Dian Fossey essays

Dian Fossey essays Dian Fossey and the Mountain Gorilla The mountain gorilla was first discovered in 1902 by Captain von Beringe in Rwanda. These creatures were described as tall man-like apes and little was known about them until George Schaller spent a year examining them and wrote the book The year of the Gorilla. It was this book that inspired a young Dian Fossey to learn more about mountain gorillas. Dian Fossey was born in 1932 and studied at Jose State University graduating as an occupational therapist. Upon graduation Dian found a job at the Kosair Childrens Hospital in Kentucky. Dian enjoyed her job but she longed to see the rest of the world. By borrowing money she was able to finance a trip to Africa to visit the excavations at Olduvia and the mountain gorillas of the Virunga Volcanoes. In 1963 Dian set out to Africa. It was during this trip where she met Dr. Louis Leakey. Leakey was one of the most well known paleoanthropologists in the world and was heading the excavations at Olduvia. Dian experienced her first contact with mountain gorillas when she hiked up a 10 000 foot volcano. She fell in love with the magnificence of the gentle creatures. This is where she found her lifes work. Dian returned home and wrote about her experiences in Africa to the Louisville Courier Journal. In 1966 she attended a conference where she met Dr. Leakey again. Dr. Leakey offered Dian a chance to observe mountain gorillas in a long-term study similar to Jane Goodalls study of chimpanzees of Gombe. Even though Dian had no formal training in the study of animal behavior Leakey was interested in her ambition and determination to the job. Dian accepted the job and with Leakeys funding she left for Africa in 1966. Once Dian was settled in the Congo she began her study of the giant apes. First she would try to sneak up on them and quietly observe them. Then she changed her method and announced her presence ...