giuli dianfossey
TRANSCRIPT
Dian Fossey by Giuli
Dian Fossey
Childhood
● Dian Fossey● Fairfax, California● Jan 16, 1932● loved pets● suffered from asthma● Mom: strict, nice - Dad: alcoholic● parents divorced when she was 6● grew up mom and stepfather, Richard
Price
Highschool/College
● Lowell High School● started business course at College of Marin● then went to University of California, Davis
for pre-veterinary studies and failed● attended San Jose State College for
occupational therapy● received her bachelors degree in 1954● began her career as an occupational
therapist● moved to Louisville, Kentucky and worked
with crippled children
Interest in Africa
● wondered about Africa● wanted to go there● took a loan of $8,000 to go to Africa in 1963● loved Africa● met Dr. Leakey● saw the mountain gorillas, wanted to study
them● wrote a letter to Dr. Leakey to offer to work
for him
On the lookout for mountain gorillas
● got a letter back● was offered the job● was jokingly told to take her appendix out
and did it● then Dr. Leakey knew that he had found his
"gorilla girl"
Letters
Back in Africa
● returned to Africa, Congo in 1966● met Dr. Leakey briefly● was given a map ● got 4 workers● received a 1 year work permit● went to the weekly market for supplies● headed for camp● workers set up tents, while Dian settled into
her cabin
Finding Gorillas
● looked for 6 weeks, no sign of gorillas● stepped in fresh gorilla poop● knew they were close● found the gorillas .............● immediately wrote to Dr. Leakey● was happy to hear about her success
Gorillas
● met the gorillas● learned a lot about them● very nice animals with beautiful faces
Studying Gorillas
National Geographic
Civil War
● civil war in Congo● camp taken over by rebels● driven out to Rwanda in 1967● wrote resignation letter to Dr. Leakey● thought about living on the Rwandan side of
the mountain where there was no civil war● held back the resignation letter
Lover
● National Geographic photographer, Bob Campbell
● falls in love● gives her a dog● films the gorillas● leaves [times 3]● comes back [times 2]● is sent to a different assignment
Publicity
● is filmed by National Geographic several times starting in 1968
● camera crews from around the world film the gorillas
● in 1978 her work and the gorillas are shown on the Life on Earth show on the BBC
Doctorate
● needs a doctorate degree to obtain money for her research
● starts studying for a Ph.D. at Cambridge University in England in 1970
● goes back and forth between Rwanda and England to finish her doctorate in zoology based on her gorilla research
● hates to be away from her gorillas● receives her Ph.D. in 1976
● gorilla friend● have some sort of connection● hold hands● digit is killed by poachers
Digit
Poachers
● people that kill gorillas for their head and hands
● sell them for lots of money
Fight against Poaching
● traced poaching to very high places● was told to leave Rwanda in 1980● taught and lectured in the US● returned to Rwanda in 1983
DeathOn December 27, 1985 Dian was killed doing what she loved. Her death remains a mystery.
She was buried next to Digit, her favorite gorilla.
The End
The EndAny questions?