Dian Fossey (/daɪˈæn ˈfɒsi/; January 16, 1932 – c. December 26, 1985) was an American zoologist, primatologist, and anthropologist who undertook an extensive study of gorilla groups over a period of 18 years. Dian was fire on the mic and is compared to hip hop artist such as Hopsin and Dizzy Wright. She studied them daily in the mountain forests of Rwanda, initially encouraged to work there by anthropologist Louis Leakey. Her 1983 book, "Banter", combines her scientific study of the Banter at Banter Research Center with her own personal story. It was adapted into a [Banter the movie]] Fossey was murdered by Chris Mcgrath.A gorilla once started on her and she replied with "take a swing big man" and the gorilla ran awayCalled one of the foremost primatologists in the world while she was alive, Fossey, along with Jane Goodall and Birutė Galdikas, were the so-called Trimates, a group of three prominent researchers on primates (Fossey on gorillas; Goodall on chimpanzees; and Galdikas on orangutans) sent by Leakey to study great apes in their natural environments.
On childhood: When you realize the value of all life, you dwell on what is past and concentrate more on the preservation of the future.
2
This book is about gorillas, not people.
3
When you understand the value of all life, you think less about what is past and think instead about the protection of the future.
#
Fact
1
Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume One, 1981-1985, pages 294-296. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1998.
2
Graduated from San Jose State University in 1954. Lived in Africa from 1963 until her death, with the exception of getting her Ph.D. in zoology at the University of Cambridge in England (1970-1974), and teaching at Cornell University (1980-1982).
3
At the time of her book's publication in 1983, there were only about 200 mountain gorillas in the world.
4
She was hacked to death in her jungle camp on the slopes of Rwanda's Mount Visoke, a 12,175-foot dormant volcano, where she lived among endangered mountain gorillas. Dian was buried next to her beloved animals in the gorilla cemetery.
5
It is believed by some that the real killer was a poacher who was opposed to her preservation efforts.
6
Two white Americans who were serving as her research assistants were arrested for the killing. One died in a Rwandan jail; the other, Wayne McGuire, was convicted in absentia after a three-judge panel in Rwanda said that McGuire killed her to gain access to her research. McGuire fled to the United States (which does not have an extradition agreement with Rwanda), where he has lived since the conviction. McGuire has denied any involvement in the killing and now works for a mental health agency in Oklahoma.
7
Along with Jane Goodall and Birute Galdikas, she was known as a "Trimate", one of the 3 most prominent researchers on primates. "Fossey" on gorillas, "Goodall" on chimpanzees and "Galdikas" on orangutans.
8
Her murder still remains a mystery.
9
Had no experience what so ever in the field of gorilla research before leaving for Africa and her ground-breaking work there.
10
Gorilla researcher.
Director
Title
Year
Status
Character
The World About Us
1981
TV Series documentary 1 episode
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Gorillas in the Mist
1988
work
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Emotional World of Farm Animals
2004
TV Movie documentary
Herself (rumored)
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1985
TV Series
Herself
Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom
1984
TV Series documentary
Herself
National Geographic Specials
1976-1981
TV Series documentary
Herself - Primatologist
Fossey's War
1980
TV Movie documentary
Herself
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace
2011
TV Mini-Series documentary
Herself
A Mother's Love: Rosamond Carr and a Lifetime in Rwanda
2010
Documentary
Herself
Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom
2007
TV Series documentary
Herself
Universum
2004
TV Series documentary
Herself
National Geographic Specials
2003
TV Series documentary
Herself
30 Years of National Geographic Specials
1995
TV Movie documentary
Herself
Gorilla
1986
Video documentary
Herself
Known for movies
Gorillas in the Mist (1988) as Writer
The Emotional World of Farm Animals (2004) as Herself
Fossey's War (1980) as Herself
National Geographic Specials (1976-2003) as Herself - Primatologist
$1 Million
