In the early hours of December 27, 1985, Diane Fossey was murdered in her cabin by an unknown attacker -- "No One Loved Gorillas More" are the words inscribed on her gravestone. For 18 years, Dian had lived among the mountain gorillas of central Africa, dedicating all her energy to protecting them. Living in basic conditions at Karisoke, the research center she established below the steep ravines of a rain-shrouded volcano in Rwanda, Dian gradually became accepted by the apes she encountered and developed an extraordinary bond with them.
Undeterred by the instability of the tribal and political wars raging around her, Dian struggled against poachers, Rwandan officials' opposition, ill health, personal tragedy, and the isolation from the surroundings with indefatigable obstinacy and unstinting determination. She collected a vast amount of data and her work became the world's primary focus for mountain gorilla conservation and research. She raised money to pay for anti-poaching measures, set up the first ranger patrols in Rwanda, and through the pages of "National Geographic" magazine and her book "Gorillas in the Mist," focused international attention on the plight of the great apes.
Here, for the first time, Dian's story is told through the letters she wrote to her friends and family, set in context by a compelling narrative. Sometimes scathing, sometimes self-pitying, frequently amusing and always fascinating, these previously unpublished letters provide a unique and intimate portrait and bring to life the rewards and setbacks of Dian's years with the creatures who she called "the greatest of the great apes." These impressive yet shy animals arephotographed by Bob Campbell, who worked closely with Dian and captured many unique and extraordinary images.
"No One Loved Gorillas More" is a powerful reminder of what Dian Fossey was fighting for. Her work not only led to a greater understanding of gorillas, but to a worldwide concern for their survival that still resonates 20 years after her death.
