Google Celebrates American Zoologist Dian Fossey's 82nd Birthday With a Doodle

Today, Google has put up the latest gorilla doodle on its home page commemorating the 82nd birthday of American zoologist Dian Fossey.

The doodle comprise of a number of pictures of gorillas and Dian Fossey taking notes. Also a mountain can be seen in today's doodle which represents the mountainous forests of Rwanda where the zoologist undertook a comprehensive study of gorilla groups over a period of 18 years.

Born in San Francisco on January 1932, Dian Fossey's interest in animals were seen from quite a young age as she also had dreams of becoming a veterinarian which later took her to San Jose State College.

Although later she changed her major subject to occupational therapy, she didn't give up on her pursuit of helping animals. At the same time the young lady was also becoming increasingly interested in Africa.

While in Africa, Fossey met Dr. Louis Leakey, who let her know the need for research on the great apes. Soon in 1966, Fossey won support and funding from the National Geographic Society and the Wilkie Brothers' Foundation for a research program in the Congo.

Due to intense political upheaval and rebellion in Zaire, Fossey left and moved to Rwanda. In 1967, she founded the Karisoke Research Center in Rwanda's Parc National des Volcans, between two volcanoes: Mt. Karisimbi and Mt. Visoke.

In 1983, she published Gorillas in the Mist, an account of her life and work at Karisoke. The book became an international best seller. Even a movie based on the book was released in 1988.

Fossey was killed in 1985 in her cabin at Karisoke. The name of the Digit Fund was changed after her death to the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International. The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International is committed to conservation and protection of gorillas and their habitats in Africa.