​"When you realize the value of all life, you dwell less on what is past and concentrate more on the preservation of the future."

• ​PRIMATOLOGIST
  
• Studied and lived with mountain gorillas (much less common than lowland gorillas), gaining the animals' trust and significantly expanding on the little previously known about them
• Hired by paleoanthropologist Louis Leaky (Mary Leakey's husband), in hopes of learning more about humanity's ancient ancestors
  
• Protected the gorillas from human threats, chasing away armed poachers
• Became a fierce advocate for gorilla conservation, writing articles and lecturing to spread awareness of the dangers they face
• Established the Karisoke Research Center, which would become an internationally renowned research station
• Founded the Digit Fund, which raised money for her conservation efforts (after her death, the Fund was renamed the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International)
• Earned her doctorate in zoology from Cambridge University, and served as visiting professor at Columbia University

Conservation Controversy

Dian Fossey was indisputably committed to protecting the less than 400 gorillas that live in only one mountain range in the entire world; less certain, however, are the ethics behind many of her tactics. While few would protest her wearing a mask to scare away poachers, she drew little distinction between these criminals and impoverished locals who sought wood to sell or land for their livestock to graze. The area where the mountain gorillas live in Rwanda is a wildlife preserve, and therefore technically off limits for this type of use, but Fossey's radical and confrontational strategies (she apparently even kidnapped some intruders' children... yeah, not so good) did little to encourage their cooperation.

Bibliography: Browne, Janet. “Fossey, Dian.” The Oxford Encyclopedia of Women in World History, Oxford University Press, Vol. 2, 2008, p. 330.
​Drimmer, Stephanie W. National Geographic Kids: The Book of Heroines: Tales of History's Gutsiest Gals. Washington DC: National Geographic Partners, LLC, 2016. Print.
Yount, Lisa. A to Z of Women in Science and Math. New York: Facts on File, Inc., 1999. Print.

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Support these organizations dedicated to preserving her story & mission:

Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International
Volcanoes National Park Rwanda

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