The Lost Film of Dian Fossey

In November 1902, German adventurer Captain von Beringe observed tall "man-like" apes in what is now Rwanda. It was the first recorded sighting of mountain gorillas. A hundred years later, National Geographic Television & Film has made an exciting discovery of its own -- hours of never-before-seen footage of Dian Fossey studying and working with the mountain gorillas. Dian Fossey has become a modern legend. Passionate, fearless and committed, Dian devoted eighteen years to study gorillas in the mountainous rainforest of Volcanoes National Park. Less well known, however, is Bob Campbell -- the wildlife photographer and filmmaker whose footage and photographs propelled Dian and the mountain gorillas into the international spotlight. Campbell was hired by The National Geographic Society to film Fossey's work, and from 1968 to 1972 he shot 70,000 feet of film. Ultimately, only a fraction of the original 631 camera rolls was edited into a lecture film, which Dian toured with before publishing her book "Gorillas in the Mist." Now, National Geographic Television & Film is able to show highlights of this previously unreleased footage -- for an unforgettable glimpse into the world of the mountain gorillas and Dian's incredible rapport with them. Her unconventional methods may shock modern conservationists, but there is no denying the profound effect her groundbreaking work had on our knowledge of these creatures and our resolve to protect them. A century after they were first identified, the mountain gorillas are thriving. The images of Dian Fossey establishing a cross-species bond with her gorillas remain some of our most potent conservation symbols. Join us for an exclusive look at the world of the mountain gorillas in MOUNTAIN GORILLAS: THE LOST FILM OF DIAN FOSSEY.