ZSL London Zoo Unusual gorilla behaviour

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Shirokuma

Well-Known Member
I saw an example of unusual behaviour today. One of the gorillas, Zaire, I think was pinching and pulling at her nipple for a while then licked her fingers. She did this on both sides a few times and then went back to regular grooming.

I've never seen this before, does anyone know why she might have been doing this?
 
Not unusual behaviour among captive Ape females. It starts if they lactate while feeding young and they somehow just continue with it even years later when presumably no milk is produced.

What is the current situation with the new male Yeboah now?
 
I see, I've never experienced that before. I didn't have much time so didn't ask but I could only spot Zaire (outside leaning on the glass viewing area) and Mjukuu (sitting inside). No sign of Yeboah or Effie but as I said I didn't spend long there today.
 
When I visited last week, I was told that Yeboah had been introduced to Effie and Mjukuu but had yet to spend time with Zaire. He's still kept in the green building, and they don't expect to put all four gorillas on display together for at least several weeks.
They are very happy with Yeboah, and I was told that he seems to be very gentle, friendly and intelligent.
 
Yeboah is still spending a lot of time away from the females, but the contact has been increased and there have been some reports of him getting jiggy... I have this on good observationary data from a collegue who is studying them.

Zaire still doesn't seem particularly happy, but I believe that's only because her nose has been put out of joint.

And thankfully, the females are quibbling less. It was beginning to freak the public out.
 
procyonlotor said:
Yeboah is still spending a lot of time away from the females, but the contact has been increased and there have been some reports of him getting jiggy...

And thankfully, the females are quibbling less. It was beginning to freak the public out.
Click to expand...

What does 'jiggy' mean?:confused: Mating? Which female(s)?

Interesting that its taking quite a long time to get them together fulltime. Is there a particular problem between any two of them or is it just general?
I guess things will improve when they can all have more space outdoors for long periods?
 
Indeed, it does mean mating. I don't know what female but I can find out in the next couple of days.

I think a lot of it is to do with the females fighting, but once again I'm not entirely sure. All I do know is that he upset the existing group dynamics, which had already taken a while to establish themselves after the death of the previous male (whose name escapes me at present).

They're definitely interested in each other, when Yeboah is in the gym the girls will quite often sit by the door. I don't spend enough time with them as I'm often on the other side of the zoo.

I'll get back to you on it.
 
procyonlotor said:
All I do know is that he upset the existing group dynamics, which had already taken a while to establish themselves after the death of the previous male
Click to expand...

That is bound to happen, especially as the 3 females aren't related to each other and of widely spaced ages. I'm sure it will reconcile itself in time but any other info would be welcome.

Previous male was Bobby.
 
Yeboah was in with all three females on display today. The females were sitting in the corners with Yeboah in the middle on the climbing structure. Lots of wood chips have been piled up around the lower edges of the glass windows. Something I did notice though was Yeboah eating his faeces. Don't want to speculate about what this might mean but I guess it isn't a good thing for him to be doing.
 
Shirokuma said:
Something I did notice though was Yeboah eating his faeces. Don't want to speculate about what this might mean but I guess it isn't a good thing for him to be doing.
Click to expand...

Coprophagy(faeces eating) is very common in Zoo Gorillas- even under the best conditions. So is 'R& R' (Regurgitation and Reingestion-'being sick and eating it again')
I don't think either are related to stress levels particularly.

Both behaviours undoubtedly stem from the amount of empty time Gorillas experience in Zoos, when in the wild they would be almost continuously foraging and eating during their active periods. Its sometimes stated they happen in the wild too, as methods of obtaining further nutrients from food, but I doubt it is as frequent, if indeed it does occur at all. Both behaviours are impossible to eradicate and I think this explanation is sometimes put out to mitigate the repugnance most zoo visitors feel when they see this.(oh, its okay, it says they do it in the wild...)
You will sometimes see a photo of a zoo gorilla with faint 'brown lips' which is the obvious giveaway of this behaviour, which does not appear harmful.
 
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