Dian Fossey and the Mountain Gorillas: The Woman Who Studied Gorillas
Fossey's decades of fieldwork helped the world understand and protect mountain gorillas.
Dian Fossey was an American primatologist who began studying mountain gorillas in the Virunga Mountains in the 1960s. She founded the Karisoke Research Center in Rwanda in 1967 and wrote Gorillas in the Mist. She was killed in 1985, and the case is still debated.
Her work drew global attention to the threat facing gorillas. Today you can trek gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda. See Uganda vs Rwanda and gorilla conservation.
This guide is part of our animals of Uganda and East Africa guide. When you are ready to plan, see our Uganda safari packages or the Ameera Africa Safaris Uganda tours homepage.
At a glance
- Researcher: Dian Fossey
- Base: Karisoke, Rwanda, 1967
- Book: Gorillas in the Mist
- Impact: Global conservation awareness
Her Work
Fossey built trust with gorilla groups through patient observation and campaigned against poaching.
Visiting Today
See the 3-day Rwanda gorilla trek or Uganda's Bwindi.
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Her Work at Karisoke
American primatologist Dian Fossey founded the Karisoke Research Centre in Rwanda's Virunga mountains in 1967 and spent nearly two decades observing mountain gorillas. Her detailed studies showed their social lives, family structures and gentle nature, and her campaigns against poaching raised international awareness of their plight.
She was found murdered at her camp in December 1985. She is buried at Karisoke beside the gorillas she knew.
Legacy and Visiting
Today the Karisoke programme continues, and the gorilla population in the Virunga massif has recovered since her time. Visitors can hike to her grave and the old research camp from Volcanoes National Park. Read about the Karisoke hike, gorilla conservation and Volcanoes National Park.
Related Tours, Guides and Resources
- Ameera Africa Safaris homepage: Uganda safaris, tours and holidays
- Uganda safari packages
- Uganda travel guide
- How to book a Uganda safari
- Plan your safari with our team
Itineraries That Include This Experience
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Uganda Safari Pages
- Are Gorillas Endangered? Population, Poaching and Conservation in Uganda
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- Chimpanzee Lifespan, Diet and Habitat: Where Chimps Live and What They Eat
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- Animals of Uganda and East Africa: Gorilla, Chimpanzee, Big Five and Bird Fact Guides
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