An icon defending mountain gorillas, Dian Fossey graduated in Occupational Therapy. Part I

June 18, 2010

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It was rainy, grey and almost cold this last weekend. Good for me. Now and then I love such days to stay warm at home in my pyjamas watching movies.

One of my favourites is "Gorillas in the Mist" with charming Sigourney Weaver, in the role of, Dian Fossey.

The most important thing about this picture, beyond its tenderness, its beautiful sights, its sense of justice and the pain it produces to the spectator when "Digit", the best gorilla friend of Dian is killed, is that it is a true story.

Dian Fossey was a brave and a smart woman. She was born in San Francisco, California in 1932.

Since she was a little girl she was interested in animals. At age 6, she began horseback riding lessons and in high school earned a letter on the riding team.

Being so fond of animals she decided to go to San Jose &#&State University&#& as a pre-veterinary student. She soon switched her major to &#&Occupational Therapy&#& and got her degree as an Occupational Therapist at San Jose &#&State University&#& in 1954.

Dian began to work as an Occupational Therapist with several kinds of patients. She was very committed with her work and soon she was hired as director of the &#&occupational therapy&#& department at Kosair Crippled Children Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky, where she enjoyed living in a cottage on a farm outside the city limits. Not much time later she was involved helping in seasonal work with animals in the farm.

After seeing photos and hearing stories about Africa narrated by a friend of hers, Dian began to dream about going to Africa, which she did by first time in 1963, spending her entire life's savings.

That trip was very important in her life. She met Dr. Louis Leakey, and after speaking with him she took a pivotal decision she became interested in studying mountain gorillas.

In addition to this, during a climb excursion to see the mountain gorillas Dian was able to observe and photograph a group of them. After this experience, very motivating for her, she developed a firm resolve to come back and study those beautiful creatures, as she later described in "Gorillas in the Mist.".

The Africa's trip was longer than it was supposed to be, but, in spite of her desires to stay, Dian had to return home.