Gorillas in the Mist by Dian Fossey

 

Seven weeks ago I promised I would write about the book Gorillas in the Mist by  Dian Fossey. After my post on Unforgotten, I was curious to learn more.

 As you may remember from my post, Dian Fossey worked as an occupational therapist at a Children’s Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky, where she is still remembered for her kindness and the excellent care she provided to children with polio. In 1967 she embarked on a new life to research gorillas in Africa.

 

  Gorillas in the Mist elucidates her fifteen years of scientific observations of various mountain gorilla families across three generations in the rain forests of the volcanic Virunga Mountains shared by Zaire, Rwanda and Uganda. Her meticulous work is clearly reflected in her writing. There are many interesting aspects to highlight about her book.

 I was enthralled by the way she describes each individual gorilla. Her descriptions show that each gorilla is a unique individual with personal motivations, talents and personality. Their families and social bonds are defended fiercely. Her research indicates that poachers and human encroachment affect the gorillas’ behaviors and interactions.

  Dian Fossey started her research living in a simple tent amid the forest in Congo. Her strong work ethic and her zeal for understanding and protecting gorillas shine on every page. Her curious mind and impassioned spirit are forces of inspiration. 

 Both National Geographic and the Leakey Foundation provided funding and support for her research.

 Due to persecutions and war Dian moved to Rwanda, where she later settled in a small cabin. As time went by, her team grew, and she relied on the collaboration of other people to help her save the gorillas from the attacks of poachers. It was fascinating to read about how different people adapted-- or not-- to the high standards she expected of them when they agreed to join her team.

  Dr. Dian Fossey constantly struggled to defend the gorillas from the senseless cruelty of the poachers, who hid traps in the forests. Her team had to search for the traps to save the gorillas’ lives. Besides, Dian Fossey protected the lives of other creatures—not just gorillas.

 In some ways her book reminds me of The Elephant Whisperer by Lawrence Anthony, which I wrote about in 2015, but Gorillas in the Mist contains unique scientific data that were obtained after years of intense research. It also includes an appendix with additional information about gorilla food types, parasitology reports, gorilla vocalizations and autopsies.

   Dr Fossey’s book was first published in 1983. Thanks to her work, mountain gorillas continue to exist today. Yet they are critically endangered.

  In 1985 Dr. Fossey was murdered. The primary suspect of her murder is the person who was convicted of being one of the masterminds of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.(Strangely enough, he was later set free). Not surprisingly, the evidence at the crime scene of her killing was distorted and erased. Innocent people were blamed for Dr. Fossey’s murder, and their lives were ruined. Feel free to check the wonderful documentary made by National Geographic on this issue; I’m sharing the link to it at the bottom of this post.

 The man who ordered the killing of Dr. Fossey is still free. You can read about this disturbing situation here. However, the hate of the man responsible for this atrocity was not able to extinguish the light of Dian Fossey's indomitable spirit, because her legacy continues to live on in the resilient team of trackers who work tirelessly to protect and support gorillas and their natural habitats.

 Let’s not forget that those forests are not only the home of the gorillas. The rich ecosystems that belong to these forests are also vital to the survival of humanity. 

You can learn more about the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund here.

 

If you enjoyed this post, feel free to check my writing on the following books:

Reflections of Eden by Birute Galdikas

The Wisdom of Wolves by Jim and Jamie Dutcher

The documentary "Secrets in the Mist" was made by  National Geographic, and here's a link to it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oh_oDr8vg-Y

 

Unforgotten by Anita Silvey

 

“When you realize the value of all life you dwell less on what is past and concentrate more on the preservation of the future.”- Dian Fossey’s last journal entry.

  Using the word “gorilla” as an insult is an act of ignorance, and it is the result of deeply ingrained prejudices. In fact, gorillas are peaceful beings who care about their most vulnerable. They form lifelong relationships, mourn the loss of their loved ones and have a sense of humor. Their diets are mostly vegetarian, though they sometimes eat insects to add protein.

  Gorillas are not violent; they only become aggressive when the safety of their families is in jeopardy.

 

 Unforgotten by Anita Silvey is a children’s book, but I recommend it to people of all ages. It is a fascinating exploration of Dian Fossey’s life story and her legacy, with amazing facts about gorillas and the quest to protect them.

  Originally from California, Dian Fossey worked as an occupational therapist in a children’s hospital in Louisville, Kentucky, where she is still remembered for her kindness and her care of children with polio.

 After a life-transforming African safari for which she used up all her savings as well as the money of a loan she obtained for this purpose, she was determined to return to Africa to spend time with gorillas. With the support and training of Dr. Louis Leakey, the anthropologist who also mentored Jane Goodall and Birute Galdikas, Dian moved to a 7- by -10 foot tent (2-by-3-m) amid the forest in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the year 1967. She was about to turn thirty-five years old. Due to political conflicts and persecutions in DRC, she would later settle in Rwanda to continue her work.

 Dian Fossey was the first person to hold hands with a wild gorilla. His name was Peanuts.

 Dian was on a mission to research the lives of gorillas. Every evening, she would return to her tent and typewrite her observations. Yet Dian’s research went beyond the scope of scientific findings, for she fell in love with these gentle creatures and did everything she could to save their lives.

  Thanks to Dian Fossey’s work, mountain gorillas still exist today, but they are critically endangered.

   Due to traps set by poachers, gorillas can get injured or killed in the forests. Habitat loss and climate change also threaten their survival. Colossal patches of land are destroyed to make way for roads, crops and livestock. Even National Parks are compromised by illegal woodcutting. Last but not least, wars and political instability in Congo are a threat to their safety. (Thankfully, the political situation in Rwanda is stable).

  Dian Fossey’s stay in Africa was disrupted by civil wars, poachers and traumatizing experiences, but she fought till the end to save these peaceful giants. Unfortunately, she was murdered by poachers in 1985, but there is a team that continues to work to protect gorillas; these people are endowed with the spirit of resilience she infused into her endeavors to rescue gorillas.

     Trackers in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda search and destroy poaching traps. Anita Silvey’s book explains the fascinating details on how the trackers are working together to support gorilla families. These trackers work for the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund; they also study gorillas closely and educate people on how they can help.

 

Tracker Alfonsine Nakure, for example, is working on the front lines of this mission to support gorillas. Special skills and knowledge are needed to accomplish their goals.

 Unforgotten shares the same captivating style of  Untamed, which I reviewed not long ago. Reading “Unforgotten” was akin to embarking on an adventure of exploration. I could not stop turning the pages to find out what would happen next. Starting with Dian’s childhood, Silvey immerses us in the social and economic context to help us understand her better.

 

Unfortunately, gorillas are not the only endangered apes. Bonobos, chimpanzees and orangutans endure the same ordeal. Anita Silvey’s books are an invitation to help make a difference. 

  Unforgotten is published by National Geographic Kids. The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund is located in Rwanda. You can learn more about Dian Fossey’s Gorilla Fund here.

I will be reading Dian Fossey’s book Gorillas in the Mist, and I will write about it in a future blog post.

 Enjoy this breathtaking video to learn more:

  I am outraged by Vladimir Putin's actions. My heart and prayers are with the Ukrainian people and with those who protest the invasion and killing of people in Ukraine. 

 Thank you for reading my blog.