Dian Fossey
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Transcript of Dian Fossey
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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