But I believe it is her nontraditional background and humble approach to animal behavior research that continues to inspire young, emerging, and, often, female students (including yours truly) to visualize and achieve their dreams of becoming scientists who can make a difference in conservation. Her commitment to science eventually became overshadowed by desperate attempts to protect her beloved mountain gorillas from poaching and habitat loss, and her work and legacy are credited with improving the conservation status of mountain gorilla populations.

– a step considered essential for gaining legitimacy among scientific peers – and therefore joined the ranks as an authentic primatologist. She eventually and somewhat reluctantly completed her Ph.D. She provided a voice for the species, befriending some individuals (like Digit) and naming others after family members (such as Uncle Bert). Her approach uncovered the gentle nature of gorillas, debunking the common King Kong myth and revealing the range of personalities held by gorillas of all ages. As a former occupational therapist, she had the patience, determination, and keen observation skills to gain the gorillas’ trust slowly and steadily. She ended up seeking refuge in Rwanda, where she established her permanent research camp in Volcanoes National Park. Leakey was an anthropologist who aimed to introduce a new approach to studying the great apes by hiring three lay people (i.e., non-scientists), all female, to immerse themselves into the lives of their study subjects and uncover the secrets of their elusive behavior.Īs a tough and brave woman, Dian had the courage to face difficult field conditions and adjust her plans in the face of the political instability she encountered in the Democratic Republic of Congo where she first set up camp. If you are over a certain age (ahem), you probably remember when Dian Fossey gained fame for her innovative work with mountain gorillas as one of Louis Leakey’s “Trimates” along with Jane Goodall, who studied chimpanzees, and Birute Galdikas, who studied orangutans. There are so many things I’d like to share about the Fossey Fund, but for now I’d like to share five things you may not know about the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund and why these aspects of the Fossey Fund’s work resonate so deeply with me.ĭian Fossey was not your typical scientist

I am so proud to contribute to conservation in this way and I thoroughly enjoy learning more and more about the organization, advancing its mission, and shaping its vision for the future. Today, I represent Cleveland Metroparks Zoo by serving on the Board of Directors for the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund where I help guide the organization’s activities and ensure its secure financial stability.

My own passionate commitment to gorillas and gorilla conservation was sparked by a National Geographic special on Dian Fossey that I watched as an undergraduate student at Bowling Green State University. The 50th Anniversary of the Fossey Fund was a fantastic opportunity to highlight the many accomplishments of the organization over time, including a reversal of the trajectory of the mountain gorilla’s population status from critically endangered to being the only ape population now increasing in number. Only three years ago, we here at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo joined people from all around the world to launch the first World Gorilla Day and celebrate the success of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund as the world’s longest running and largest organization dedicated entirely to gorilla conservation.

Green gorilla 50th st