Discovering Dian: 12 Amazing Fun Facts About the Legendary Dian Fossey's Life and Legacy

1. Original Gorilla Ringtone Composer

You might say Dian Fossey was the original "Gorillas in the Mist" ringtone composer: This primate whisperer not only researched mountain gorillas, but also made groundbreaking discoveries in their behavior and ecology, including decoding vocalizations, shedding light on infanticide, understanding their diet, and uncovering the intricacies of nutrient recycling.
Source => oneearth.org

2. Gorillamping Pioneer

Move over glamping, Dian Fossey went full-on "gorillamping": she slept in a tiny tent amid the untamed African wilderness while conducting her groundbreaking research on mountain gorillas. Facing language barriers and bashful, big-eyed gorillas, her persistency eventually led to the establishment of the world-renowned Karisoke Research Center, attracting students and scientists from far and wide.
Source => gorillafund.org

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=> Fun Facts about Wildlife-Biologists

3. Party Mingler Pro

"And you thought you had a great memory for names at parties!" Dian Fossey went above and beyond by not only naming all her mountain gorilla friends but also throwing celery munching and vocal impersonations into the mix: She gave individual names to the gorillas she studied, putting those party minglers to shame, and even endeavored to gain their trust by mimicking their behavior with actions like eating wild celery and making gorilla noises.
Source => archives.news.yale.edu

4. Trailblazing Gorilla Whisperer

This gorilla whisperer could truly monkey around: Dian Fossey spent 18 years of her life in the lush jungles of Rwanda, studying and safeguarding wild gorillas, while fearlessly battling poachers and environmental threats, eventually becoming a trailblazing force in wildlife conservation.
Source => gorillafund.org

5. Hogwarts of Gorilla World

If Dian Fossey were a wizard in the world of mountain gorillas, her Hogwarts would definitely be the Karisoke Research Center: Nestled in Rwanda's Virunga volcanic mountains between Mount Karisimbi and Mount Bisoke, Fossey established this haven for gorilla research and conservation on the 24th of September, 1967.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

6. Casserole-Dish Introductions

Before Dian Fossey came along, gorillas were like those mysterious neighbors you know only by the vague scent of their dinners wafting through the walls: Fossey, however, decided to officially introduce humans to gorillas with a friendly handshake and a casserole dish: Dian Fossey is widely recognized for habituating mountain gorillas to the presence of humans, enabling her and her team to closely examine their behavior and dietary habits. Today, the Fossey Fund protects about half of all mountain gorilla families in Rwanda and works to safeguard Grauer's gorillas in Congo, where trackers camp for weeks to secure these sprawling territories.
Source => gorillafund.org

7. Sigourney Weaver's Primate Dance

Before King Kong could ever hope to meet Sigourney Weaver, she waltzed with gorillas in the mountains of Africa, securing her place as an honorary primate primatologist: The 1988 film "Gorillas in the Mist," directed by Michael Apted, starred Weaver as the real-life American primatologist, Dian Fossey. The film, based on Fossey's own book, showcased her groundbreaking work in studying and preserving mountain gorillas, and garnered five Academy Award nominations, with Weaver winning the Golden Globe for best actress in a motion picture – drama and Maurice Jarre taking home the best original score.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

8. Premier Primate Destination

For everyone who loves "Gorillas in the Mist" and feels the urge to unleash their inner Jane Goodall: Dian Fossey founded the Karisoke Research Center in Rwanda, making it one of the premier destinations for primate enthusiasts to study and protect our hulking, hairy relatives.
Source => blog.nwf.org

9. Pasika, the Solo Gorilla Mom

In a daring display of "gorilla my dreams" independence, Pasika the mountain gorilla went full single mom mode in the wild: After the death of her group's silverback, Pasika defied norms and roamed the forest solo with her 1-year-old infant Mashami, taking researchers by surprise and smashing the records for solo traveling with an infant in their 50-year database.
Source => gorillafund.org

10. Touching Inter-species Connection

In a hairy situation that would make even King Kong blush, a brave photographer captured a touching moment of interspecies connection: Dian Fossey's researcher Bob Campbell immortalized the first peaceful contact between a human and a gorilla in January 1970 when adult male Peanuts reached out and touched Fossey's hand, an encounter that later graced the cover of National Geographic.
Source => ufsasc.domains.uflib.ufl.edu

11. Equestrian to Primate Lover

Before going bananas for gorillas, Dian Fossey was quite the equestrian aficionado: Starting horseback riding lessons at the age of 6, she even earned a letter on her high school riding team and spent a summer working on a ranch in Montana, falling head over hooves in love with the animals there.
Source => gorillafund.org

12. Heart-wrenching Gorilla Love Story

Forget dating apps, Dian Fossey had a heart-wrenching love story with a gorilla: Strong bonds forming with her gorilla buddy, Digit, Dian Fossey's dedication to protecting these majestic creatures intensified after his tragic death by poachers in 1978, leading her to establish the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund to ensure the safety of gorillas and their habitats.
Source => gorillafund.org