hunters weregoing into places where to one was allowed to hunt. She also wanted to protect theendangered animals in the area, even though some people didn’t agree with her ideas. She is a hero to many people for what she did to help mountain gorillas. There is amovie that was made based on what she experienced in Africa. The movie is calledGorillas in the Mist. Herbook, also namedGorillas in the Mist, is the best-selling book on gorillas of all time.
She is recognized for saving mountain gorillas and starting a successful fund to help raise money for gorillas everywhere.
Fossey was born inSan Francisco. She was an only child. She was very lonely as a child. Her parentsdivorced when she was six years old. Fossey loved animals since childhood but she was never allowed to have a pet.[1]
She attended theUniversity of California in Davis. At college she was in aveterinary program. She transferred schools toSan Jose State University after two years. Fossey earned abachelordegree of arts degree in occupationaltherapy.[2] She became a very good horseback rider in college. She worked at a hospital inKentucky fordisabled children. Fossey was inspired by a book aboutmountain gorillas. She decided to travel toAfrica to study gorillas. She metLouis Leakey who is a famousanthropologist. Leakey hired Fossey to study gorillas. Fossey observed gorillas for many years. Fossey later earned aPhD fromCambridge College inEngland. The PhD was for her gorilla research.
Fossey was found dead in herhouse on December 26, 1985 at the age of 53. Reports think that she was killed by poachers. Her head was cut by apanga, a weapon used by poachers. Fossey was buried at the site she created as agraveyard for the gorillas.
Fossey studied the lives ofmountain gorillas for 18 years. She was the world’s expert on mountain gorillas. Her dedication allowed for mountain gorillas to continue as aspecies. Some of the people who lived in the area did not like her because of her thoughts on how the gorillas should be treated. She did not want them to be inzoos, harassed by tourists, harmed or killed for meat.
When you realize the value of all life, you dwell less on what is past and concentrate more on the preservation of the future.
—
The last words in Fossey'sjournal
- ↑Susman, Randall L. "Fossey, Dian." World Book Advanced, World Book, 2017, www.worldbookonline.com/advanced/article?id=ar207510. Accessed 31 Mar. 2017.
- ↑"Dian Fossey." DISCovering Biography, Gale, 2003. Student Resources in Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ2102100624/SUIC?u=palo88030&xid=54b65478. Accessed 31 Mar. 2017.
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