Dian Fossey and the Karisoke Research Center : Dian Fossey founded the Karisoke Research Center in 1967, as she began her groundbreaking work studying the mountain gorillas of the Virunga Mountains. She set up her tents between Mt. Karisimbi and Mt. Visoke, and created the name “Karisoke.” Fossey soon realized that the mountain gorillas’ survival was in extreme danger, with only about 240 left at the time. She then founded the “Digit Fund” to raise funds for their protection. Even though she died in 1985, her work has not only continued, but greatly expanded since then, carried out today by the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International.

Karisoke is now also a leading centre of education, providing high-level field courses and research opportunities for hundreds of science students, from Rwanda and other countries in the region, helping to train the next generation of conservation leaders. It also has a unique gorilla conservation exhibition open to the public and communities, providing information both current and historic about the mountain gorillas and the work of Dian Fossey.

The Karisoke Research Center today is a world-renowned center for gorilla protection and research, with its 100 plus award-winning gorilla trackers protecting the gorillas every day, anti-poaching teams patrolling the forest, and scientists undertaking numerous studies that help us learn more about the gorillas and the best conservation methods.

Dian Fossey was critical to ensuring the survival of mountain gorillas for generations to come. Today there is a total population of almost 900 gorillas.