Who Is Dian Fossey? Age, Biography and Wiki
Born on January 16, 1932, Dian Fossey would be 93 years old in 2025. She became a renowned figure due to her groundbreaking research on mountain gorillas in the Virunga Mountains of Rwanda. Fossey dedicated her life to studying these incredible creatures and advocating for their protection until her untimely death in 1985. Her work inspired generations of conservationists, and her life story continues to captivate audiences through literature and film.
| Occupation | Conservationist |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | January 16, 1932 |
| Age | 93 Years |
| Birth Place | San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Capricorn |
| Country | Rwanda |
Popularity
Dian Fossey's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Dian Fossey stood at approximately 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm) tall and weighed around 140 lbs (63.5 kg) during her peak. Her strong presence complemented her adventurous spirit, which took her deep into the forests of Africa, where she spent hours observing and documenting the lives of gorillas.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Dian Fossey was known to have had a few romantic relationships throughout her life, most notably being involved with fellow scientist Bob Campbell. However, her work often took precedence over her personal life, and she remained largely focused on her mission to protect gorillas. Throughout her career, she chose not to marry and lived a life dedicated to her passion for wildlife conservation.
Her parents divorced when she was six. Her mother remarried the following year, to businessman Richard Price. Her father tried to keep in contact, but her mother discouraged it, and all contact was subsequently lost. Fossey's stepfather, Richard Price, never treated her as his own child.
He would not allow Fossey to sit at the dining room table with him or her mother during dinner. A man adhering to strict discipline, Richard Price offered Fossey little to no emotional support. Although, by 1950, Richard and Hazel would relocate with Dian to Marin County, the same county where her father George Fossey, now married to Mrs.
Gladys Bove (née Kohler), resided. (George and Gladys would divorce by 1960. His third and final marriage would be to Kathryn Smith around 1959. Kathryn has mistakenly been cited as Dian's mother over the years.)
Net Worth and Salary
While it is difficult to ascertain an exact figure for Dian Fossey’s net worth at the time of her death, it is estimated that she earned a modest salary from her research and conservation efforts. In 2025, her legacy continues to influence the field of conservation, and her name is synonymous with gorilla conservation efforts. Many organizations continue to honor her work through funding and donations, which helps preserve her impact on both wildlife and conservation science.
Fossey turned down an offer to join the Henrys on an African tour due to lack of finances, but in 1963 she borrowed $8,000 (one year's salary), took out her life savings and went on a seven-week visit to Africa. In September 1963, she arrived in Nairobi, Kenya.
While there, she was introduced to safari guide John Alexander, who became her guide for the next seven weeks through Kenya, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe.
Their route included visits to Tsavo, East Africa's largest national park; the saline lake of Manyara, famous for attracting giant flocks of flamingos; and the Ngorongoro Crater, well known for its abundant wildlife. The final two sites for her visit were Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania (the archeological site of Louis and Mary Leakey); and Mt.
Mikeno in Congo, where, in 1959, American zoologist George Schaller had carried out a yearlong pioneering study of the mountain gorilla. At Olduvai Gorge, Fossey met the Leakeys while they were examining the area for hominid fossils.
Leakey talked to Fossey about the work of English primatologist Jane Goodall and the importance of long-term research on the great apes.
Career, Business, and Investments
Dian Fossey's career was predominantly centered around her groundbreaking research on mountain gorillas. She founded the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International in 1978, which still operates today, dedicated to protecting gorillas and their habitats. Fossey also authored the book "Gorillas in the Mist," which has been pivotal in raising awareness about wildlife conservation.
Her business endeavors included promoting conservation awareness and financial support for wildlife protection. Fossey's legacy continues to inspire new generations, with many organizations drawing on her methodologies and ideas to create sustainable conservation efforts.
Dian Fossey (January 16, 1932 – c. December 26, 1985) was an American primatologist and conservationist known for undertaking an extensive study of mountain gorilla groups from 1966 until her murder in 1985. She studied them daily in the mountain forests of Rwanda, initially encouraged to work there by paleoanthropologist Louis Leakey.
Gorillas in the Mist, a book published two years before her death, is Fossey's account of her scientific study of the gorillas at the Karisoke Research Center and prior career. It was adapted into a 1988 film of the same name.
Social Networks
Dian Fossey was not active on social media during her lifetime, reflecting on the earlier era before the digital age took hold. However, her legacy continues to flourish on various platforms, promoting wildlife conservation and education. Many organizations and individuals continue to share her stories and work through modern social networks, raising awareness about gorilla conservation issues and encouraging new contributions.
Fossey identified three distinct groups in her study area, but could not get close to them. She eventually found that mimicking their actions and making grunting sounds reassured them, together with submissive behavior and eating of the local celery plant.
She later attributed her success with habituating gorillas to her experience working as an occupational therapist with children with autism. Like George Schaller, Fossey relied greatly on individual "noseprints" for identification, initially via sketching and later by camera.
Education
Fossey earned her Bachelor's degree in Occupational Therapy from San Jose State University in 1954. Her passion for wildlife grew when she traveled to Africa in the 1960s, particularly spurred by the work of Louis Leakey. While she did not pursue formal further education in primatology, her hands-on experience in the field made her a trailblazer, leading to critical discoveries and advancements in our understanding of gorillas.
Fossey was a leading primatologist, and a member of the "Trimates", a group of female scientists recruited by Leakey to study great apes in their natural environments, along with Jane Goodall who studies chimpanzees, and Birutė Galdikas, who studies orangutans.
