The life of Dian Fossey in Rwanda, If you have ever been interested in mountain gorillas, then you have possibly come across the name Dian Fossey. Born on 16th January 1932 in San Francisco, California, Dian Fossey was an American primatologist and conservationist whose love and interest in animals began at a very young age. At only 6 years, she started horseback riding lessons and by High school, she had already earned herself a place on the riding team.
Dian Fossey Grave
While her passion had always been animals, she surprisingly focused on business after enrolling in College at Marin Junior College, following guidance/advice from her stepfather. During her summer break of College’s freshman year at the age of 19, Fossey went to work on a Ranch in Montana where she developed more love and attachment to animals and even resumed school, as a pre-veterinary student at the University of California. She defied her stepfather’s wishes to go to business school by spending most of her professional life working with animals and for this reason, her parents also denied her any substantial financial assistance during her adult life.
Dian Fossey at some point turned her focus on acquiring a degree in Occupational Therapy at the San Jose State College, eventually graduating in 1954 following the numerous challenges in the pre-veterinary course. Her Career Journey in Occupational Therapy continued after graduation when she interned at different Hospitals in California by working with Tuberculosis Patients. Having become a prizewinning equestrian, she was drawn to Kentucky in 1955, and 12 months later landed a job as an Occupational therapist at the Kosair Crippled Children’s Hospital in Louisville. Here, her residence was on a farm where the owners requested her to help with the animals, and in her free time continued pursuing her love for horses. Even as she continued working in Occupational Therapy, Dian Fossey never stopped dreaming of the chance to experience more of the World and the numerous wildlife having seen photos and listening to stories of a friend who had made a trip to Africa, she also made a decision to travel there.
In 1963, Dian Fossey made her first Trip to Africa after emptying her bank account (savings) and even taking a Bank Loan. Her destinations included Tanzania (then Tanganyika), Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo (then Zaire) as well as Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia). During this safari, her guide was John Alexander, a British hunter. The trip included visits to Tsavo, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and Olduvai Gorge (the archeological site of Louis and May Leakey) as well as Mount Mikeno as the final sites. Mount Mikeno is where George Schaller, an American zoologist undertook a year-long study of the mountain gorillas, and this made Schaller the first person to undertake studies on these Giant Apes hence paving the way for Dian Fossey’s research.
During her visits to Africa especially at Olduvai Gorge, Dian Fossey visited Dr. Louis Leakey and this later became the pivotal moment in her life. She learned about Jane Goodall’s work with chimpanzees in Tanzania which was then in its third year. From here, Dr. Leakey shared his belief in the significance of long-term studies with Great Apes with Fossey.
As part of the Life of Dian Fossey, she also received permission from Dr. Leakey to find newly excavated sites during her time at Olduvai Gorge, and unfortunately for her, she slipped down a steep slope and fell into a freshly excavated pit hence breaking her ankle. The planned hike that would take Fossey to the Mountain gorillas was even more risky but she was determined not to give up but proceed to the Giant Apes.
Following her return to Kentucky, Dian Fossey continued working at Kosair Children’s Hospital and even found time to publish several photographs as well as articles about her trip to Africa. These even helped her during the Spring of 1966 when she exhibited some of her published works during a lecture Tour in Louisville, with Dr. Leakey. It was during this lecture that Dr. Leakey encouraged Dian Fossey to undertake a long-term field project to study the mountain gorillas in Africa.
With the help of Dr. Louis Leakey, Dian Fossey was able to secure funding for the mountain gorilla study and this was about 8 months before having her appendix removed, paying off her first trip to Africa, to study and even learn basic Swahili.
Dian Fossey made her second trip to Africa in December 1966, arriving in Nairobi where she acquired the required provisions before continuing to Congo aboard an old Canvas-topped Land Rover. This vehicle was bought by Dr. Leakey. She made a stop at Gombe Stream Research Center where she met Jane Goodall to have an insight on her research methods with the chimpanzees.
Dian Fossey arrived in Congo in 1966/1967 accompanied by Alan Root who also helped in obtaining permits required to work in the Virungas. She undertook her first gorilla trek and after a 10-minute walk, Dian was treated to the sight of a lone male gorilla which out of fear retreated into the dense vegetation. She set up Camp at Kabara, only sloping down the Mountain to her Land Rover once a month to restock the pantry.
However, following the harsh political situation in Congo, Dian Fossey witnessed a rebellion in Kivu Province and on 9th July 1967 returned to her Camp only to find soldiers waiting for her. She stayed 21 days in Rumangabo under Military guard until the 26th of July when she found an escape route to Uganda. Having offered guards some cash to take her to Kisoro, she made her way safely to Travellers Rest Hotel. While in Uganda, she was encouraged not to return to DR Congo and after so much interrogation in Kigali, Dian Fossey eventually returned back to Nairobi where she met with Dr. Leakey for the first time in 7 months.
During her meeting with Dr. Leakey, Dian Fossey continued her work with mountain gorillas in Rwanda, even against the advice of the U.S. While in Rwanda, she met Rosamond Carr who was quite familiar with Rwanda. On 24th September 1967, Fossey established her Research Center between Karisimbi and Bisoke Volcanoes, named it “Karisoke” and continued her work of studying the mountain gorillas.
Dian continued using Schaller’s work and guidelines, depending on these Giant Apes’ natural curiosity such as knuckle-walking, chewing celery, and many other behaviors. In so doing four gorilla families were successfully habituated and besides that, she protected the mountain gorillas through law enforcement (fighting poachers and encroachers) by scaring poachers by wearing masks, confronting poachers, burning snares, spray-painting cattle so that herders could stay away from the Park, and many others. During her studies with mountain gorillas, Dian Fossey developed a close attachment to a number of them including “Digit” who was eventually killed on 31st Dec 1977 by poachers.
Fossey was eventually found dead in her Cabin on 27th Dec 1985 and her death was ruled as murder. The Life of Dian Fossey is documented in “Gorillas in the Mist” film and her legacy still lives on through the Dian Fossey Fund and Dian Fossey Museum. The hike to Dian Fossey Gravesite is done by guests in honor of her efforts and love for these special primates.