Forty years after her brutal murder, the legacy of primatologist Dian Fossey remains as powerful and complex as the mountain gorillas she dedicated her life to protecting.
Before Fossey’s pioneering work in the Rwandan forests, gorillas were widely feared as aggressive monsters. She shattered this myth by living among them, revealing their true nature as gentle, intelligent giants with rich social bonds and distinct personalities. Her research fundamentally transformed science and public perception.
However, Fossey’s mission evolved from study to a desperate, all-consuming battle for survival. The mountain gorillas faced habitat destruction, poaching, and political turmoil, pushing them toward extinction. Fossey’s fight to save them grew increasingly fierce and controversial, marking her final years with conflict.
