The Great Apes Leakey’s Angels. Louis Seymour Bazett Leakey (1903-1972) Louis Seymour Bazett Leakey (1903-1972) British / Kenyan archaeologist and anthropologist.

The Great ApesThe Great Apes

Leakey’s AngelsLeakey’s Angels

Louis Seymour Bazett Louis Seymour Bazett Leakey (1903-1972)Leakey (1903-1972)    

British / Kenyan British / Kenyan archaeologist and archaeologist and anthropologist who anthropologist who became famous for his became famous for his academic work centered academic work centered on human origins. Louis on human origins. Louis Leakey, his wife Mary, Leakey, his wife Mary, and their second son and their second son Richard made the key Richard made the key discoveries that have discoveries that have shaped our shaped our understanding of the first understanding of the first men. men.

Mary and Louis LeakeyMary and Louis Leakey    

Richard LeakeyRichard Leakey "To me it's a question of "To me it's a question of

being able to look being able to look backward and give the backward and give the present a root... To give present a root... To give meaning to where we are meaning to where we are today, we need to look at today, we need to look at where we've have come where we've have come from." from." (Richard Leakey, in (Richard Leakey, in National GeographicNational Geographic, , February 1998) February 1998)

Leakey’s AngelsLeakey’s Angels One of Leakey's greatest legacies stems from his role One of Leakey's greatest legacies stems from his role

in fostering field research of primates in their natural in fostering field research of primates in their natural habitats, which he understood as key to unraveling the habitats, which he understood as key to unraveling the mysteries of human evolution. Leakey personally mysteries of human evolution. Leakey personally chose three female researchers, later dubbed chose three female researchers, later dubbed ‘Leakey’s Angels', who each went on to become giants ‘Leakey’s Angels', who each went on to become giants in the field of primatology. Jane Goodall became the in the field of primatology. Jane Goodall became the first of Leakey's Angels in 1957, when she began her first of Leakey's Angels in 1957, when she began her first field study of chimpanzee culture in the Gombe first field study of chimpanzee culture in the Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania. In 1967, Dian Stream National Park in Tanzania. In 1967, Dian Fossey became Leakey's second Angel, beginning her Fossey became Leakey's second Angel, beginning her extended study of mountain gorillas in the Virunga extended study of mountain gorillas in the Virunga Volcanoes of Rwanda. In 1971, Biruté Galdikas Volcanoes of Rwanda. In 1971, Biruté Galdikas became the third, when she began field studies of became the third, when she began field studies of Orangutans in the jungles of Borneo.Orangutans in the jungles of Borneo.

Jane Goodall Jane Goodall

Jane Goodall Jane Goodall

Jane Goodall is the world's foremost authority Jane Goodall is the world's foremost authority on chimpanzees, having closely observed their on chimpanzees, having closely observed their behavior for the past quarter century in the behavior for the past quarter century in the jungles of the Gombe Game Reserve in Africa, jungles of the Gombe Game Reserve in Africa, living in the chimps' environment and gaining living in the chimps' environment and gaining their confidence. their confidence.

Her observations and discoveries are Her observations and discoveries are internationally heralded. Her research and internationally heralded. Her research and writing have made, and are making, writing have made, and are making, revolutionary inroads into scientific thinking revolutionary inroads into scientific thinking regarding the evolutions of humans. regarding the evolutions of humans.

Dian Fossey Dian Fossey

Dian Fossey Dian Fossey

Through friends, Dian Fossey became Through friends, Dian Fossey became interested in Africa and made a six week trip interested in Africa and made a six week trip there in 1963. At Olduvai Gorge, she met Dr. there in 1963. At Olduvai Gorge, she met Dr. Louis Leakey who impressed on her the Louis Leakey who impressed on her the importance of doing research on great apes. importance of doing research on great apes. This meeting inspired her to study mountain This meeting inspired her to study mountain gorillas.gorillas.

By 1966 Fossey had persuaded Dr. Leakey to By 1966 Fossey had persuaded Dr. Leakey to let her carry out research on the mountain let her carry out research on the mountain gorillas, and gained support from the National gorillas, and gained support from the National Geographic Society. Geographic Society.

Dian FosseyDian Fossey

Intense observation over thousands of hours Intense observation over thousands of hours enabled Dr. Fossey to earn the complete trust enabled Dr. Fossey to earn the complete trust of the wild groups she studied and brought of the wild groups she studied and brought forth new knowledge concerning many forth new knowledge concerning many previously unknown aspects of gorilla behavior. previously unknown aspects of gorilla behavior. When poachers attacked and killed a young When poachers attacked and killed a young male named "Digit" to whom she had grown male named "Digit" to whom she had grown especially attached , she reacted by waging a especially attached , she reacted by waging a public campaign against gorilla poaching. public campaign against gorilla poaching.

Dian FosseyDian Fossey

Dr. Fossey was murdered in her cabin at Dr. Fossey was murdered in her cabin at Karisoke on December 26, 1985. Her Karisoke on December 26, 1985. Her death is a mystery yet unsolved. The last death is a mystery yet unsolved. The last entry in her diary reads: "When you entry in her diary reads: "When you realize the value of all life, you dwell less realize the value of all life, you dwell less on what is past and concentrate on the on what is past and concentrate on the preservation of the future."preservation of the future."

Birutė Galdikas Birutė Galdikas

Birutė GaldikasBirutė Galdikas

The orangutans were the least known of the The orangutans were the least known of the great apes. Then Dr. Galdikas began to study great apes. Then Dr. Galdikas began to study them in the wild. Her research represents one them in the wild. Her research represents one of the longest continuous studies by a principal of the longest continuous studies by a principal investigator of any mammal in the world. investigator of any mammal in the world. Through her sophisticated data analysis, she Through her sophisticated data analysis, she has shed light on their behavior and diet, which has shed light on their behavior and diet, which in turn have provided key information on the in turn have provided key information on the rainforest as a whole and a better rainforest as a whole and a better understanding of Indonesia's biodiversity. understanding of Indonesia's biodiversity.