Who is Diane Fossi? The years of life of this outstanding initiator of environmental actions 1932-1985. Even in his youth, this outstanding person decided to devote himself to studying the behavior of gorillas in their natural habitat. She conducted work on the study and protection of animals until her death. Let's look at the biography of Diane Fossi, find out what kind of scientific activity our heroine was engaged in.
early years
Diane Fossey, whose photo can be seen in the article, was born January 16, 1932 in the city of San Francisco, United States. When the girl was 6 years old, her parents decided to leave. Soon Katherine - the mother of our heroine connected her life with a successful businessman Richard Price. Father George tried not to lose touch with his daughter. However, the girl’s mother in every way prevented this. In the end, he stopped visiting little Diane and participating in her upbringing.
From an early age, the girl was fond of horse riding. It was this occupation that instilled in young Diane Fossi a love of animals. After graduating from school, she was enrolled in the College of Economics, where she studied business. The prospect of this kind of activity did not please the girl. Therefore, at the age of 19, she decided to change her profession. Soon, Diane Fossi entered the University of California at the veterinary department. In 1954, the girl received a diploma confirming her bachelor's degree.
Then Diane Fossi got a job at one of the Louisville hospitals. Here our heroine participated in the rehabilitation of children suffering from autism. During this period, her main dream was a trip to Africa on a real safari. However, the girl could not afford it, because she received a modest salary. Over time, Diane Fossi became friends with a woman named Mary Henry, who served as secretary in the hospital. Soon they joined forces to organize a trip to Africa.
Meet the Gorillas
In September 1963, Diane Fossi arrived in Kenya. It was here, in one of the national parks, that our heroine realized her old dream by visiting a safari. The trip made a grand impression on the woman. For several months, Diane traveled to Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Congo and Rwanda. During the trip, the young researcher saw gorillas for the first time in her life.
Fossi's enthusiasm, her admiration for wild animals - all this attracted the attention of a paleontologist named Louis Leakey. The latter suggested that Diane join the team for the study of mountain gorillas in natural habitats. Our heroine agreed without hesitation to stay in Africa.
The turning point in life
After working for several years in the field of wildlife conservation, Diane Fossi returned to her homeland. Thanks to the protectorate of Dr. Louis Lickey, she managed to get a grant from the National Geographic Society. In 1966, our heroine went to Nairobi. I got equipment here and went to get acquainted with Jane Goodall, a famous explorer of chimpanzees. Having gained invaluable experience, Diane decided to organize her own camp in the Prince Albert National Park. For six months, the woman conducted observations of several family groups of mountain gorillas.
Soon, a military conflict broke out in the Congo caused by the organization of a rebellion in the government. The riots affected the province in which Dian worked. In the summer of 1967, the researcher was arrested by local soldiers. Fossy was detained for a month. However, she managed to escape by bribing the guards. The woman went to neighboring Uganda. From here, she again tried to return to her research camp. This time, after the detention, she had to endure all kinds of torture and bullying. By a miracle, Diane escaped and reached Nairobi. Having met with a long-time friend Dr. Lika, she went to Rwanda, where she founded the Carisoke mountain camp, which became her home for many years.
Diane Fossi: Scientific Activities
In 1968, the South African photographer Bob Campbell arrived at the Carisoke camp, who was sent here by the National Geographic Society. The man began to accompany Diane in all sorties to the habitats of the gorillas. Thanks to the fruitful collaboration of young people, the first scientific article by Fossey titled "How to Make Friends with Mountain Gorillas" was soon published in National Geographic magazine. The material was accompanied by unique Campbell photographs. Thus, the fearless researcher became a real celebrity on a global scale. Diane began to periodically travel to the UK, where she worked on a dissertation in the field of zoology. In 1974, the famous researcher was awarded a doctorate.
Gorillas in the Fog
Between 1981 and 1983 our heroine was working on a book called Gorillas in the Fog. Diane Fossi was subsequently recognized as the author of this best-selling book. The scientific work of the researcher to this day remains one of the best-selling books on wildlife.
In 1988, the American director Michael Epted made the film of the same name, based on the book of the famous zoologist. In the image of a researcher who devoted more than twenty years of her life to the study of mountain gorillas, the popular actress Sigourney Weaver acted. By the way, the leading role was subsequently nominated for an Oscar in the category "Best Actress".
Tragic death
Diane Fossey's life ended on December 27, 1985. On this day, the lifeless body of the distinguished researcher was found in one of the bungalows of the Karisoke Science Center. As it became known, the woman was hacked into her own machete. Subsequently, the killer was never found. Presumably, the crime was committed by poachers who wanted to return to the exploitation of gorillas for personal gain. Diane Fossi was buried near her own bungalow next to several previously killed gorillas.
After the tragic death of our heroine, they began to criticize her everywhere. Some envious scholars reproached Diane for actions aimed at increasing his own popularity and significance. Rwandan politicians accused Fossi of racism. According to some allegations, the researcher participated in actions of reprisal against poachers without trial. However, such accusations remained speculation.
Legacy diane
To this day, researchers at the Carisoke Research Center have been educating the African population about the need to protect nature and endangered animals. Today, tourists regularly visit the slopes of the Virunga volcano to explore the wild gorillas. Such initiatives replenish the budget of Rwanda with considerable income. Since this state has understood its benefits, the terrain where mountain gorillas live is under strict guard. Thanks to the work of Diane Fossi, the endangered species has become the real property of one of the poorest African countries. Over the years, a completely different attitude has been formed towards gorillas. Probably, without the selfless, selfless work of the famous scientist, these primates would no longer be on the planet.
