Animal Welfare Heroes: Dian Fossey and the Legacy of Digit
To honour 100 years of World Animal Day, we’re celebrating the incredible heroes whose dedication has changed the lives of animals across the globe. To launch this special series, we begin with the story of Dian Fossey – an extraordinary woman whose name has become synonymous with mountain gorilla conservation.
A Life Devoted to Gorillas
Dian Fossey ventured into the forests of Rwanda in 1967. With no formal training but a deep passion for animals, she founded the Karisoke Research Center in the Virunga mountains. Her mission was simple yet radical: to study mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, not in captivity.
Dian immersed herself in the gorillas’ world, slowly earning their trust through patience and learning from their behaviours. Her work helped to dispel myths of the ‘savage ape’ and showed the world their intelligence and gentleness.
Realising that the mountain gorillas needed protection, Dian sometimes used her own money to buy boots, uniforms, food and pay extra wages to park wardens, encouraging them to be more active in enforcing anti-poaching laws. Her determination helped establish anti-poaching patrols to protect the gorillas in the research area.
“Little did I know then that by setting up two small tents in the wilderness of the Virungas, I had launched the beginnings of what was to become an internationally renowned research station eventually to be utilised by students and scientists from many countries” – Gorillas in the Mist
Digit: The Gorilla Who Changed Everything
Among the many gorillas Fossey studied, Digit held a special place in her heart. She formed a special bond with him, giving him the name Digit after noticing one of his fingers was injured, likely caused by a poacher’s trap in early life.
Dian described Digit as playful and curious as a youngster, as well as gentle and trusting. Even as he grew into a large silverback, they maintained their strong bond and she called him her “beloved Digit”.
Digit became the face of Fossey’s work.
Tragically, gentle Digit was killed by poachers in 1977. He was decapitated, and his hands were severed. Dian’s grief was extreme. But, this heartbreak also lit a fire within her. In his memory, she founded the Digit Fund (now the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund), to combat poaching and protect mountain gorillas. Digit’s death gave birth to a movement that still saves lives today.
Her Legacy Lives On
“When you realize the value of all life, you dwell less on what is past and concentrate more on the preservation of the future.” – Dian Fossey
In 1985, Dian Fossey was tragically murdered in her cabin at Karisoke. She was laid to rest beside Digit, at a graveyard that she’d constructed for her gorilla friends.
Thanks to the continuation and expansion of her tireless work, mountain gorilla numbers have slowly risen, as a result of ongoing protection and conservation measures. Today, rangers, scientists, and communities continue her legacy, working with local people to expand protected areas. Dian Fossey feared that mountain gorillas would go extinct by the year 2000, yet now they are the only wild ape whose population is increasing.
Inspiring a New Generation of Animal Welfare Heroes
Dian Fossey’s life teaches us that one person can make a profound difference for animals, through compassion, courage, and commitment. Her story is a call to action for all of us.
This World Animal Day, we invite you to remember Digit, honour Dian Fossey, and to celebrate all those working to protect animals around the globe. Whether you’re protecting wildlife, caring for farmed animals, or speaking out against cruelty, your voice matters.
The world needs more heroes.
To find out more about the incredible life of Dian Fossey and the work that continues in her name, please visit gorillafund.org/.