Quoted from “Gorillas in the Mist” written by herself, she said, “Peeking through the vegetation, we could distinguish an equally curious phalanx of black, leather-countenanced, furry-headed primates peering back at us. Their bright eyes darted nervously from under heavy brows as though trying to identify us as familiar friends or possible foes. Immediately I was struck by the physical magnificence of the huge jet-black bodies blended against the green palette wash of the thick forest foliage.” Most of the females fled to the back with their infants, leaving only the male silverback³ leader andsome younger males at the front, standing tense with compressed lips. Alan then slowly proceeded to set up his camera and film them. This action aroused the gorillas’ curiosity. They started to do actions and would look back at the three humans in wonder. Fossey said: “It was their individuality combined with their shyness of their behavior that remained the most captivating impression of this first encounter with the greatest of the great apes.”

Credit: Flickr User: Philip Kromer

That experience was enough to make her want to go back to Africa again to help save these gorillas.