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Unforgotten: The Wild Life of Dian Fossey and Her Relentless Quest to Save Mountain Gorillas
Explore the fascinating life and legacy of groundbreaking primatologist and conservationist Dian Fossey, who made it her life's mission to study and protect mountain gorillas, in this powerful biography from award-winning author Anita Silvey.
In 1963, young American Dian Fossey spent all her savings and took out a loan to realize her dream--to go to Africa. It soon became her life's mission to study and protect the few mountain gorillas left on Earth. Fossey had no experience or formal scientific training, but she was smart, passionate, and strong-willed--and she just happened to meet paleoanthropologist Louis Leakey, who helped her pursue her goal of studying animals in the wild. Fossey set up a research camp and threw herself into tracking and observing mountain gorillas. Over the next 18 years, Fossey got closer to gorillas than any human ever had before. As she learned to mimic their behavior and became accepted by them, Fossey's studies grew into a labor of love and a mission to protect her beloved gorillas from poachers and other threats--no matter what the cost.
Sadly, Fossey was murdered at her camp in 1985, and to this day, her death remains a mystery. But her legacy lives on through the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund: In 1973 Fossey recorded only 275 gorillas living in Volcanoes National Park; there are about twice that many today. Fossey's story is one of tragedy, but also passion, science, and preservation. As Jane Goodall, once said, "If Dian had not been there, there might be no mountain gorillas in Rwanda today." Unforgotten is the dramatic conclusion to Silvey's trilogy of biographies on Leakey's "Trimates." With unparalleled storytelling, sidebars, maps, and an award-winning design, Unforgotten will inspire the next generation of budding scientists and conservationists.
In 1963, young American Dian Fossey spent all her savings and took out a loan to realize her dream--to go to Africa. It soon became her life's mission to study and protect the few mountain gorillas left on Earth. Fossey had no experience or formal scientific training, but she was smart, passionate, and strong-willed--and she just happened to meet paleoanthropologist Louis Leakey, who helped her pursue her goal of studying animals in the wild. Fossey set up a research camp and threw herself into tracking and observing mountain gorillas. Over the next 18 years, Fossey got closer to gorillas than any human ever had before. As she learned to mimic their behavior and became accepted by them, Fossey's studies grew into a labor of love and a mission to protect her beloved gorillas from poachers and other threats--no matter what the cost.
Sadly, Fossey was murdered at her camp in 1985, and to this day, her death remains a mystery. But her legacy lives on through the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund: In 1973 Fossey recorded only 275 gorillas living in Volcanoes National Park; there are about twice that many today. Fossey's story is one of tragedy, but also passion, science, and preservation. As Jane Goodall, once said, "If Dian had not been there, there might be no mountain gorillas in Rwanda today." Unforgotten is the dramatic conclusion to Silvey's trilogy of biographies on Leakey's "Trimates." With unparalleled storytelling, sidebars, maps, and an award-winning design, Unforgotten will inspire the next generation of budding scientists and conservationists.
96 pages, Hardcover
Published June 29, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 1, 2022
I didn't realize that Dian Fossey's work (and Jane Goodall's work) was really a spin-off of the Leakey's work.
Interesting how a single vacation changed her life. She had been an Occupational Therapist for 10 years before she started this project.
Seems so weird today to hear that she had trouble climbing the mountain to camp in the DRC because her lungs were damaged from smoking.
You can tell I've watched too much Star Trek because it seems wrong for her to have so much interaction with the gorillas (violates the Prime Directive, you know).
Timeline at the back shows she got a PhD in Cambridge, commuting from Africa. This isn't mentioned in the text. Seems relevant, if only because that would be a lot of time she wasn't there.
The discussion of her alcoholism was handled well -- it was a disease and it started to affect her work.
Several times in the book she's presented as not listening to those giving her advice. She initially setup in DRC even though she was warned that the government might expel foreigners. And then she stood against ecotourism proposals even when it was explained that it might incentivize locals to not poach.
She did so much good helping people understand gorillas. It's sad that at the end it was considered better for her to work in the US than at the camp she established and that when she did return to the camp she was murdered there (and the list of suspects was too many!).
Feels like it's aimed at upper elementary/middle school, but the text never talks down to the readers.
Interesting how a single vacation changed her life. She had been an Occupational Therapist for 10 years before she started this project.
Seems so weird today to hear that she had trouble climbing the mountain to camp in the DRC because her lungs were damaged from smoking.
You can tell I've watched too much Star Trek because it seems wrong for her to have so much interaction with the gorillas (violates the Prime Directive, you know).
Timeline at the back shows she got a PhD in Cambridge, commuting from Africa. This isn't mentioned in the text. Seems relevant, if only because that would be a lot of time she wasn't there.
The discussion of her alcoholism was handled well -- it was a disease and it started to affect her work.
Several times in the book she's presented as not listening to those giving her advice. She initially setup in DRC even though she was warned that the government might expel foreigners. And then she stood against ecotourism proposals even when it was explained that it might incentivize locals to not poach.
She did so much good helping people understand gorillas. It's sad that at the end it was considered better for her to work in the US than at the camp she established and that when she did return to the camp she was murdered there (and the list of suspects was too many!).
Feels like it's aimed at upper elementary/middle school, but the text never talks down to the readers.
May 25, 2024
3.5 stars
Ehhh, I enjoyed reading this book for the most part but I have mixed feelings about the mixed opinions I've heard voiced over Dian that I only found out about after I started reading this book. But, I do think it's safe to say that she was the pioneering lady for conservation and knowledge about mountain gorillas, which is pretty cool. I also liked reading about the specific gorillas and their personalities.
Ehhh, I enjoyed reading this book for the most part but I have mixed feelings about the mixed opinions I've heard voiced over Dian that I only found out about after I started reading this book. But, I do think it's safe to say that she was the pioneering lady for conservation and knowledge about mountain gorillas, which is pretty cool. I also liked reading about the specific gorillas and their personalities.
November 3, 2021
Great book for kids, and I really enjoyed it, too. Read it outloud to my little ones. I like that they not only showed the highlights but also the complexity of the characters, including flaws. Great reading format with little inset stories to keep kids engaged.
August 7, 2021
I love this enough to find I have to buy a copy to give away at my CCIRA session - or just to Mesa.
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March 31, 2022Informative, well-organized, succinct text paired with amazing photos, and maps! Fantastic back matter.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews