Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International

Dian Fossey took the initiative in doing the conservation and protection of gorillas and devoted his whole life. But who is this person and what were the highlights of his life?

1932: Birth of Dian Fossey in San Francisco

Her passion for animals quickly became the aim of her life. She studied to become a first-time pre-veterinary and she graduated occupational therapy.

1963: First trip to Africa where she met Dr. Louis Leakey with whom she will begin a long-term study of mountain gorillas three years later.

1967: After having been based on the archaeological site of Olduvai Gorge, they were obliging to go to between Mount Visoke and Mount Karisimbi hence the name "Karisoke".

Then Dian Fossey studied the gorilla ecology, demography and social organization. To study she tried to be like them and began to imitate them. In 1970 she gained their trust and had a first contact with an adult male gorilla ; she had named "Peanuts". Subsequently, the observation of Dian Fossey enabled to have new knowledges about their behavior and her studies have been published in National Geographic magazine.

1974: She passed a doctorate of animal behaviour

1977: After the death of a gorilla named “Digit”, she decided to create a fund to support gorilla protection efforts.

1980: She agreed to teach at Cornell University to share her knowledge

1985: Back in Africa, she is murdered

1988: In recognition for her actions, her life is represented in a film.

However, Sigourney Weaver became the honorary chairperson of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Found International previously established by Dian Fossey.

You can see more in the weblink :

http://www.gorillafund.org/