THE LEGACY OF DIAN FOSSEY

Ever heard of Dian Fossey or you need to know more about her conservation work? Around the 70s, 80s and 90s, the survival of Apes in Africa had the darkest bit of history. Gorillas and chimpanzees continuously encountered conflict, persecution and poaching from all kinds of humans. Credit then goes to Dian Fossey and Jane Goodall under the guidance of Louis Leakey a fact that the world got to know about their plight in the wild. When Jane Goodall had succeeded in her research on chimpanzees in Gombe Tanzania, Leaky felt that a same study be conducted on mountain gorillas within the Virunga Area and Orangutans Indonesia. Goodall was passion for chimpanzees helped her during her research on complex behavior from these large apes. She discovered that these great apes live in societies and had many traits which include among others waging war against the neighboring rivals. She also managed to come up with how compassionate, affectionate and inventive chimpanzees are. The two then became great primatologists recognized worldwide.

Dian Fossey was born in 1932; California but later grew up with a very strict step dad who was also a business. She didn’t have that parental love something that made love animals instead. She set off for a 7 week tour to Africa where she paid a visit to Tsavo National Park, Mount Mikeno, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater and Olduvai Gorge. At Olduvai Gorge, she met Leakey family who briefed her on Jane Goodall and her work with chimpanzees in Gombe. Her first sight at the rare mountain gorillas while on wildlife and gorilla safari in Uganda during her first visit. From Uganda, she spent some time in Rhodesia and later went to Louisville. Several articles were written by her and this impressed Leaky when she had her presentation. She learnt most of the gorillas’ behaviors.

She played exceptional role towards conservation of these critically endangered apes and conducted research. She established Karisoke research center to aid her work on primate conservation however, she still faced challenges across different parties. In order to keep Dian Fossey’s work vibrant, there is Dian Fossey International Fund which was founded to continue with her duties. Her work is worth appreciating a fact that today, these critically endangered apes have increased in number and the world boasts of more than a 1000 individuals.