howletts gorillas blowing straw

G

greenink2

Member
Has anyone seen the gorillas at Howletts blow straw off their hands when feeding on seeds? I noticed that some do it but other's don't. I am looking for pictures of gorillas who do that.
Thanks a lot!
 
I watched one male once in one of the indoor dens. He was lying down on his side but sorting through the straw with his hand and dabbing up seeds with the tip of his wet finger. Every so often he blew at the straw- it appeared to be through his nostrils as he was chewing at the same time, to seperate the chaff from the seeds underneath. I've only seen that done the once.
 
greenink2 said:
Has anyone seen the gorillas at Howletts blow straw off their hands when feeding on seeds? I noticed that some do it but other's don't. I am looking for pictures of gorillas who do that.
Click to expand...

Look in the Howletts section, UK photo gallery. 'GentleLemur' has posted a photo of one of them doing exactly this.
 
Do you know if the male you saw was Kifu? He is the only male I saw doing it. I saw about 5 or 6 females doing it quite frequently (Tamba, Mambi).
The photo shows Boula, I think.
 
No, it was 'Jomie' who lived alone in the old Chimpanzee cage at Port Lympne at that time. But I suspect they nearly all learn to do it. Probably the ones on straw at Chessington as well?
 
he was a silverback when he was moved. He was also silverback when I saw this behaviour.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top