July 31

Paul Du Chaillu was a French-American explorer and anthropologist who led groundbreaking expeditions in West and Central Africa in the mid-19th century. He was one of the first Europeans to provide scientific evidence of gorillas in the wild, transforming Western understanding of African wildlife. His vivid travel writings, including the bestseller Explorations and Adventures in Equatorial Africa, fueled popular interest in African exploration. Du Chaillu meticulously documented the customs, languages, and environments of indigenous African communities, contributing significantly to anthropology and ethnography. His work bridged scientific discovery and public curiosity, and he is remembered as a pioneer in both zoological and cultural studies.