Mountain gorilla field study (Karisoke)
Estudio de campo del gorila de montaña (Karisoke)
- Date
- 1967 · confidence high
- Place
- Karisoke, Virunga volcanoes, Musanze, Rwanda
- Credited to
- Dian Fossey
- Field
- Life & health
What was discovered
Dian Fossey founded the Karisoke Research Center in 1967 in the Virunga volcanoes, where mountain gorillas were followed for decades. It revealed their social life, lineages and the threat of poaching.
George Schaller carried out the first field study in 1959-60; Fossey was murdered in 1985 and the centre continues under the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund. The camp was first in Zaire before moving to Rwanda in 1967.
What it led to
- recovery of the mountain gorilla population (over 1,000 by 2018)
- gorilla tourism in Rwanda
- international protection of the Virunga