Why do gorillas regurgitate and reingest food?

Although not seen in wild gorillas, regurgitation and reingestion (r & r) of food is common in zoos. It doesn’t cause any medical problems, and it isn’t a sign of poor health. In the wild, gorillas eat large quantities of high-fiber, relatively low-calorie foods such as fruits, leaves, herbs and bark, which are difficult to duplicate in zoos. Wild gorillas eat 40-70 pounds (18-32 kg) of food each day, and spend an average 55% of the day eating. Wild gorillas must eat great deals of food each day because they continuously exercise, and they carry a heavy parasite load. Because zoo diets are more nutritious (concentrated), the amount of food in a zoo diet is less. Due to this, zoo gorillas may still “feel” hungry and develop the habit of re-eating their food. R & r has never been observed in the wild. Zoos are working to provide zoo gorillas with more food like their natural diet. Zookeepers call this food “browse,” and it includes cut branches and herbaceous vegetation. Browse, hay and food puzzles are just some of the ways in which keepers try to discourage r & r.

Why do some of the gorillas eat their feces?

Eating feces occurs in the wild and often occurs at a more frequent rate in zoos. Ingestion of feces is thought to have nutritive value. For example, ingested feces may help in the utilization of B vitamins that are manufactured in the lower gut. Beneficial bacteria that aid digestion are also replenished. Excessive feces-eating in zoos occurs, most likely, for the same reasons as regurgitation and reingestion.

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