Fossey, Dian (1932–85)

Dian fossey (1932–85) was born on January 16, 1932 in San Francisco, California. After a brief career in occupational therapy, Fossey pursued an interest in researching mountain gorillas (Gorilla gorilla beringe) in Africa. During the course of two decades, Fossey became one of the world's foremost primatologists specializing in gorilla behavior. Fossey's interest in gorillas was initially inspired by reading The Mountain Gorilla (1963) by zoologist George Schaller, and then during a safari to Africa that same year when she met the renowned paleoanthropologist Dr. Louis Leakey.

Dian Fossey lived in Rwanda for nearly 18 years among gorillas, eventually earning their complete trust.

Three years later, Fossey met again with Leakey, and he urged Fossey to follow through on her desire to study gorillas, telling her that ...