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Dian Fossey

Origin: San Francisco, California
(January 16, 1932 - December 26, 1985)

Heroic Values: Achievement, Caring, Courage, Perseverance, Selflessness, Wisdom

Background

Dian Fossey started her career in occupational therapy and became the head of the department at Kosair hospital in Kentucky. Starting in 1957, the idea of traveling to Africa became increasingly interesting as she began reading and was hearing about it from friends. In 1963 she left on a safari to Kenya.

While in Africa she met Dr. Louis Leakey who would become very influential on her life. The meeting was brief, but they would meet again at a conference, where Fossey became one of "Leakey's Angels". That first trip took her to Mount Mikeno where she gained her first glimpse into the life of gorillas. In 1966 she quit her hospital job and left on a sponsored trip to set up the Karisoke Research Center in Rwanda. Her studies there greatly increased science's knowledge of gorillas and she became the first person the ever be touched by one.

Fossey's favorite gorilla, Digit, was killed by poachers which led to a passionate fight against poaching through the use of active conservatism. This brand of fighting the poaching meant sending out patrols and protecting habitats. After spending 22 years in the jungle with the gorillas Dian Fossey was murdered. Many believe it was because of her active conservatism that clashed with the desires of those interested in profiting from tourism, not because of her opposition to poaching.

Sources

Wikipedia
The online encyclopedia

Gorilla Fund
Dian Fossey's Gorilla Fund

Webster.edu
Essay by Eric W. Codak