Dian Fossey and the Mountain Gorillas
High in Rwanda’s misty mountains, a researcher watched gorillas move through thick plants. She recorded what they ate and how they behaved together. Her name was Dian Fossey, and her years of study helped change what many people knew about these great apes.
Fossey was born in San Francisco, California, in 1932. She studied occupational therapy, a field that helps people develop skills for daily life. After college, she worked with children in Kentucky. Her career took a different direction after she traveled to Africa in 1963. There she met scientist Louis Leakey and saw mountain gorillas in their forest habitat.
At the time, scientists knew relatively little about mountain gorillas in the wild. Some popular stories described gorillas as fierce monsters. Observing them carefully could reveal a more accurate picture. With Leakey’s support, Fossey returned to Africa to study them.
In 1967, Fossey established the Karisoke Research Center in Rwanda’s Virunga Mountains, between the volcanoes Mount Karisimbi and Mount Bisoke. Its name combined parts of the two volcanoes’ names. Rwandan trackers and other workers contributed their knowledge and skills to the difficult work of finding and observing gorillas in the mountain forest.
- researcher:
- A person who studies something carefully to learn more about it.
- habitat:
- The natural place where an animal or plant lives.
- observing:
- Watching something carefully to learn about it.
- contributed:
- Gave something, such as knowledge or effort, to help.
- patrols:
- Groups or trips that watch an area to help keep it safe.
- conservation:
- The protection of nature and wildlife.
- controversial:
- Causing disagreement or debate.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1How did Fossey’s trip to Africa in 1963 change the direction of her career?
- 2Why was careful observation important for understanding mountain gorillas?
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About this biography passage for Upper Elementary
“Dian Fossey and the Mountain Gorillas” is a biography reading passage about Wildlife Conservation, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 3 minutes to read (463 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.