Dian+Fossey

Dian Fossey //** By Dannelle
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Dian Fossey was born in San Francisco, California, in 1932. As a child, she had always loved animals, but was not allowed to have any pets.

Dian Fossey was 28-years-old when she decided she wanted to go to Africa. She started researching wildlife and one book told her about mountain gorillas. There were only about 300 mountain gorillas left. They lived in one small spot in Africa. Many were hurt by hunters’ traps; some were hurt so badly that they died. She wanted to learn more. She made a commitment to save up so she could go to Africa to study mountain gorillas. She hoped they would not become extinct.

When she got to Africa two years later, she was attracted to a certain gorilla. She named him Digit. She watched him grow up into a 5-foot-tall adult gorilla. One day she found out that hunters had killed Digit. After the tragic loss, she started protesting against killing gorillas. She also informed the world about what was happening to gorillas. She wrote a book called //Gorillas in the Mist// and started a campaign against gorilla-poaching. She established the Digit fund and dedicated her live to saving the Mountain Gorillas. Dian trained African men how to keep poachers away and how to break hunters’ traps. She worked for 18 years to save mountain gorillas.

Sadly on December 26, 1985, she was murdered in her cabin by poachers. Because of the work of Dian Fossey, money continues to be raised to help gorillas. The Digit Fund is now known as the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International, and it raises money to fund research and run the Karisoke Research Center. Her book and film have raised public awareness of the troubles of the mountain gorilla.

Works Cited Schott, Jane A. __Dian Fossey and the Mountain Gorillas__. Minneapolis: Carolrhoda Books Inc., 2000.

__ NetTrekker - Educational Search Tool | Front Door __. 26 May 2009 .

Taylor, Marianne. __Mountain Gorilla (Animals Under Threat)__. Chicago: Heinemann, 2004.

Metos, Thomas H. "Fossey, Dian." //The New Book of Knowledge®//. 2009. Grolier Online. 26 May 2009 .