Gorillas in the Mist

Dian Fossey traveled to the mountain forests of central Africa in 1966 to study mountain gorillas. At first, the gorillas were shy and often moved away when she approached. Fossey learned to sit quietly, watch them from a distance, and imitate some of their sounds. Over time, several gorillas became comfortable in her presence. Fossey kept careful notes about the gorillas’ behavior, family groups, and daily lives. Her observations helped people understand that gorillas were intelligent social animals, not frightening monsters. She also saw that gorillas faced danger from poaching and changes to the wooded places they depended on. People sometimes entered the forest to take animals, despite protections against doing so. To help, Fossey worked to protect gorillas and their forest home. She trained people to observe and guard gorillas, and she shared what she learned with others. Her work helped draw attention to the threats mountain gorillas faced. Protecting them still requires care for both the animals and the places where they live.