Scott Hanko
Gorilla Baby "This Looks Good to Eat"
Western Lowland Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla)
Gorillas are largely herbivorous (plant-eating). Plant material contains cellulose, which is indigestible to many non-herbivorous animals. With regard to digestion, herbivorous animals that do not ruminate (re-chew their food as part of the digestive process) rely solely on the microbes (microscopic bacteria) living in their colon. The bacteria function to breakdown the indigestible plant cellulose and turn it into digestible carbohydrates through the fermentation process.
Food availability affects both diet and foraging behaviour of gorillas. High quality herbs that are easily digestible and rich in proteins and minerals are scarce and patchily distributed in outside swamp forest areas. Fruit is relatively widely available in their habitats and forms an important part of the diet of Western Lowland Gorillas. The availability of seasonal fruit appears to shape foraging and ranging patterns of gorillas (Remis, 1997). When fruit is abundant, it may constitute most of the diet.
High-quality herbs (rich in minerals and proteins contents) are eaten all year round, while low-quality herbs are eaten only when fruit is scarce. More leaves and woody vegetation are consumed during the dry season (January-March) when few fleshy fruits are available. In habitat where the leguminous tree Gilbertiodendron dewevrei is present, gorillas feed heavily on its seeds and can travel some distance during mass fruiting events (occurring at five year intervals) to congregate in stands of G. dewevrei (Blake & Fay, 1997). Insects are also part of their diet (termites and ants), although their relative importance is still undetermined (Tutin & Fernandez 1992; Remis, 1997; Deblauwe, 2003; 2006). Western gorillas travel farther when more fruit (and termites) are available in the forest and have shorter day ranges when they must rely on leaves and woody vegetation (Goldsmith, 1999).
Bronx Zoo Congo Gorilla Forest
Gorilla Baby "This Looks Good to Eat"
Western Lowland Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla)
Gorillas are largely herbivorous (plant-eating). Plant material contains cellulose, which is indigestible to many non-herbivorous animals. With regard to digestion, herbivorous animals that do not ruminate (re-chew their food as part of the digestive process) rely solely on the microbes (microscopic bacteria) living in their colon. The bacteria function to breakdown the indigestible plant cellulose and turn it into digestible carbohydrates through the fermentation process.
Food availability affects both diet and foraging behaviour of gorillas. High quality herbs that are easily digestible and rich in proteins and minerals are scarce and patchily distributed in outside swamp forest areas. Fruit is relatively widely available in their habitats and forms an important part of the diet of Western Lowland Gorillas. The availability of seasonal fruit appears to shape foraging and ranging patterns of gorillas (Remis, 1997). When fruit is abundant, it may constitute most of the diet.
High-quality herbs (rich in minerals and proteins contents) are eaten all year round, while low-quality herbs are eaten only when fruit is scarce. More leaves and woody vegetation are consumed during the dry season (January-March) when few fleshy fruits are available. In habitat where the leguminous tree Gilbertiodendron dewevrei is present, gorillas feed heavily on its seeds and can travel some distance during mass fruiting events (occurring at five year intervals) to congregate in stands of G. dewevrei (Blake & Fay, 1997). Insects are also part of their diet (termites and ants), although their relative importance is still undetermined (Tutin & Fernandez 1992; Remis, 1997; Deblauwe, 2003; 2006). Western gorillas travel farther when more fruit (and termites) are available in the forest and have shorter day ranges when they must rely on leaves and woody vegetation (Goldsmith, 1999).
Bronx Zoo Congo Gorilla Forest