Who are Louis and Mary Leakey? How do they play a part in the story? How do they influence Fossey? What misadventure took place while Fossey was in Africa with the couple?

Louis and Mary Leakey are noted scientists who are interested in Fossey's determination to study gorillas. Fossey credits Louis Leakey with planting the idea of a long-term study of gorillas. Once in Africa, Fossey visited the Leakeys in Olduvai. Fossey was invited by the Leakeys to visit an excavation site where they discovered a giraffe fossil. Fossey's misadventure occurred when she runs into the dig and falls, breaking her ankle and unceremoniously vomiting on the excavation site.