(California, USA). She is a doctor by training, although later, in 1974, she received a Doctor of Science degree in zoology ( Cambridge university). In 1963 during tourist trip in Africa she met the famous zoologist and paleontologist Louis Leakey, who later invited her to study the behavior of mountain gorillas in tropical forests Virunga massif, at the junction of the DRC ( Democratic Republic of the Congo), Rwanda and Uganda. Here she studied the behavior of mountain gorillas for 18 years. She was an outspoken conservationist and campaigner against poaching in the Virunga National Park.
In 1975, she became the heroine of the film National Geographic Society "In Search of Giant Apes" (1975).
Dian Fossey lived with mountain gorillas for 18 years, and she knew for sure that the main danger to these smart and funny, strong and unpredictable animals is humans. By 1980, there were only 250 mountain gorillas left on Earth, so D. Fossey waged a constant battle against poachers. Diane studied the gorillas patiently and sensitively, constantly risking her life, she waited for years for the gorillas to accept her into the troop. In the end, she won - she was accepted. So, she lived alone among these powerful, largest monkeys in the world, studying their habits, skills and, no matter how strange it may sound, culture.
When her photograph appeared on the cover of National Geographic in January 1970, Diane became famous. In 1980 she received doctorate at Cambridge University in the UK and has been named the world's leading expert on the physiology and behavior of mountain gorillas. Fossey taught her own course at Cornell University from 1981-1983, during which time she wrote her best-selling book Gorillas in the Mist. The book is still the world's best-selling book about gorillas and was made into a film in 1988.
In 1983, her popular science book “Gorillas in the Mist” was published. Later, in 1988, partly based on this book, a film of the same name was filmed. Feature Film with Sigourney Weaver leading role.
Dian Fossey was hacked to death with her own cane cutter (machete) in her camp bungalow near the Karisok Research Center, Rwanda on December 26, 1985. The murder has not been solved. It is possible that Diane was killed by Africans hired by those whom Fossey was preventing from using gorillas for commercial purposes. Dian Fossey was buried next to the killed gorillas in the yard behind the bungalow. Carved on the tombstone is her Rwandan name Nuarmachabele (“The Woman Who Lives Alone in the Mountains”) and the epitaph: “No one loved gorillas more. Rest in peace, dear friend, forever protected in this holy land, your home where you belong."
| Comments: 1 |
It turned out that females prefer those males who take care of their cubs or, at a minimum, are tolerant of them. Males who paid attention to cubs, whether their own or others', fathered offspring 5.6 times more often than males who did not pay attention to cubs. Even the “middle-class” ones had babies 2.9 times more often than the gorillas at the bottom of the “list.”
Stanislav Drobyshevsky
Man, like any biological creature, has gone through a long path of evolution. In principle, this path can be traced back to Precambrian times, literally starting with bacteria, with the RNA world. Usually, the evolutionary path of man begins to be counted either from the appearance of primates, or from the beginning of the appearance of bipedalism.
Orangutans have two morphs of males: large, with characteristic growths on the face (dominants), and smaller ones, reminiscent of females (subordinates). Typically, a given area of the forest is dominated by one large male, he is the father of most of the cubs. And several other males of both morphs occupy a subordinate position and rarely become fathers. When the patriarch ages or weakens, the place of the main male is gradually taken by another male of a dominant morph with outgrowths on his face. Such a change may be accompanied by a period of unstable hierarchy, sometimes lasting up to several years. At this time, subordinate (female-like) males also get a chance to reproduce.
An ethologist from the University of Pisa, Elisabetta Palaggi, believes that it is the ability of primates to behave frivolously that helps them exist in large groups. In her work, she studied the behavior of nineteen chimpanzees living in a common enclosure. Palaggi's group of test subjects was quite diverse. It included males and females of the most different ages. Scientists spent 344 hours in the cage observing each monkey.
Criticism
After Fossey's death, criticism began to be heard against her. Some researchers accused her of falsifications in order to exaggerate her own importance. Some Rwandan politicians described Fossey as a racist and sadist who looked at people around her with indifference and gave all her love to gorillas. According to some statements [what?] (whose?), Fossey gave harsh executions to people who were suspected of poaching (whose guilt had not yet been proven).
see also
Write a review of the article "Fossey, Diane"
Notes
Links
Passage characterizing Fossey, Diane
“Do you think I, an old man, don’t understand the current state of affairs?” – he concluded. - And that’s where it is for me! I don't sleep at night. Well, where is this one? great commander yours is where he showed himself?“That would be long,” answered the son.
- Go to your Buonaparte. M lle Bourienne, voila encore un admirateur de votre goujat d'empereur! [here is another admirer of your servile emperor...] - he shouted in excellent French.
– Vous savez, que je ne suis pas bonapartiste, mon prince. [You know, prince, that I am not a Bonapartist.]
“Dieu sait quand reviendra”... [God knows when he will return!] - the prince sang out of tune, laughed even more out of tune and left the table.
The little princess remained silent throughout the argument and the rest of the dinner, looking fearfully first at Princess Marya and then at her father-in-law. When they left the table, she took her sister-in-law by the hand and called her to another room.
“Comme c"est un homme d"esprit votre pere," she said, "c"est a cause de cela peut etre qu"il me fait peur. [Which clever man your father. Maybe that’s why I’m afraid of him.]
- Oh, he's so kind! - said the princess.
Prince Andrey left the next day in the evening. The old prince, without deviating from his order, went to his room after dinner. The little princess was with her sister-in-law. Prince Andrei, dressed in a traveling frock coat without epaulettes, settled down with his valet in the chambers assigned to him. Having examined the stroller and the packing of the suitcases himself, he ordered them to be packed. In the room there remained only those things that Prince Andrei always took with him: a box, a large silver cellar, two Turkish pistols and a saber, a gift from his father, brought from near Ochakov. Prince Andrei had all these travel accessories in great order: everything was new, clean, in cloth covers, carefully tied with ribbons.
In moments of departure and change of life, people who are able to think about their actions usually find themselves in a serious mood of thought. At these moments the past is usually reviewed and plans for the future are made. Prince Andrei's face was very thoughtful and tender. He, with his hands behind him, quickly walked around the room from corner to corner, looking ahead of him, and thoughtfully shaking his head. Whether he was afraid to go to war, or sad to leave his wife - maybe both, but, apparently, not wanting to be seen in this position, hearing footsteps in the hallway, he hastily freed his hands, stopped at the table, as if he was tying the cover of a box, and assumed his usual, calm and impenetrable expression. These were the heavy steps of Princess Marya.
“They told me that you ordered a pawn,” she said, out of breath (she was apparently running), “and I really wanted to talk to you alone.” God knows how long we will be separated again. Aren't you angry that I came? “You have changed a lot, Andryusha,” she added, as if to explain such a question.
She smiled, pronouncing the word “Andryusha”. Apparently, it was strange for her to think that this strict, handsome man there was that same Andryusha, a thin, playful boy, a childhood friend.
-Where is Lise? – he asked, only answering her question with a smile.
“She was so tired that she fell asleep in my room on the sofa. Ax, Andre! Que! tresor de femme vous avez,” she said, sitting down on the sofa opposite her brother. - She's a perfect child, so sweet cheerful child. I loved her so much.
Prince Andrei was silent, but the princess noticed the ironic and contemptuous expression that appeared on his face.
– But one must be lenient towards small weaknesses; who doesn't have them, Andre! Don't forget that she was brought up and grew up in the world. And then her situation is no longer rosy. You have to put yourself in everyone's position. Tout comprendre, c "est tout pardonner. [Whoever understands everything will forgive everything.] Think about what it must be like for her, poor thing, after the life to which she is accustomed, to part with her husband and remain alone in the village and in her situation? This very hard.
Prince Andrei smiled, looking at his sister, as we smile when listening to people whom we think we see right through.
“You live in a village and don’t find this life terrible,” he said.
- I'm different. What to say about me! I don’t wish for another life, and I cannot wish for it, because I don’t know any other life. And just think, Andre, for a young and secular woman to be buried in best years life in the village, alone, because daddy is always busy, and I... you know me... how poor I am in ressources, [interests.] for a woman accustomed to to a better society. M lle Bourienne is one...
“I don’t like her very much, your Bourienne,” said Prince Andrei.
- Oh no! She is very sweet and kind, and most importantly, she is a pitiful girl. She has no one, no one. To tell the truth, I not only don’t need her, but she’s shy. I, you know, and She has always been a savage, and now she’s even more so. I love being alone... Mon pere [Father] loves her very much. She and Mikhail Ivanovich are two persons to whom he is always affectionate and kind, because they are both blessed by him; as Stern says: “we love people not so much for the good they have done to us, but for the good we have done to them.” Mon pere took her as an orphan sur le pavé, [on the pavement], and she is very kind. And mon pere loves her reading style. She reads aloud to him in the evenings. She reads great.
The locals dubbed her the forest hermit. Visitors called her crazy. Her work colleagues treated her with a feeling of deep surprise, not always mixed with understanding, and called her the Monkey Queen.
TOGETHER WITH FISH
According to Dian Fossey, she ended up in Africa not because it was destined to be so. Just one fine day she had a great desire to see wild animals and live among them in a world untouched by people.
However, first things first. The girl's parents separated when she was five years old. The mother remarried and, in an attempt to improve her life, moved away from her daughter. The girl was dressed and wearing shoes, but very lonely. And since she also had no friends among her peers, she began to seek friendship with animals.
But even here she was disappointed. Her mother did not allow her to have a dog or a cat. So the girl’s only friend became a silent and indifferent aquarium fish.
Years passed. Diane studied well, dreaming of becoming a veterinarian. But she couldn’t pass the exams in chemistry and physics when entering the University of California. She became a psychologist and began working with sick children. And since Diane did not know how to give herself half-heartedly, she spent 24 hours a day in the clinic with her little patients.
Outwardly she was sweet and almost invisible. But men liked it. Sometimes romances happened in her life, but, alas, they were fleeting. And we, talking about the feat of Dian Fossey, would never have remembered any of them if her huge dream about Africa had not grown out of it.
GORILLA COUNTRY
So, one of the girl’s gentlemen was from Rhodesia. Trying to capture her imagination, he often told her about Africa and infected her with his love.
In 1963, having collected a small amount of money, Diane went to Tanzania. And here I saw the first gorillas. “They were big, but not ugly at all,” she later recalled. At first, Diane viewed her neighbors from a safe distance, but gradually began to communicate with them, learning their language. Primitive, simple, but still a language. In any case, she understood them and they understood her.
Diane learned to bark, make funny grunts, hiss and imitate the movements of gorillas. When she wanted to demonstrate her friendliness and goodwill to the leader of the pack, the girl wrapped her arms around herself and squatted several times to be lower than the leader. The gorilla absolutely loved this - he smiled, jumped high and several times even treated the guest to fruit.
Over time, the animals accepted Diane into their pack. She would sit next to them for hours, nibbling on their favorite wild celery or picking lice out of gorilla fur. Diane was happy.
After all, now she has finally found friends. Meek and affectionate. Demanding and playful. But the main thing is those who are always waiting for her and loving her. And she knew for sure that they loved her.
So four years passed. Fossey managed to obtain a grant from the National Geographic Society and establish a research station - Karisoke. The name Dian Fossey appeared on the pages of magazines and newspapers. They began to listen to her opinion, expeditions began to be sent to her wilds. Diane had her own fans and even patrons. But she didn't like all this.
The need to travel to conferences and symposiums at least occasionally was a burden. So over time, Fossie became even more isolated in her monkey world and generally stopped appearing in public. She preferred to spend almost all her time among the furry friends dear to her heart.
They also paid her with rare affection. On people, even local residents, her alienation made a strange impression and alienated her more and more, inspiring distrust and sometimes outright hostility.
When Diane's photograph appeared on the cover of National Geographic in January 1970, the woman became famous. She received her PhD from the University of Cambridge in 1980 and has been named the world's leading expert on the physiology and behavior of mountain gorillas. Fossey gave her own lecture course at Cornell University from 1981-1983.
In 1983, her popular science book “Gorillas in the Mist” was published, which became a bestseller. This book is still the best-selling book in the world about gorillas. In 1988, a feature film of the same name was made based on this book, starring Sigourney Weaver.
FURIOUS DIANE
They called her Nyiramachabelli, which means “the woman who lives alone in the mountains,” and considered her a real madwoman. Luckily, Diane didn't care at all what others thought of her. She worked tirelessly, conducting one study after another. And her soul only ached for her pets.
The work produced tangible results. She has achieved a lot in the study of animals, which she has long ceased to perceive as just animals. The question of extinction of the species was no longer raised - under Diane’s sensitive patronage, the steep mountain slopes of the foggy Virunga were already inhabited by 20 gorilla families.
Gradually the animals became her family. Therefore, Fossey was ruthless towards those who caused irreparable damage to nature and posed a threat to the population of her friends. Diane pursued poachers mercilessly: she took away guns, disabled traps, and even flogged the criminals with her own hands.
Over time, the situation worsened. It turned out that the lands inhabited by gorillas are very picturesque and rich. That’s why the Rwandan government has its eyes on them, wanting to create a profitable amusement park inhabited by almost trained gorillas.
There has never been such an attraction anywhere! Naturally, Diane was categorically against it. She openly promised to personally shoot the first tourist who dared to set foot on the ground of her station.
“One can respect the asceticism of a fragile, not very young and far from healthy woman, but everything has its limits... even love for our smaller brothers,” the Rwandan minister reasoned, or something like this.
It must be said that he treated “fierce Diane” well all these years. He was even partly flattered that such a prominent scientist lived and worked in his country, and with such an unusual fate.
But the interests of the country, as well as, apparently, one’s own pocket, were above all... And the open persecution of Dian Fossey began. The result was unexpected even for him. In any case, they say he was very upset.
MACHETE FOR KILLING
Early on a foggy morning, young American graduate student Wayne McGuire, conducting research with Dian Fossey, was awakened by loud, terrified screams from black workers at Karisoke Station.
He arrived not so long ago and still did not know the local language - Swahili. But the phrase “Dian kufa!”, shouted heart-rendingly many times. translated almost immediately, but refused to believe her. He realized what had happened later, when in Diane’s cottage he saw her body stretched out near the bed with her head mercilessly chopped off and her face mutilated.
The murder weapon lay nearby - an old machete, the most necessary tool for those who are forced to fight their way through the jungle. Several years ago, Diane fearlessly took it from one of her monkeys' countless enemies. Now “the gun has fired.”
This happened on December 27, 1985. At Christmas holidays. Dian Fossey was 54 years old. A few days later she was buried. Nine months later, McGuire and one of the station's workers, Emmanuel Ruelekana, were quickly charged with murder.
No one was even going to investigate what happened. It was only necessary to maintain the appearance of legality and, if possible, save face in front of the powerful States.
Dian Fossey found her final resting place in a tiny animal cemetery. Her grave is located next to the graves of the gorillas, whom she buried according to all the rules and to whom she dedicated her whole life. These long-sagging mounds of earth were densely covered with wild orchids, emitting a heavy, sweetish-sugary aroma.
Inscribed on her tombstone is her Rwandan name, Nyiramachabelli, and the epitaph: “No one loved gorillas more. Rest in peace, dear friend, forever protected in this holy land, your home where you belong.”
“She fell out of the world of people, and her trouble was that she could not turn into a gorilla herself...” - this is what one of her colleagues said bitterly at Diane’s grave. There's probably no better way to say it...
The park was built. Tourists were allowed in. They saw what they wanted. They messed up what they could. Many monkeys could not withstand the changes in their usual way of life and quickly withered away.
The life story of Dian Fossey, in a somewhat embellished form, formed the basis of the film “Gorillas in the Mist”, over which both children and adults have been crying for decades...
Sergei BORODIN
And promoter of protection wildlife.
| Dian Fossey | |
|---|---|
| Dian Fossey | |
| Date of Birth | January 16(1932-01-16 ) |
| Place of Birth | |
| Date of death | December 26(1985-12-26 ) (53 years old) |
| A place of death | Virunga massif (Rwanda) |
| A country | |
| Scientific field | ethology |
| Place of work |
|
| Alma mater | Cambridge university |
| Academic degree | doctorate [d] |
| Known as | Wildlife conservationist, anti-poaching activist, mountain gorilla defender. |
| Quotes on Wikiquote | |
| Dian Fossey at Wikimedia Commons | |
Biography
Criticism
After Fossey's death, criticism began to be heard against her. Some researchers accused her of falsifications in order to exaggerate her own importance. Some Rwandan politicians described Fossey as a racist and sadist who looked at people around her with indifference and gave all her love to gorillas. According to some statements [ what?], Fossey gave harsh executions to people who were suspected of poaching (whose guilt had not yet been proven).
see also
Notes
- BNF ID: Open Data Platform - 2011.
- Encyclopædia Britannica
Who is Dian Fossey? The years of life of this outstanding initiator of environmental actions were 1932-1985. Even in his youth, the person decided to devote himself to studying the behavior of gorillas in natural environment a habitat. She carried out work on research and protection of animals until her death. Let's look at the biography of Dian Fossey and find out what scientific activities our heroine was involved in.
early years
Dian Fossey, whose photo can be seen in the article, was born on January 16, 1932 in San Francisco, United States. When the girl turned 6 years old, her parents decided to separate. Soon Katherine, the mother of our heroine, connected her life with successful businessman Richard Price. Native father George tried not to lose touch with his daughter. However, the girl’s mother prevented this in every possible way. Ultimately, he stopped visiting little Diane and participating in her upbringing.
WITH early years the girl was fond of horse riding. It was this activity that instilled in young Dian Fossey a love for animals. After graduating from school, she was enrolled in the College of Economics, where she studied business. The girl did not like the prospect of this kind of activity. Therefore, at the age of 19, she decided to change her profession. Soon Dian Fossey entered the veterinary department. In 1954, the girl received a diploma confirming her bachelor's degree.
Then Dian Fossey got a job at one of the hospitals in Louisville. Here our heroine participated in the rehabilitation of children suffering from autism. During this period, her main dream was a trip to Africa on a real safari. However, the girl could not afford this, since she received a modest salary. Over time, Dian Fossey became friends with a woman named Mary Henry, who held the position of secretary at the hospital. Soon they joined forces to organize a trip to Africa.
Meet the gorillas
In September 1963, Dian Fossey arrived in Kenya. It is here, in one of national parks, our heroine realized her old dream by going on a safari. The trip made a great impression on the woman. Over the course of several months, Diane traveled to Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Congo and Rwanda. During the trip, the young researcher saw gorillas for the first time in her life.
Fossey's enthusiasm for wild animals attracted the attention of a paleontologist named Louis Leakey. The latter invited Diane to join the study team in natural conditions a habitat. Our heroine agreed to stay in Africa without further hesitation.
A turning point in life
After working in wildlife conservation for several years, Dian Fossey returned to her homeland. Thanks to the protectorate of Dr. Louis Leakey, she was able to receive a grant from the National Geographic Society. In 1966, our heroine went to Nairobi. Here I got some equipment and went to meet Jane Goodall, the famous chimpanzee researcher. Having gained invaluable experience, Diane decided to organize her own camp in national park Prince Albert. Over the course of six months, the woman observed several family groups mountain gorillas
Soon a military conflict broke out in the Congo, caused by the organization of a rebellion in the government. Mass unrest affected the province in which Diane worked. In the summer of 1967, the researcher was arrested by local soldiers. Fossey was imprisoned for a month. However, she managed to escape by bribing the guards. The woman went to neighboring Uganda. From here she tried to return to her research camp again. This time, after her arrest, she had to endure all kinds of torture and abuse. Only by a miracle did Diane escape and make it to Nairobi. Meeting with longtime friend Dr. Leakey, she headed to Rwanda, where she founded the Karisoke mountain camp, which became her home on long years.
Dian Fossey: scientific activities
In 1968, South African photographer Bob Campbell arrived at the Karisoke camp, having been sent here by the National Geographical Society. The man began to accompany Diane on all her forays to gorilla habitats. Thanks to the fruitful collaboration of young people, the first Research Article Fossey entitled "How to Make Friends with Mountain Gorillas." The material was accompanied unique photographs Campbell. Thus, the fearless researcher became a real world-class celebrity. Diane began periodically traveling to the UK, where she worked on her dissertation in zoology. In 1974, the famous researcher was awarded a doctorate.
"Gorillas in the Mist"
Between 1981 and 1983 our heroine was working on writing the book “Gorillas in the Mist.” Dian Fossey was subsequently recognized as the author of this bestseller. Treatise explorers remains one of the best-selling books about wild animals to this day.
In 1988, American director Michael Apted made a film of the same name, based on the book by the famous zoologist. The popular actress Sigourney Weaver played the role of the researcher who devoted more than twenty years of her life to studying mountain gorillas. By the way, the leading actress was subsequently nominated for an Oscar in the Best Actress category.
Tragic death
Dian Fossey's life was cut short on December 27, 1985. On this day, the lifeless body of the famous researcher was discovered in one of the bungalows of the Karisoke Science Center. As it became known, the woman was hacked to death with her own machete. Subsequently, the killer was never found. Presumably, the crime was committed by poachers who wanted to return to exploiting gorillas for personal gain. Dian Fossey was buried near her own bungalow next to several previously killed gorillas.
After the tragic death of our heroine, she began to be criticized everywhere. Some envious scientists reproached Diane for actions aimed at increasing her own popularity and importance. Politicians Rwandans accused Fossey of racism. According to some allegations, the researcher participated in acts of reprisal against poachers without trial or investigation. However, such accusations remained speculation.
Diane's Legacy
To this day, employees of the Karisoke Research Center are engaged in education African population regarding the need to protect nature and endangered species of animals. Nowadays, tourists regularly visit the slopes of the Virunga volcano to meet wild gorillas. Such initiatives add considerable income to the Rwandan budget. Since this state has realized its benefits, the area where mountain gorillas live is under strict protection. Thanks to the work of Dian Fossey, an endangered species has become a real asset to one of Africa's poorest countries. Over the years, a completely different attitude towards gorillas has developed. Probably, without the selfless, selfless work of the famous scientist, these primates would no longer be on the planet.
Finally
Dian Fossey is a unique individual who has lived alongside mountain gorillas for several decades. In addition to her fruitful scientific work, the researcher waged a constant fight against poachers. Her opponents were ruthless people, who were not stopped by the fact that at that moment only a few hundred of these beautiful animals remained on Earth. Risking her life every day, Diane managed to become part of a troop of the largest primates on the planet and draw the attention of the world community to the problem of their conservation.
Loading...
