Dian Fossey was an American anthropologist and primatologist who pioneered the study of gorillas from 1966 until her death.

She was born in 1932 in San Francisco.

She studied veterinary science at the University of California. She also received a degree in occupational therapy in 1954 and this helped her find a job in a children’s hospital.

In 1963 she went to Africa to begin research on gorillas. She chose to conduct her research in the animals’ natural environment and not in laboratories as her colleagues did.

In 1967 she established the Research Center in Rwanda for the study of gorillas.

For her research, she received a Ph.D.

During her life she took care of many injured animals which she kept as pets. She also opposed poaching and the animal trade. In addition, she fought commercialization and tourism in natural areas and protected ecology and animals.

In 1985 she was found murdered. The prevailing theory is that she was killed by poachers.

The book ‘Gorillas in the Mist’ was written about her life, as was the film with the same title.

[Source: el.wikipedia.org]