The UF Libraries and co-sponsors, including the Center for African Studies, celebrated 50 years of gorilla research at Karisoke Research Center in Rwanda by hosting two visiting primatologists, Dr. Tara Stoinski and Professor David Watts, who shared their research and conservation efforts through a series of workshops and lectures. This event corresponds with the Smathers Library exhibit, “Bob Campbell’s Photographs of Dian Fossey’s Karisoke Research Center, 1968-1972.” An online exhibit is also available at
https://exhibits.uflib.ufl.edu/BobCampbell and about 2,500 images from Campbell’s work with the mountain gorillas are available online at
https://ufdc.ufl.edu/wildlife.
Both visiting lecturers have a long history in the field of primatology and strong connections to the Karisoke Research Center. Dr. Tara Stoinski has studied gorillas for over two decades. She leads conservation, protection and research efforts of gorillas in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo and serves as the President and CEO/Chief Scientific Officer of the Fossey Fund. Her efforts and those of her international team have focused on the gorillas and their habitats in addition to active work with local communities and conservation groups to facilitate their protection. Professor David Watts was director of Karisoke for two years, immediately following the murder of Dian Fossey in December 1985. Professor Watts currently leads research on common chimpanzees and their habitat at Ngogo (Kibale National Park, Uganda) and started the Ngogo Chimpanzee Project in 1995, which he co-directs with colleagues. He did his doctoral research on mountain gorillas and much of his subsequent work was focused on of mountain gorilla ecology and behavior.
Informal Workshop
An informal workshop was held with Tara Stoinski (Fossey Fund) on Tuesday December 5 to discuss the protection of mountain gorillas and their critical forest habitat in Rwanda and the DRC. Dr. Stoinski discussed aspects of gorilla conservation, including causes, species-specific approaches, research, monitoring, community engagement and capacity building with graduate students and faculty in attendance.
FASA Colloquium
Also on Tuesday December 5, Professor David Watts (Anthropology, Yale University) spokeat the Florida Anthropological Student Association (FASA) Colloquium. He presented a lecture titled, “The Chimpanzees of Ngogo: Behavioral Ecology and Demography of the Largest Known Wild Chimpanzee Community.” His lecture addressed the social worlds and ecology of chimpanzees in Kibale National Park in Uganda. Dr. Watts discussed research that considered the role of food availability and dietary trends in the large community size of the Ngogo chimpanzee population. His lecture also addressed some behaviors seen in male chimpanzees including those relating to hunting, intergroup aggression, cooperation, and grooming.
Keynote Lecture
On Wednesday December 6, both Dr. Tara Stoinski and Professor David Watts spoke on Mountain Gorilla Conservation and the legacy of Dian Fossey, Bob Campbell, and the Karisoke Research Center in Rwanda. Dr. Stoinski talked about the Fossey Fund including the organization’s conservation approach, which focuses on protection, scientific research, training future leaders, and engaging communities. She also talked about Dian Fossey’s ongoing impact on gorilla conservation efforts. Professor Watts lectured on the career of Bob Campbell and how his work in photography and film led him to Karisoke. He also discussed key events in the history of the Karisoke Research Center, including the death of Uncle Burt, which provoked Fossey to formalize anti-poaching efforts and community outreach.
