Papers:

How Zoos are Supporting In situ Great Ape Projects
Armstrong, Beth
Brevard Zoo                                        

Health and Nutritional Evaluation of Gorillas on Diets without Commercial Biscuits
Ball, Ray
Busch Gardens, Tampa 

Three male gorillas at Busch Gardens have been fed a diet that has not contained any chow or primate biscuits for several years. Body condition and other health parameters have been followed with physical exams. A comparison of nutrient levels has been made before and after the diet change.

Overall the health of the animals has improved. The diet change has eliminated parasite issues, drastically reduced the incidence of diarrhea, while maintaining an excellent growth rate for a juvenile male.

Careful monitoring needs to be in place to manage gorillas in this fashion and individuals may need to have diets tailored to them but the overall benefits have been impressive.
          

Conservation across Cultures: Building Cross-Cultural Relationships through Funding In-situ Education Efforts
Bennis, Coffy
Busch Gardens Tampa

Habitat destruction and the illegal bushmeat trade continue to put pressure on primate populations, and the effects of both are pushing sanctuaries throughout Africa beyond capacity. More than ever, education plays a crucial role in conservation efforts put forth by primate sanctuaries. Necessity dictates that limited funds must support animal care, therefore leaving crucial education programs under funded. Developed at Busch Gardens Tampa, Conservation aCross Cultures (CCC), an international education program, assists sanctuaries in obtaining funding for in-situ education programs and links these programs with ex-situ programs in the United States. Funded by the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund since 2005, CCC has raised over $33,000.00 for several Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA) sanctuaries for education initiatives throughout Central Africa.

Utilizing education camp programs held at Busch Gardens, CCC’s unique curriculum, which includes on-line communication and satellite phone calls, links African and American students, raising awareness and building cross-cultural relationships. Sanctuaries develop their own specific curriculum including components of the CCC program, allowing each organization the opportunity to address their most pressing conservation issue. Subject matter for the Busch Gardens’ program mirrors that of the sanctuaries giving students the opportunity to share their ideas and opinions during instant messaging sessions. The combination of in-depth curriculum and development of personal cross-cultural relationships spurred many of the American students to become actively involved in African conservation efforts within their own community through recycling programs, fundraising and awareness building. Feedback from involved sanctuaries has been equally positive from participants and educators alike.

In addition to CCC’s unique curriculum, the program addresses the needs of both for-profit and non-profit organizations. It offers a one-of-a-kind educational experience for ex-situ programs while simultaneously increasing the zoo’s in-situ conservation efforts. Furthermore, CCC provides essential funding to in-situ conservation efforts vital to primate conservation in Africa.
             

Conservation Action Plan for Critically Endangered Cross River Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli)
Bergl, Richard
North Carolina Zoological Park

The Cross River gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli) is recognized by the IUCN as Critically Endangered, and is the most threatened ape in Africa. These gorillas, though first described scientifically in 1904, have only recently come to the attention of the outside world. Designated as a distinct subspecies in 2000, the Cross River gorilla population numbers approximately 300 individuals divided between eleven different localities. These localities occupy a limited area of rugged highlands which straddle the border between Nigeria and Cameroon. Genetic studies suggest that gorillas at ten of these localities constitute three subpopulations which occasionally exchange migrants. Satellite images show that potential gorilla habitat still connects all of these areas, although sometimes tenuously. Gorillas at almost all of the localities are threatened by hunting to supply a large bushmeat trade in the region and their habitat continues to be eroded and fragmented by farming, burning by pastoralists and road building. In order to address the threats to the survival of these unique animals, scientists, NGO representatives and government officials recently collaborated on a conservation strategy for the Cross River gorilla. This strategy, published as the 2007 IUCN/SSC Regional Action Plan for the Conservation of the Cross River Gorilla, outlines a program of action that, if put into effect, could ensure the Cross River gorilla’s survival. Among the key recommendations of the action plan are a landscape-based trans-boundary approach to Cross River gorilla conservation, expansion of Cross River gorilla awareness-raising programs, community participation in conservation activities, improvement of law enforcement and protection, and continued research and surveys to better understand the gorillas’ population biology. The plan also provides a range of site-specific actions for each of the localities where the gorillas are found. The Nigeria-Cameroon border region, in addition to being home to the Cross River goril.......
           

Evaluating the Role of Conservation Education in Primate Sanctuaries in Africa
Bettinger, Tammie; Smith, Kathleen; Lehnhardt, Kathy; Kuhar, Chris
Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Historically, primate sanctuaries in Africa have been devoted to providing housing for confiscated or orphaned animals and dealing with immediate animal welfare issues. Over the past several years, some sanctuaries have become increasingly involved in the reintroduction of rehabilitated animals into protected areas and engaging the local communities in conservation awareness programs. In an effort to measure the impact primate sanctuaries in Africa are having on increasing conservation-friendly behaviors in local communities, staff from Disney’s Animal Kingdom® collaborated with sanctuaries belonging to the Pan African Sanctuaries Alliance (PASA) to evaluate their conservation education programs. Using the bushmeat crisis as a central theme, eight sanctuaries across equatorial Africa developed education programs relevant to their local communities. Pre-Post evaluations were administered to over 8,000 individuals at these locations. Overall, evaluations revealed a significant improvement on questions measuring knowledge and attitude towards the environment, as well as knowledge of pro-environmental behaviors in both children and adults after the programs. However, improvements were related to program content and knowledge type. We discuss the implications for these findings and the role of conservation education at primate sanctuaries, including the need for the widespread evaluation of conservation education in habitat countries and its impact on conservation.
                    

Gorilla in the Mix: The Eastern Gorilla Rehabilitation Project
Childs, Simon
DFGFI, Rwanda

In December 2004, a 2-3 year old female mountain gorilla (Gorilla berengei berengei) was confiscated close to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, where the poachers had been seeking a buyer. A scientific advisory committee, comprising partner conservation organizations and wildlife authorities, was set up immediately in order to investigate options for this gorilla's future. After considering all of the options, return to the wild population was determined the best possible course of action. However, after reviewing previous attempts and considering natural gorilla social behavior, it was decided that she should be kept until she was closer to a more natural transfer age (7-9 years).

In order to facilitate Maisha's social development it was decided that all of the confiscated gorillas in the region be brought together in one facility. Therefore the Eastern Gorilla Rehabilitation and Reintroduction Project was begun in early 2006 under a partnership of the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project (MGVP), the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International (DFGFI), The Rwandan Tourism and National Parks Office (ORTPN) and The Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN). The primary goal of this project is the potential reintroduction of Maisha to the wild population, while at the same time ameliorating the psychological symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder that stem from the poaching incidents, and creating a more natural social environment for all of the gorillas.

Construction of The Eastern Gorilla Interim Quarantine Facility was completed in August 2006, close to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, by which time a total of 6 Grauer's gorillas (Gorilla berengei graueri) had been confiscated. The process of integrating the gorillas began in September of that year by bringing together the three gorillas already held in Rwanda. In January 2007, the four gorillas previously cared for at the DFGFI office in Goma, DRC, were introduced, bringing the group composition to one male and six females, ranging from 1-6 years in age. In March 2007, a 3 year old male mountain gorilla was confiscated in Rwanda and, after a period of quarantine, was also introduced to the group.

As previously stated, all of the poached gorillas suffer from differing degrees of post-traumatic stress disorder. Through initial observation and evaluation the symptoms of this disorder are diagnosed and both psychological and physiological results determine immediate plans to promote healing and reduce stressors. Further assessments are carried out regularly in order to determine the success of the measures taken. These assessments include: Response to novel stimuli; level of curious behavior exhibited; stereotypies observed; degree of independence; appropriate social behaviors; atypical gorilla behaviors; and responsiveness to the external world.

As Maisha is now nearing 6 years old, planning is beginning on how the reintroduction process could be approached and completed. Once successful, a long term solution for the care of the other gorillas must be found. Conservation education and sensitization programs are crucial to slow the influx of these animals from their natural habitat and are being designed to address cultural perceptions and involve local stakeholders in their delivery.
                                 

One Keepers Experience at Howletts Wild Animal Park, UK
Childs, Simon
DFGFI, Rwanda

Howletts Wild Animal Park was created by the late John Aspinall in 1957, and became public in the early 1970’s. Along with its sister park, Port Lympne Wild Animal Park, Howletts holds the largest colony of captive western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) in the world. More importantly, the majority of these animals were born and raised in these parks, a testimony to the philosophy of the late John Aspinall, who was one of the first to consider psychological well-being as important as the physical care of captive gorillas. Aspinall achieved this by keeping them in family groups with diversity in composition. Although this appears obvious now, at the time it was a revolutionary position.

I began working at Howletts as a gorilla keeper in 1997, since then I have moved on to work for Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International with wild mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) in the field and, more recently, with both captive mountain and Grauer's (Gorilla beringei graueri) gorillas confiscated from poachers. Knowledge I gained from Howletts, in daily care and well-being of captive gorillas in normative social groups, has been invaluable to my current work. More normative group demographics, as I observed at Howletts, provide a venue for more normal social interactions and a broader range of intra-family social dynamics.

The enclosure design at Howletts is seen by many as old fashioned and out-dated. I, however, support this design as it provides far more utility for the animals themselves rather than aesthetics, solely for the public. Howletts maximizes the captive space by using designs which encourage climbing, provide escape from visitors, allow food distribution in a 3 dimensional space, minimize aggressive competition, and utilize straw as a versatile substrate, to ensure emotional well-being and environmental enrichment.

John Aspinall's philosophy, often called into question, is that of the relationship between keepers and their charges. At Howletts, a close bond between the animals is encouraged. In other facilities, unprotected contact with adult gorillas may be prohibited due to insurance regulations, but at Howletts it is both permitted and enjoyed by the gorillas. Contact is considered to be beneficial to the gorillas and provides “live” environmental enrichment through extended social interactions. I have found that these social interactions I experienced have helped me work with orphaned juvenile wild gorillas. Understanding normal inter-individual play gestures, for instance, allows me to encourage traumatized orphans to recover from their historical stressors.

My experiences at Howletts laid the foundation which has allowed me to understand gorillas as individuals through personality and temperament differences, as well as on the species level in terms of behavior (behavior that has evolved over millions of years and which captive settings should adapt too, rather than the other way round). My subsequent experiences have added to the Howletts foundation and helped me understand species-specific differences. In my opinion, if both individual personality and species behavior are considered in captive care management decisions, emotional well-being is maximized. Howletts was premier in setting that goal for gorillas 50 years ago.
                                 

Renewing a New Exhibit: Modifications to the Gorilla Kingdom at ZSL London Zoo
Clark, Fay
Zoological Society of London

Gorilla Kingdom is ZSL London Zoo’s brand new, flagship exhibit housing three adult western lowland gorillas. After its official opening in Easter 2007, six months of data were collected by a volunteer on the gorilla’s habituation to the new exhibit. After this period, we began more structured research into behavior and exhibit use of both gorillas and visitors. Whilst the new exhibit offered gorillas significantly more space and comfort, we discovered from habituation and post-habituation data that visitor characteristics (visitor number, noise-level, and the use of flash photography) were compromising naturalistic gorilla behavior.
Using simultaneous observations of gorilla and visitor exhibit use and behavior, we identified several key exhibit areas which would benefit from modification. In this paper, we describe the process of designing, implementing and evaluating modifications to (a) reduce the visibility of visitors by gorillas, and (b) provide gorillas with increased privacy. By making systematic, stepwise exhibit changes over a four-month period, we were able to identify which changes could lead to significant improvements in gorilla behavior whilst maintaining an enjoyable visitor experience.

Preferences for Food Items in Captive Western Lowland Gorillas
Clay, Andrea
Zoo Atlanta/Georgia Tech

In the human literature, preference assessment as a part of positive reinforcement training has been studied extensively, resulting in a large body of evidence which indicates that allowing the trainee to select from a range of possible rewards enhances the training process in terms of efficiency and effectiveness. The preference assessment procedure is based on the assumption of individual preferences and on variability, within an individual, in those preferences. A study was conducted with both orangutans (pongo pygmaeus) and gorillas (gorilla gorilla gorilla) at Zoo Atlanta, assessing the preferences of the different individuals for foods that are a part of their regular diet and the variability of those preferences for each individual. Not only were significant preferences found for each species as a whole, and for the different individuals, but most of the individuals did show a pattern of variability in those preferences. Results from the gorilla portion of the study will be reported along with implications for doing preference assessments as a part of enhancing positive reinforcement training and environmental enrichment programs for captive apes.
                    

Integrated Health Approach to Gorilla Conservation
Cranfield, Cranfied DVM
Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project

Conservation medicine exists at the intersection of animal health, human health, and ecosystem health. It differs from classical public health epidemiology in that it aims to protect and improve ecosystem and animal health, in addition to human health. Conservation medicine studies diseases shared between or among species and interactions with environmental variables over long-term biological and spatial scales. Zoonotic diseases and the emergence of new diseases are therefore of primary concern, and are particularly important when threatened and endangered great ape populations are involved. The effective practice of conservation medicine demands an integrated team approach involving wildlife and livestock veterinarians, local physicians, public health professionals, ecologists, politicians and communities. Common interests, improved data collection, and economies of scale argue for combining health surveillance and delivery efforts. This team approach needs to be tailored to the infrastructure and sophistication of the host country’s human and livestock health systems, and must also be appropriate for the size and characteristics of the great ape population. Examples from gorilla conservation programs range from small populations with individually identifiable gorillas surrounded by dense human populations, to large unhabituated gorilla populations in areas of very low human density. It is often, by default, the wildlife veterinarian who coordinates the “one health” approach, because of their training in wildlife and livestock medicine as well as zoonotic and emerging disease issues. This talk presents examples of collaborative conservation medicine approaches to gorilla conservation.

The Odyssey of the Taiping Four Gorillas
Cress, Doug
PASA

In late 2002, four infant Western Lowland gorillas were illegally captured from the forests of Cameroon and transferred through Nigeria out of Africa. Bearing forged CITES permits and bound for the Taiping Zoo in Malaysia, the gorillas – who came to be known as the “Taiping Four” – cost $400,000 each. Five years later, the gorillas’ value came to be measured more in terms of principle and national pride, and were the subject of one of the most intense and complicated international negotiations in recent times.

The Taiping Four gorillas returned home to Cameroon on November 30, 2007, thanks to the dogged efforts of the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA), the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), the International Primate Protection League (IPPL), and the Pandrillus Foundation, who worked closely to ensure a coordinated effort of public pressure and private policy.  This presentation will trace the gorillas’ path from Cameroon to Nigeria to Malaysia and eventually South Africa, highlighting the faults in the system that allowed the gorillas to become the subject of highly charged debates and hindering their return to Cameroon, and underscoring the legacy established for future confiscation cases.

Development of the Gorilla Health Project
Dennis, Pam
Cleveland Metroparks 

Cardiac disease is a major cause of death for adult gorillas in AZA institutions. In November 2006 a workshop including physicians, veterinarians, pathologists, and keepers was held to review what is known about gorilla cardiac health, as well as to discuss how to address gorilla health issues. This workshop marked the beginning of the Gorilla Health Project, an initiative to improve our understanding of gorilla health and ways to manage and prevent disease in this species. The meeting identified a critical first step in understanding disease issues of captive gorillas -- the formation of a comprehensive database incorporating information from individual gorillas' medical, nutrition and husbandry records. This database is essential for the identification of risk factors associated with cardiac disease and other disease syndromes seen in the captive population. Compiling data on the health and husbandry of captive gorillas will increase our current understanding of the health issues of the captive population, and provide a means to examine disease trends over time. This database will provide the foundation for future prospective studies focusing on the etiology of disease syndromes, improved treatment protocols, and effective means of preventing disease in the captive population. With recent funding through the AZA Conservation Endowment Fund, we have begun developing this database.

Capitalizing on the energy that generated this Project, we have initiated a prospective study to evaluate specific blood tests as prognostic indicators of heart disease, as well as to examine possible risk factors associated with the development of heart disease. This work should provide improved means of assessing cardiac disease, and possibly indicate ways in which we can prevent the development of disease. This prospective study represents the collaborative effort of many different researchers with the shared goal of improving the health of captive gorillas.

In order to support this effort, a new structure was proposed for the veterinary advisory role within the SSP. The new structure consists of a team of three veterinary advisors along with four regional coordinators. This structure is intended to improve the collection and dissemination of health information within the Gorilla SSP population.                       

Innovative Husbandry and Management Techniques of Captive Western Lowland Gorillas: Examples from Louisville’s Zoo Gorilla Forest
Elsner, Roby
Louisville Zoo

Over the past several decades, zoos have made tremendous strides in the care and management of western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla). Several zoos, in particular, have been particularly instrumental in contributing significant achievements toward the advancement of husbandry techniques. Taking the lead from other zoos’ ground-breaking programs and success, Louisville Zoo’s gorilla care and management staff has worked diligently (since Gorilla Forest’s opening in 2002) to cultivate an innovative gorilla husbandry program of its own. This presentation highlights progressive care and management techniques implemented with Louisville Zoo’s gorillas.                                     

Connecting Conservation: Cincinnati and Central Africa
Evans, Ron
Cincinnati Zoo 

The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden (CZBG) has had a long and storied history with western lowland gorillas, Gorilla gorilla gorilla. Since the zoo's first gorilla in the 1930s, CZBG has focused on all facets of their management in a zoo setting, including unique exhibit design features, propagation, reproductive research, enrichment, training, etc. Overall, gorillas are very well managed and have become one of the most stable species in zoos. However, their wild counterparts throughout Central Africa face uncertain futures. Human population growth, deforestation, the bushmeat trade, Ebola, extensive mineral mining, unfair trade practices by western and Far East big business have dramatically impacted gorillas and their rainforest habitats resulting in an alarming reduction in their population. The situation has become so severe that western gorillas have been raised to the critically endangered level in 2007.

Subsequently, there is a dire need for zoos to increase their assistance to in situ gorilla conservation efforts. For many years the Cincinnati Zoo has endeavored to help at the individual/keeper/volunteer and institutional levels. Financial support and expertise has been provided to several projects including the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project, PASA sanctuaries and WCS operations in Gabon and Congo. Funds for these projects have also come from several sources including smaller grassroots efforts up to grant support.

As ambassadors, the gorillas in Cincinnati serve as a great connection between our visitors and the challenges that wild gorillas face and ex situ conservation education has been a long standing priority at CZGB. Public understanding of and empathy for wild gorillas are crucial. This presentation will discuss, in more detail, fundraising, in situ conservation support, public engagement and attempts to connect conservation between Cincinnati and Central Africa.                        

Welfare Enhancement of a Single Silverback through a Complete Renovation of his Enclosure and the Implementation of Environmental Enrichment and Animal Conditioning Techniques
Fernandes Cipreste, Cynthia
Zoo Botanica de Belo Horizonte, Brazil

To contribute to the welfare of the animals under our care the Zoo Department of the Zoological and Botanical Foundation of Belo Horizonte created in the year of 2000 the Environmental Enrichment and Animal Conditioning Sector. The experience started with our male single gorilla Idi, who at that time was about to be transferred to his completely renovated enclosure, in order to complete the plan to enhance his quality of life with enrichment and training sessions. The renovation of the exhibit included a transformation into a landscaped area with an artificial waterfall and cave as well as the insertion of plants in areas in which Idi can forage and be hidden from the public. Before the renovation Idi used to regurgitate and reingest and did not have the big belly nor the muscles he has now. Since his transfer to the new exhibit, Idi stopped completely the R&R behavior and developed a silverback body shape. We believe that the acquisition of his body condition is due to the complexity of his new habitat which now allows him to be more activate and gives Idi the chance to control his environment. The enrichment activities had already been implemented in that times, a weekly program is elaborated and by rotating the animals into a schedule it is developed from 230 to 350 activities per month. Idi receives enrichment items most of the times in the holding area as the enclosure gives him sufficient stimulus to interact with. As soon as Idi was transferred to the new enclosure the training sessions started by utilizing the operant conditioning with positive reinforcement. The first command trained was feet and then curative to treat a wound caused by mycosis in his toes and thanks to the training it was cured. Idi is trained for lungs and heart auscultation, open mouth and allow teeth cleaning and inspection, present body parts, take injections and give back objects. The time spent for the training of each command varied to one to ten months. Idi took three months to learn to show his feet and to allow for curat.........
 

The Addition of a Female Gorilla to an Established Family Group with Two Silverbacks
Giambro, Roseann; Vacco, Karen
Pittsburgh Zoo    

The gorilla troop at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium will be undergoing changes which will be new for both the gorillas and the keepers. Not since 1993, have we introduced a gorilla to the troop. The troop consisted of our silverback Mimbo, females Becky and Zakula and two year old Mrithi. Harry, Ibo and Tufani arrived from Cincinnati and Zuza arrived shortly after from Brookfield. These four youngsters, all about two years of age, were easily integrated into the troop. Over time, Zakula had two more babies and Ibo and Tufani matured and each had a daughter of their own who were both mother reared.

The family group thrived under our primary management philosophy which is to allow the natural behavior and social interactions of the silverback dictate the development of the troop in their artificial environment. Through the years a series of changes occurred. The death of Becky, the removal of Zuza from the family group at age twelve and the death of our silverback Mimbo. Mimbo's death left his thirteen year old son Mrithi in charge of a troop of eight. As per an SSP recommendation, Kumbuka our eleven year old female was transferred to Miami and Moka, and eleven year old female from Miami was to become the newest member of the Pittsburgh troop.

     Our goals and concerns were:
     1.How to keep the family intact.
     2.How to keep Harry, our sixteen year old silverback, in the family group but not breeding.
     3.How to get Moka accepted into a large group of females.
     4.How to get Mrithi, our silverback in charge, to accept Moka while she is implanted.
     5.How to accomplish all this without undermining the silverback.

This paper will outline the steps taken before, during and after the introduction, the challenges that we faced and the situations we encountered that we could not foresee. Also, the role management played in the process from start to finish and the faith they have in their keeper staff.
                                

The Transfer of Two Male Gorillas to Japan
Grossfeldt, Louise
Taronga Zoo, Australia  

As we all know managing a captive group of gorillas is always challenging, ensuring that both the genetic and behavioral components are considered in every aspect of our decision making process. In reference to the Australasian region, we work as a sub group or a component of the EEP. Recent recommendations made by the Gorilla Species coordinator encouraged the Australasian region to work more closely with Japan and South East Asia in general. This recommendation also included proposed placement for two males from the Kibabu family group at Taronga Zoo, Haoko and Shabani to two separate institutions in Japan. After a lot of negotiation and preparation, this transfer occurred in June/July 2007         

Assessing the Welfare of Captive Gorillas
Hill, Sonya
Chester Zoo, UK

Animal welfare has been defined as the state of an animal as regards its attempts to cope with its environment; this 'environment' can be internal or external to the body, and welfare can be measured on a sliding scale that ranges from very poor to very good. I use this definition for several reasons: it acknowledges welfare as a state of being that can be measured, it recognizes that welfare ranges from very poor to very good, it introduces the concept of coping, allows measurement separate from moral considerations, refers to feelings as well as physical and psychological health, and recognizes that welfare affects the individual. Thus, animal welfare, as defined here, is a broad term. Clinical signs of poor welfare, such as disease or injury, are recognized universally and accepted as welfare indicators, but the ways in which animals anticipate or react to a situation can also be used to assess welfare and these should be validated for each species, including gorillas. Coping has been defined as having control of mental and bodily stability and refers to the ability of an organism to tolerate a range of stimulation, including noxious stimuli; coping also refers to the extent to which an animal has to go in order to maintain that homoeostasis. Behavior can be one of the most obvious indicators that an individual is experiencing difficulty in coping with a particular situation, both for short-and long-term responses, but, as we all know, animals can also be very good at “hiding” overt signs of poor welfare in their behavior! Not only can they hide these signs, but many different behavioral responses to many different stimuli exist, and so we need to interpret behavior very carefully. Thus, scientific assessments of animal welfare are more valuable if a range of behavioral and physiological measures can be made – easier said than done sometimes, when working with gorillas. In this presentation, I give some examples of behavioral responses I recorded in gorillas, following certain changes to their environm.......                               

One Year from Hell: Dealing with Four Deaths in a Western Lowland Gorilla Troop: 
Irvine, Garth
Calgary Zoo, Canada 

In August of 2006 our 9 year old hand-raised female gave birth to a healthy female baby and was a model mother...12 days later disaster struck and the baby rapidly lost condition and died. This started a decimation of our sturdy troop. Three more females would die in the following year. I will speak of each death and how we dealt with each with the troop, the staff and the media.
                        

An Exhibit Renovation to Better Accommodate Sub-adult Male Gorillas
Jackle, Jaennine; McLaughlin, Daniel
Zoo New England

In February of 2007 Zoo New England opened a newly refurbished indoor exhibit for western lowland gorillas at the Franklin Park Zoo. This renovated area was designed to expand the usable space of the pre-existing exhibit while also allowing for maximum containment for all ages of gorillas.

The 3 acre Tropical Forest was first opened in 1989 and included both indoor and outdoor naturalistic exhibits for gorillas as well as many other species. Zoo New England decided to renovate the exhibit and the off exhibit holding area due to the increasing need for more complex and environmentally enriched spaces for both bachelor and family groups. We will describe this phase one, 3 million dollar renovation, including photos of pre and post construction.
 

Building Conservation Partnerships
Jendry, Charlene
Columbus Zoo

In 2008, Partners In Conservation (PIC) will begin its seventeenth year of operation under the auspices of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. PIC supports conservation projects, education initiatives and humanitarian programs in East Central Africa and conservation outreach programs in the United States. PIC offers people on both continents an opportunity to become involved, work together and then assist conservation efforts and local people in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

This grass-roots program continues to achieve its objectives by forming sustainable partnerships in both Africa and the United States. The foundation for these partnerships is based on actively listening to Rwandan and Congolese colleagues as they not only define both conservation and humanitarian challenges but also provide viable solutions. In the United States, PIC collaborates and listens to the ideas of educators, students, docents and zoo colleagues.

By using this approach, people of all ages in Africa and the United States have ownership and actively participate in identifying and implementing programs. Initially, PIC partnered with one conservation organization working in Rwanda. In 2008, PIC will partner with projects in the DRC and Rwanda; these projects include four conservation organizations, sixteen artisan co-operatives, six schools and two humanitarian programs.

PIC respects their partners and lets them know that their ideas and opinions are heard, valued and implemented. Actively listening to people is creating sustainable partnerships between PIC and their colleagues in Africa and the United States.
                                     

An Early Assessment of Abio Island Bachelor Group, Congo
King, Tony; Courage, Amos
Port Lympne Wild Animal Park, UK

The Aspinall Foundation’s ongoing western gorilla reintroduction program to the Lefini Reserve in Congo has been highly successful in terms of survival (100%), adaptation to forest life, and reproduction (five births in four years, 80% survival). However, one difficult issue involves the management of solitary adult males, who once rejected from their original group rapidly increase their ranging behavior and can wander out of the limits of the reintroduction site. A natural response to this issue is the removal of solitary males from the program, either temporarily or permanently, and the subsequent management of a semi-captive bachelor group.

We therefore ‘created’ a 25 ha (= 250,000 m²) forested island by rejoining an ox-bow lake to a large river, requiring a team of eight local villagers six months to complete. A quantitative botanical analysis showed that the island supports over 175 plant species, of which over 60 have been observed to be utilized as food sources by reintroduced gorillas. The first, and at 15 years old the youngest, resident was transferred to the island in July 2006, by bribing him to cross a temporary bridge directly from the reintroduction site. A further four, aged between 17 and 20 years, were released onto the island over two days in March 2007, having been previously caged for between 6 and 10 years each.

Two of the males, having shared a cage together for seven years, reunited within days of release and continue (as of six months post release) to be observed together. The youngest male was the first to challenge the dominance of the established duo, regularly leaving his habitual feeding location to attempt to also feed at their location. This led to displays but little direct contact, and he continues to be regularly observed in the company of the others. The oldest of the males is the most psychologically traumatized of all the surviving orphans in the Congo rehabilitation project, and coupled with the loss of his jaw muscles to polio he was considered the most vulnerable of the group. Surprisingly, however, he has gradually integrated into the group and is regularly observed with them for feeding. The fifth male, and previously the dominant male when they were released in the neighboring Lesio-Louna Reserve, never integrated with the others, and tragically was found drowned four months post-release. The circumstances of his death are unclear, although minor bite wounds and signs of a struggle at the top of one of two steep banks on the island suggest he may have fallen into the river during an agonistic encounter, as was the case for a silverback who drowned after slipping into a moat during the early stages of a socialization process at Jacksonville Zoo in 2006. Other accidents involving captive gorillas and moats illustrate the risks of using water as a barrier, but the use of large rivers still appears to be the most suitable solution for providing natural habitat while avoiding human-gorilla conflict in rehabilitation and reintroduction programs in Africa.   

The Role of Ex-siu Zoos and African Ape Sanctuaries in Breathing Life into the Global Strategy for the Survival of Great Apes
King, Tony; Pearson, Liz; Courage, Amos
Port Lympne Wild Animal Park, UK  

To counter the critical situation facing great apes in the wild, key objectives have been identified and actions recommended within the ‘Global strategy for the survival of great apes and their habitat’, a strategy ratified by the signing of the ‘Kinshasa Declaration’ by a wide-range of GRASP participants, including range-state governments. In this paper we will illustrate ways in which the two PPG gorilla sanctuaries in Congo and Gabon contribute to carrying out the recommendations in the Global Strategy, thanks to funding from the UK-registered charity The Aspinall Foundation, helping bring to life what is often regarded as a largely bureaucratic strategy to realize its aim of lifting the imminent threat of extinction facing the great apes.

One immediate objective is ‘to promote and enforce a legal framework for the survival of great apes and their habitat’. A related action is ‘providing a government-approved facility to care for, and where possible rehabilitate, confiscated or seized animals’. The rationale is that governments are reluctant to enforce laws concerning the illegal detention of live animals without an appropriate outlet for confiscated animals. In October 2007, PPG, the only PASA member in Gabon, organized a workshop with all serious ape-holding facilities in the country to reach an agreement on how to eliminate the illegal trade in orphan apes. Despite a wide range of background aims and constraints, all managers signed a declaration affirming their adherence to the Global Strategy, and selected a number of specific actions to which they could contribute. In Congo the situation is more advanced, where three PASA sanctuaries and other partners collaborated to organize an educational exhibition in May 2007 called ‘SOS Great Apes’, including a session where national law enforcement agencies explored ways of collaborating to enforce wildlife laws. A similar event is hoped to be organized in Gabon in 2008, to facilitate a national law enforcement awareness campaign.

Another recommendation is ‘supporting viable wild reintroduction programs in accordance with IUCN guidelines’. Currently the only gorilla reintroduction programs are those of the two PPGs, which have the aim of re-establishing viable, self-sustaining populations within the former range of the species. Between 1996 and 2006, 53 gorillas have been released, consisting of 43 wild-born orphans, plus one in-situ and nine ex-situ captive-borns abandoned by their mothers, and further reinforcement is planned over the coming years. The programs have been highly successful in terms of survival (>80%), exhibition of ‘natural’ ranging and social behaviors (such as female transfer and male dispersal), and reproduction (six births in the past four years). Gorilla-human conflict is avoided by ensuring major ecological barriers (large rivers, extensive grassland) between released gorillas and human activity, although intervention strategies are available if necessary, and have been used for several solitary adult males. These results illustrate that gorilla reintroduction is a feasible and realistic conservation strategy, given sufficient long-term technical, financial and political commitment, and with the current rates of decimation of wild populations may become an increasingly important tool in the Global Strategy over the coming years.
 

Social Behavior in Captive Male Gorillas: Differences as a Function of Age and Group Type
Kuhar, Christopher
Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Over the past several years, the subject of bachelor groups of gorillas has become an important research and management topic in zoos. A growing literature has begun to illuminate the behavioral picture of all-male groups; however, the question of whether males behave differently in all-male groups, as compared to males in mixed-sex groups, remains unanswered. As part of a long-term multi-institutional study of male gorilla behavior, we examined social behavior in 36 males aged 11 and above using a linear mixed model analysis. Males in all-male groups engaged in non-contact aggression more frequently than males in mixed sex groups, but there were no differences in contact aggression and affiliative behaviors between the two group types. Alternatively, young silverbacks (aged 14-18 years) engaged in more contact and non-contact aggression than old blackbacks (aged 11-14 years) and older silverbacks (aged +18 years). There was no interaction between group type and age in any of these analyses. These data are consistent with our previous work that has shown that age-class is predictive of aggressive behavior patterns in captive male gorillas. Based on these results we suggest that housing males in all-male groups is not inherently different for males. However, given that all-male groups tend to be comprised of males in the “old blackback” and “young silverback” age classes, we argue that these groups should be consistently monitored and keepers and managers should be made aware of potential demographic influences on male gorilla behavior.                   

Managing Bachelor Gorillas at the Sedgwick County Zoo
LaPlante, Scott
Sedgwick County Zoo

I will be presenting in video format a description of our bachelor gorilla management model. In the description, I will cover topics about the group’s structure, building and exhibit design, and the husbandry practices we use. Points of interest for the group’s structure will include having three separate groups and they were established at an early age. Building and exhibit design will include information about the building layout and features of each exhibit and holding space. Husbandry practices we use will include our ideas of rotating each group through the exhibit spaces, designing the exhibit and holding areas with multiple points of entry and exit to eliminate dead ends and positioning exit doors on opposite sides of each exhibit. Included in this topic will be our use of multiple levels within each exhibit, visual barriers, and enrichment to aid in aggression displacement. Also, having multiple locations to train the animals gives us the ability to distance them to reduce conflict during these sessions.
The primary goal for our management strategy is to keep the peace within the individual group and provide enough separation space within the exhibits themselves to allow all members of the group equal opportunity for food, sleeping spots, and ways to get away from trouble if necessary. The overall design of the building allows us the flexibility to change and adapt our practices as needed.
 

Etiology of Hair Plucking Behavior in Captive Western Lowland Gorillas
Less, Elena
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

Although abnormal behaviors occur across many captive species not all of these behaviors result in reduced welfare. However, if a behavior results in diminished physical health or appearance, it is thought to reflect poor welfare of the animal. Many species of mammals hair pluck, or pull hair (via mouth or hands) to the point where it results in noticeable hair loss. The hair may then be reingested or discarded and animals may pluck their own hair or engage in social plucking. Hair plucking behavior has been documented in captive gorillas, although often it is lumped into a more general category of self-directed behavior or self-mutilation. So far, there have been no multi-institutional studies examining the prevalence of hair plucking and also what correlates and may be a potential cause of this behavior. Hair plucking in gorillas has been anecdotally observed to lead to large patches of missing hair and in some extreme cases the development of open wounds. The unsightly nature of hair loss in gorillas leads to management and exhibition issues. To address the etiology of this behavior, a survey will be sent to all 52 institutions in the United States housing gorillas. The survey will be filled out by gorilla keepers at each institution and will determine prevalence of hair plucking in captivity, as well as sex, social housing and rearing type of gorillas engaging in this behavior. The survey will also examine if particular locations on the animal are more common for hair plucking to occur than other areas and also address what keepers working closely with these animals predict is a cause of the behavior. The results of this study will be presented at the International Gorilla Workshop 2008. Future studies can then further experimentally manipulate specific factors determined in this study to attempt to ameliorate or eliminate this behavior in the captive population.
                 

The Management of Western Lowland Gorillas at the Melbourne Zoo
Lewis, Damien
Melbourne Zoo, Australia

On the 27th March 2007, Melbourne Zoo embarked on big changes with the gorillas housed in their care. These changes included the removal of the leading silverback and his two sons from the breeding group and the introduction of an unsocialized male to the breeding females. The bachelor group was to be housed in close proximity to the breeding group.

This paper will discuss the process and outcomes of the formation of the bachelor group, the introduction of the new male to the breeding group and the effect each group had on the other.
                   

The Columbus Zoo Gorilla Surrogacy Program
Dusty Lombardi
Columbus Zoo

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium promotes mother-rearing of gorillas. Infants are only hand reared if there is maternal neglect or if a mother or infant’s health is in jeopardy. The main goal is for a successful, early introduction. This can be achieved by simulating mother rearing; early exposure to gorillas and 24 hour dedicated one on one care, from the time the infant is removed from the mother until he/she is introduced to a surrogate. This paper will show the evolution of the hand rearing protocol, how gorilla infants are hand-reared at the Columbus Zoo and the significant components of this successful program.

With the birth of Colo in 1956, the first gorilla born in captivity, the Columbus Zoo primate nursery was established. From the early beginnings of a baby raised as a human infant, there have been many changes in 51 years. Colo’s lineage continued to bring historic prominence to the zoo when daughter Emmy was born and was the first captive 2nd generation, grand daughter Cora was the first 3rd generation and great grandson Jontu was the first 4th generation born at the zoo.
In 1983 the birth of Colo’s twin grandson’s added to her celebrity status. They were also raised in the nursery but were at the fore front of the redirection of the program.

Thirty gorillas have been born at the zoo, eight of those have been raised in the surrogacy program and an additional four have been sent to us from other zoos to participate in the program.

Several circumstances led to the creation of the Surrogacy Program.
The gorilla staff had successfully initiated a program to create an age / sex diversified group. The nursery staff perceived a program where gorillas would be raised as gorillas and the time could be shorted for an introduction to a surrogate and family group. Traditionally infants had been introduced to gorillas at 31/2 to 4 years of age. As animal managers we knew that the introductions were extremely stressful and the process needed to change. Today the introduction calmly occurs to a surrogate by 5 months. This is a holistic program refined over the past 25 years that provides an easy transition from human mother to surrogate gorilla mother.

Our surrogate program has evolved through trail and error, a lot of effort and much thought. Each of its components is necessary to maximize the welfare potential of the animal and is included for a very specific reason. This program has set the standard for hand rearing gorillas and has been adapted for other infant primates.
                                    

An Activity Budget for Gorillas in North American Zoos
Lukas. Kristen
Cleveland Metroparks

Gorillas have been the subjects of behavioral research in North American zoos for many years. Detailed information on enrichment efficacy, visitor impact, and exhibit use has been gathered and studies of social behavior, maternal care, and abnormal behavior have been conducted in a wide range of zoo settings. Such research illuminates many facets of the behavioral repertoire of gorillas in zoos. Studies that involve multiple institutions or containing large numbers of subjects are rather uncommon, however, making a standard activity budget for gorillas in captivity difficult to establish. A multi-institutional study of male gorillas in a variety of social contexts provided a unique opportunity to gather such data. Data were collected during hour-long group observations using scan sampling of eight behaviors at 5-min intervals. A total of 50 male and 35 female gorillas were observed in 20 social groups at 13 zoos for more than 2000 hrs. Results revealed the gorillas spent approximately 25% of time feeding; less than 10% of time engaged in social behavior; approximately 10% of time examining objects or engaged in self-directed behavior; less than 2% of time exhibiting undesirable behavior such as regurgitation and reingestion or coprophagy; and slightly more than half their waking hours engaged in “Other” behaviors, such as resting. There were significant institutional differences in time gorillas spent feeding, likely driven by variations in exhibitory and animal management. Overall, females spent significantly more time feeding and in solitary play than males and males spent significantly more time in agonistic social behavior and “Other” behaviors than females. Compared to males in mixed-sex groups, males in bachelor groups spent significantly less time feeding and significantly more time examining objects and engaging in agonistic social behavior. There was no difference in group type for time males spent in social affiliative, self-directed, undesirable, or “Other” behaviors. Although these data.....                          

An Overview of What’s New with the AZA Gorilla Species Survival Plan
Lukas, Kristen
Cleveland Metroparks

Like other Species Survival Plans® administered by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the Gorilla SSP aims to scientifically and collectively manage the 370 gorillas housed in 52 institutions accredited by AZA. The Gorilla SSP is composed of representatives from all AZA institutions housing gorillas, an elected management group, and advisors in the areas of population management, conservation, behavior, research, biomaterials, pathology, reproduction, nutrition, and health. This presentation will contain an overview of the population, planning criteria, and recent developments within the SSP. For example, the Gorilla SSP recently published the 2007 Master plan, a document that identifies holding, transfer, and breeding recommendations for each individual within the SSP. New population management software is in development that will improve the way we make breeding recommendations in polygynous species such as gorillas in the future. As a complement to population management activities, the Veterinary Advisory Team is coordinating The Gorilla Health Project, an initiative to improve our understanding of gorilla health and identify ways to manage and prevent disease in captive gorillas. Additional scientific activities are supporting the SSP including SSP-endorsed research projects on reproduction, aging, and male gorilla management, and the development of a Biomaterials Action Plan. We have also launched a website to provide information about gorillas and the SSP to the public and create a space to share information with SSP institutions in a members-only section. Finally, we are nearing completion of the gorilla Standardized Guidelines, which represent a collaborative effort between the Ape TAG, Gorilla SSP, AZA Animal Welfare Committee, and other individuals within AZA to create guidelines and establish best practices for animal care. With the support and enthusiasm of its leadership, members, and advisors, the Gorilla SSP continues to make great strides in advancing a mission of excellence......

Two-way Communication with Gorillas as Enrichment and Husbandry Aid
Lutter, Susan
The Gorilla Foundation

One of the most universal concerns for gorillas in captivity is the need to replace, as best we can, aspects of their natural life that they have lost – mental stimulation and choice key among them. We see evidence of this concern in new ideas of exhibit design and the emphasis on environmental enrichment. There is, however, another powerful dimension of enrichment that can be integrated into the captive situation without undue investment. Data and videos collected from a thirty-five-year gorilla signing study are used to present the development of meaningful two-way communication between gorillas and caregivers as both environmental enrichment and husbandry aid.

Gorillas naturally utilize a number of vocalizations and gestures to communicate with each other. Building on their natural ability by teaching them shared gestures – those understood by keepers and gorillas alike – can lead to greatly improved care. Used as an enrichment tool, sign language may make their captive situations more enjoyable, and can greatly assist in day-to-day husbandry and health care.

Meaningful interspecies communication, however, is not limited to formal sign language expression. Shared meaning can arise in a wide variety of scenarios, offering significant benefits in terms of captive enrichment and welfare. A simple pointing gesture can as easily choose between alternatives or indicate the location of pain. Both enhance the lives of those great apes living under our care.

Use of a common language allows non-human great apes to communicate to their human caregivers their needs, wants, likes and feelings, partially restoring lost aspects of freedom such as choice and control. We present specific implementations of shared gestures, as well as a program offered to assist institutions that wish to utilize such an approach.
       

A Gorilla and His Goats
Maneyapanda, Kelly
Gorilla Haven

An adult male gorilla, previously socially housed, was transferred to Gorilla Haven in the spring of 2006. It was only possible to house him alone. The following winter he was scratching his skin and plucking his hair. Vitamin & lipid supplements plus increased humidity improved skin condition but plucking persisted. Already high levels of environmental enrichment were increased and extra habitat apparatus provided. Finally pygmy goats as companion animals were introduced. Plucking reduced, but was not eliminated. After consultation social housing will be provided as soon as possible. This presentation explores the process and steps taken to provide for the needs of the solitary gorilla male.                                      

Activity and Foraging Patterns of Wild Western Lowland Gorillas of Bai-Hokou, Central African Republic
Masi, Shelly
Max Planck Institute, Germany

Wild animals held in captivity often develop behavioral abnormalities or health problems which can be linked to inadequate diets or lack of psychological motivations. Observations of behavior and diet of wild animals are fundamental to assess species specific behavioral needs and provide environmental stimuli for optimal psychological and physiological wellbeing.

In this study, I present information from 30 months of observations on two habituated groups of western gorillas from Bai-Hokou, Central African Republic. In the wild, western gorillas spend the majority of their daily time foraging (67%). Often food processing engages gorillas in very long feeding sessions (e.g. spiny foods, soil scratching). Diet is very diverse including 132 food items from 98 species of leaves, fruit, flowers, herbs, barks, and insects, and it has much higher fibers content than captive diets. Details on nutritional value of food items will be given. Gorillas spend 12% of their time moving (traveling and climbing) to search for preferred food. With differences in age-sex classes, walking and climbing account for large proportion of daily energy expensive of wild gorillas. In contrast to chimpanzees, that are highly socially active (also in captivity), wild western gorillas spend only very little time in social activities. The main social activity of silverbacks in the wild is to monitor their own female’s harem from males of other social units.

I will discuss and compare results from field observations to the captive condition to provide insights for enhancing the quality of captive gorilla husbandry. Adequate diet in terms not only of nutrition but also of time engaged in food processing is fundamental for gorilla’s physical and physiological well-being. Importance of locomotor activities in wild gorillas will be discussed in relation to social and physical conditions. I will provide implications for possible natural stimuli for motivating captive gorillas to increased physical exercise in order to maintain good health, and a physical condition closer to the gorillas in the wild.

Treating Metabolic Bone Disease in a 6 Month Old Gorilla: A Case Study
Moores, Brandi; Dearie, Marty
Zoo New England

On November 24th 2004, a female western lowland gorilla was born at the Franklin Park Zoo in Boston, Ma. The infant appeared normal, with no noticeable developmental issues. On 2/15/05, staff started to observe nose and eye discharge from the baby. Soon after, it was noticed that the baby’s wrists were held in a bent position with the fingers clenched. The baby did not cling to the mother normally, forcing the mother to carry her in an atypical fashion. On 5/14/05, the decision was made to immobilize the mother in order to perform a physical examination on the infant. The length of time the mother and baby were separated was kept to a minimum and 5 to 6 hours after the initial separation, the baby was back with the mother. Results of blood calcium and vitamin D levels revealed that the baby had metabolic bone disease caused by a vitamin D deficiency. Following the physical exam, zoo staff made the decision to treat the baby without removing her from the mother. The zoo’s operant conditioning program and the determination of the staff allowed the infant to be successfully treated on a daily basis. This paper will describe the baby’s treatment while staying with the mother and the steps the zoo took to accomplish this task. The gorilla is now a healthy juvenile, who continues to receive weekly doses of vitamin D.

Gorillas in Schmutzer Primate Center, Ragunan Zoological Park, Indonesia
Mulyono, Sri; Utami, Mimi 
Schmutzer Primate Center, Indonesia

Schmutzer Primate Centre ,Ragunan Zoological Park, is not only a place for people to recreate themselves, but it also aimed to assist the government to conserve and to preserve the existing animals of the country, at the same time it also supports the transfer and the development of the biological science in particular and the human knowledge on the nature as a whole .
Ragunan zoological Park have strong moral obligations towards the primates they maintain in captivity .There is growing awareness in our zoo of the importance of providing the primates with a biologically correct environment. We should design the enclosure to suit animal.

The spatial arrangement of the exhibits play an important part in determining how the viewers will see the exhibit.
The schmutzer Primate Center is a best facility at the Ragunan Zoological Park that has been built on about 13 ha . The late of Mrs.Puck Schmutzer was donated and supports development The Schmutzer Primate Center – Ragunan Zoological Park and DR. Willie Smits as Director of Gibbon Foundation was design and to continue the mission of Mrs.Puck Schmutzer. The mission of The Schmutzer Primate Center – Ragunan Zoological Park is strive to provide and give the best for animals and educated people on wildlife conservation. The facility at the Schmutzer Primate Center are Great Apes Facility, Gibbon holding facility, leaf monkey cages, and also for Nocturnal animals facility, Quarantine and Nursery, Clinic, Education Center, canopy trail and play ground for children. The Gorilla are all come from Howlett’s and Port Lympne Wild Animal Park. The gorillas are, and will always remain in the ownership of Howletts & Port Lympne Ltd and can be removed from Ragunan Zoological Park if Howletts & Port Lympne consider that the gorillas are not suited to Indonesia due to climatic conditions or that it is in the gorilla’s best interest so to do.
Four male gorillas from Howlett Zoo arrived to Schmutzer Primate Center , Ragunan Zoo in July 2002 , where they created a bachelor group. They included Kumbo ( born 08 May95, a son of Kijo and Shumba ) , Kihi ( born 08 May 95, a son of Kijo and Dihi ), Komu ( born 16 April 97, a son of Kijo and Mushi) , and Kidjoum ( born 07 December 97, a son of Kijo and Djuma) at the moment Kumbo as leader of the group , as far they are all well. The gorillas are all brothers; they are from Kijo’s family . The gorillas were given two spacious, inner exhibition cage , bed room, and a large outer enclosure surround by water moat, which is 1.8 – 2.5 m deep with electric wire and underwater mesh to protect against drowning.

There a number of practical considerations which must not be overlooked in the developing gorilla exhibit : Gorillas must be comfortable, , visible to the zoo visitors, common natural habitats, have sufficient space for the primates to retreat without feeling threatened by the keeper, hygienic and capable of being cleaned an disinfectant and also the exhibit should be aesthetically pleasing to the public . And Gorilla exhibit design is an equal mix of art and science It is usually a compromise between what you want and what you can afford. Creation of primate exhibits required artistic talent as well as knowledge of animals and their habitats. The planning and execution of the exhibits required the combined talents of zoologists, designers, artists and technician- specialist with skills ranging from sketching animals.

In the beginning the animals were shy , but slowly they became self confident and their keepers gained their confident in a short period of time .The relationships between gorillas also gradually changed.

The gorillas enjoy using all their facilities: resting in their hammock, climbing on the ropes. They spend much time looking for hidden food . We had an opportunity to observe how they play with cascading water and a stream in their outdoor enclosures. In the morning all gorilla spend most of their time in the cave of outdoor enclosure
             

The Way Forward: Gorilla Management in Captivity
Ndubuisi, Onwuka
Ibadan, Nigeria      

The environmental problems ranging from habitat destruction, hunting for bush meat, increase in human population etc. are among the major threats endangering the survival of this species “the great Apes” in the wild. No wonder issues like environmental enrichment, partnering with other zoos are becoming a thing of concern so that we can save the gorillas in our cares. Deficiencies in husbandry practices and captive environment can result in behavioral and psychological problems such stereotypic behaviors, extreme aggression, overgrowing etc. This is particularly true for highly intelligent primates if sufficient mental and physical stimulation is not provided. This stimulation come inform of “environmental enrichment” the aim of which is to provide a stimulating and naturalistic outlook that will exercise the mind and body of the species. It is possible for a species to return from the brink of extinction when necessary conservation steps are put in place. However, keeping a multi-male and bachelor gorilla groups in captivity will involve a lot of research considering the species behavior in the wild as this will provide a sound basis for the management of the group structure in captive environment. One parameter to be used is the ratio of sexually mature adult male to sub adult and juveniles. Overcrowding brings about competition for feeding and drinking with resultant effect of creating stressful conditions like aggression and fighting leading to injuries. Captive animals benefit from a stimulating natural environment that provides for their physical and psychological well-being more that a casual captive environment.
                 

A WCS Outreach Program for the Endangered Primates at the Limbe Wildlife Centre
Perriello, Noel; Squillaril, Sabrina; McCannl, Colleen; Lankester, Felix
WCS 

Despite continued conservation efforts the fact remains that African primate populations are declining at alarming rates. This is in large part due to the increased reliance of local communities on primates and other wildlife for bush meat and as pets (Wilkie, 2001). The illegal hunting of endangered wildlife has reached a crisis state and demands an immediate plan for the protection of species under siege as well as for the individual animals that fall victim to these illegal activities. As wildlife populations continue to decline, the number of orphaned primates and sanctuaries that care for them remain on the rise (Farmer, 2002). Wildlife sanctuaries evolve in response to crisis affecting local wildlife species, and thus, are often characterized as ‘zoos by default’ rather than by design. Working in concert with local officials, they greatly facilitate the enforcement of laws protecting endangered species by providing officials with a solution for animals confiscated by hunters and traders.

|There has been a long-standing view that the mission of sanctuaries is in conflict with those of the conservation community. A sanctuary’s main objective is securing the welfare of individuals in their care while promoting important conservation messages; whereas field conservation objectives work primarily to secure the future of populations. However, rather than view them as in conflict with one another, the Limbe Wildlife Centre (LWC) and Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)-- with expertise in field conservation, education, captive management and veterinary health-- view these as complimentary approaches to a complex problem. In 2006, the WCS initiated a keeper exchange program in Cameroon with the LWC; where primate keepers from the Bronx Zoo worked with keepers at LWC learning about the challenges of working in an African sanctuary, and where LWC keepers will come and work at the Bronx Zoo, headquarters for the WCS. Currently WCS’ main conservation efforts in Cameroon are concentrated in protected areas and with conserving wild populations—most notable the Cross River gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli); however, the potential for the greatest impact of conservation education of the human population is in the more densely populated areas like Limbe, where the LWC is found. Here is where local people have the opportunity to see animals up close and learn important conservation lessons about why it is critical to preserve Cameroon’s natural resources, the worlds’ biodiversity, and the devastating impact of the bush meat trade on the future of Africa’s wildlife populations. In this way WCS and LWC would be able to tackle an urgent conservation problem in one site with all the tools and resources at its disposable: a united multi-faceted conservation approach.                                                

Behavioral Variation in Captive Gorilla Males: Do Bachelor Gorillas Deal Differently with Social situations?
Pullen, Kirsten
Paignton Zoo, UK

Many factors can influence the behavior of gorilla males in captivity including the presence and absence of resources within the enclosure. In breeding situations, access to females can be considered a resource and may need to be controlled, particularly in the presence of other males.

Previous research has suggested that breeding group males show marked variation in the strength of hierarchy, indicating a range of dominance styles (from despotic to egalitarian), and therefore behavioral styles, which may relate to control of access to females. Alternatively bachelor group males do not show such variation in hierarchy which suggests less variation in behavioral styles within the bachelor groups.

Behavioral data were collected on male / male interactions within a number of gorilla groups (6 breeding and 5 bachelor groups) in a range of husbandry situations. All occurrence sampling of behaviors coupled with continuous focal follows of each of the males allows for detailed analysis of the social interactions of males within these groups.
This paper comments on the social behaviors exhibited by males in both breeding and bachelor groups and aims to increase understanding of bachelor group dynamics.
                               

Gorilla Husbandry at the Little Rock Zoo: A Keeper Driven Program
Rademacher, Ann
Little Rock Zoo 

The Little Rock Zoo has housed non-traditional groups of gorillas since the exhibit opened in 1988. The longest running group consisted of 3.1 gorillas, which included a cycling female and stayed together for 12 years. We opted to break the group up and formed a new group consisting of 2.2 gorillas and including two females of breeding age. The birth of our first gorilla infant made the decision to proceed with a multi male group a difficult one. Our prior experience with the individuals and management of multi male groups gave us the confidence to take this direction.

Key components of our program include flexibility, the ability to offer choices to gorillas, keeper driven decisions regarding gorilla management, decisions based on observations of group dynamics and individual behavior, and an institutional attitude that animal decisions are best made by animal staff. Using a team of permanent ape keepers ensures experience and consistency. The keeper driven husbandry approach has benefited the gorillas, animal staff and zoo management.
                                 

Cardiac Ultrasound on  Gorillas without the Use of Anesthesia
Richard, Claire
Milwaukee County Zoo

The gorillas (Gorilla gorilla) at the Milwaukee County Zoo have been participating in cardiac ultrasonography without the use of anesthesia since September 2006. The 3.3 gorillas range in age from 12-45 years old. Operant conditioning was initiated in the gorilla management program in 1995, and allows the gorillas to voluntarily participate in their own health care while unrestrained and awake. Since cardiac disease is prevalent in the captive gorilla population, it is imperative and critical that cardiac care be implemented for screening purposes. Complete diagnostic images with cardiac measurements have been routinely obtained through trans-thoracic imaging using a 2.5 MHz linear array probe and a Phillips SD800. Once collected, images and measurements are evaluated and reported on by a human cardiologist familiar with ape echocardiograms.                      

Managing a Family Group with Maturing Male Offspring
Richards, Beth; Cory, Linda
Disney’s Animal Kingdom

In the past, the standard for gorilla husbandry management has included removing sub-adult male gorillas from their natal groups well before behavioral conflicts arise. The Primate Team at Disney’s Animal Kingdom housed a family gorilla troop with two male offspring and anticipated aggression in the group’s future. The team committed to adjusting the management of the troop once aggression became pervasive in an effort to prolong the males’ socialization within their natal group. The team modified existing training and enrichment programs as well as making minor exhibit and holding modifications to allow the silverback to maintain his dominance over the group while allowing the blackbacks to continue to develop adult skills. The team was able to safely maintain the males in a more natural social environment until they reached the ages of nearly 13 and nearly 10, at which time the pair was placed at another institution to form a bachelor group. Maintaining the blackbacks with their family allowed the staff to observe the natural evolution of the relationship between a silverback and his male offspring and enabled the team to decide an appropriate time to remove the sub-adult males from the group.
                    

Update on Port Lympne Bachelor Groups
Ridges, Philip
Port Lympne Wild Animal Park   

WILL TALK ABOUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED WITH OUR BACHELOR GROUPS IN THE LAST 7 YEARS OR SO SINCE THE BACHELOR WORKSHOP BACK IN 2000. I WILL INCLUDE INTRODUCTION TECHNIQUES AND PROBLEMS WE'VE ENCOUNTERED BUT MAINLY IT'S AN UPDATE ON HOW THINGS ARE GOING. I WILL INCLUDE PHOTOS OF ENCLOSURE DESIGN AS WELL AS PICTURES OF THE GORILLAS THEMSELVES.
       

Gorilla Information: Do It Regionally
Shoffner, Tad
Cleveland MetroParks Zoo 

On November 6-7, 2002 Cleveland Metroparks Zoo hosted the 1st Annual Great Lakes Regional Gorilla Workshop. The workshop had 40 attendees representing 12 zoos from the Great Lakes and surrounding region. The zoos included Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo, Columbus, Pittsburgh, Erie, Philadelphia, Brookfield, Chicago Lincoln Park, Detroit, Toronto, and Buffalo. This group represented more than 500 years zoo experience and almost 400 years of gorilla husbandry experience.

The regional gorilla workshop concept aims to improve communication between regional zoos about their gorilla populations and gorilla husbandry. The workshop's structure attempts to minimize the monetary cost and time investment of traditional zoo conferences and strives to maximize the information exchange of gorilla husbandry and management issues.

There have been five consecutive gorilla workshops hosted by five Great Lakes region zoos covering a wide range of gorilla husbandry issues that have benefited the attendees as well as creating a network of captive gorilla experience and expertise.
    

The Physiology of Male Gorillas: Effect of Age and Housing
Stoinski, Tara; Lukas, Kristen; Kuhar, Chris; Czekala, Nancy
Zoo Atanta

To further our understanding of male gorilla physiology and how it relates to social housing, we collected urine samples from 60 males between the ages of 5.5 and 45.5 years living in three housing situations: all-male groups, mixed-sex (multi- and single-male) groups and solitary individuals. Urine samples were analyzed for androgens and corticoids using radioimmunoassay at the San Diego Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species. For analyses, samples were divided into AM (before noon) and PM (after noon) samples to control for diurnal variation in hormone excretion. Both androgens and corticoids showed a quadratic relationship with age but in opposite directions. Androgens started low, increased and remained high through the mid-20s and then decreased in older adulthood whereas corticoids showed the opposite pattern. To look for differences as a function of group type, we conducted several analyses. First, we compared males living in all-male groups to males living in groups with females (either multi-male or single male). We only found significant results for PM samples, which showed subadult males (<10 years of age) in all-male groups to have higher corticoids levels than same-aged individuals in mixed-sex groups. Second, we compared males living in multi-male groups (either with or without females) to males living in single male groups and found no significant differences in either hormone. Finally, we compared males living in any type of group to those living as solitary individuals. We found solitary males to have higher levels of androgens (both time categories) and corticoids (PM only). The results support previous findings of no negative physiological effects of housing males in all-male groups. Additionally, although solitary living may be natural part of male life history in the wild, our results again suggest it is associated with stress in captivity. Although the reasons males become solitary in captivity are likely the result of a host of factors, the higher levels of androgens in
                                        

Current Status of Al-Male and Multi-Male Groups within the AZA Population
Stoinski, Tara; Lukas, Kristen; Kuhar, Chris
Zoo Atlanta

An inherent problem for the captive management of polygynous species like gorillas is the social housing of males that are surplus to the breeding population. Generally, these males cannot be maintained in breeding groups as non-reproductive individuals because of intense competition for access to females. As a result, gorilla males that are surplus to the breeding population are currently housed in all-male groups. This talk will provide an overview of the situation for all-male and multi-male groups within the AZA population (e.g., current groups and their longevity, future predictions for number of groups needed). We will also discuss how data collected on both wild and captive populations of gorillas inform us about the best methods for successfully forming all-male groups and maintaining them over the long term.                                      

GaiaPark Zoo
Ter Meulen, Tjerk
GaiaPark Zoo, Holland            

Introduction of a Subadult Male in an Existing All Female Group. Fasten Your Seatbelts!
Verheij, Martine
Apenheul Primate Park, Holland 

In August 2005 Bongo, the 33-year old leader of Apenheul’s Gorilla group, totally unexpectedly died as a result of an acute bacterial meningitis.
    
Bongo left behind a group of four adult females, two sub-adult females and two teenage daughters who were still too young to leave their maternal group. One adult female still carried a 2 ½ year old son. Four more males between seven and twelve years old were also present at that time. These needed to be moved to another zoo before a new male arrived.
   
For Apenheul it was a big challenge.  First of all we had to find a new, suitable male and then we had to try to introduce him in an existing, complex group that had functioned very well for more then 20 years.  The EEP selected five males who fit the genetic and social profile for the position. All animals were observed intensively by Apenheul staff members in different parts of Europe to see if their social capacities were good enough. Jambo, an mere 13 year old male from Krefeld Zoo in Germany, turned out to be the best choice.
    
The introduction of an inexperienced immature male in a group with adult females with offspring who were bonded already for more than 20 years is almost looking for trouble.   Also the serious risk of infanticide had to be taken into account.
Keepers staff and management of Apenheul made a introduction plan based on internal and external expertise, our own experience, and the characters of the individual Gorillas.
    
In this presentation we will give you an inside look into these plans, the introduction itself, the successes and the failures we encountered during this exiting event. It will be supported with video footage.
        

Behavior Management of Bachelor Gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla)
Williams, Tracy
Jacksonville Zoo

Effective management of “bachelor” male gorillas that cannot live in breeding groups has become an increasingly important issue to captive programs worldwide.  A comprehensive behavior management program has been implemented to facilitate improved quality of life for bachelor gorillas at the Jacksonville Zoo.  Behavior management strategies involving management style, socialization, facility design, enrichment, and training have been integrated into the daily husbandry routine.  
    
Current management style is based on flexibility and provides the gorillas with options and control over their environment.   Using a realistic approach to the assessment of risk versus benefit, more socialization and enrichment options have been provided.   The needs of each individual animal are addressed based on history, character traits and compatibility.  A recent decision to manage fewer ape species at the Jacksonville Zoo will allow for further improvements to gorilla management.
    
Socialization provided through alternative social groups has played a critical role. Jacksonville Zoo’s bachelor group is the first to be established by introduction of unrelated, mature silverbacks.  Strategies that facilitated the successful integration of four silverbacks in various dyadic and triadic combinations included fission/ fusion management, facility design, enrichment, and animal training.   Integration into a bachelor group is not always the best option for every gorilla.  Complex and fluctuating social dynamics create a need for flexibility and creative alternatives.  With that in mind, Jacksonville Zoo is planning to introduce colobus monkeys to gorillas, with the potential for adding more species in the future.   This will provide additional social opportunities, particularly for gorillas that are less compatible with conspecifics.   
    
The importance of facility design should not be underestimated.  In many ways, it has contributed positively to silverback introductions at Jacksonville Zoo.  Indoor facilities allowed for maximum observation opportunities and easy separations.  They also provided adequate space, escape routes, and visual barriers.  At the same time, utilization of a deep-water moat system led to the drowning death of a silverback during an introduction period.  Temporary electric fences have been in place since the death to prevent any future incidents and extensive exhibit renovations, including the elimination of all deep-water moats, are planned for the very near future. 
    
Enrichment initiatives not only provide stimulation for the gorillas on a day to day basis, but have also assisted with introductions and medical treatments.   A variety of feeding strategies, devices, toys, substrates, and props provide distractions to reduce aggressive behavior.   Destructible and indestructible objects encourage natural displays and diffuse aggressive encounters.  When one silverback developed a skin condition that would not heal because of the animal picking at the wound, enrichment initiatives provided distraction to facilitate the healing process.
    
An effective operant conditioning program is critical to bachelor group management.  Wounds are quickly and efficiently inspected and treated without anesthesia.  Training complex behaviors like hand-injection, blood collection, radiographs, awake ECG, blood pressure, and ultrasound can provide further information on the health and well-being of each gorilla and reduce the need for immobilization for medical procedures.

Three Captive Female Gorillas: Three Mothering Styles
Woods, Sue
University of Colorado

Maternal behaviors were documented in two phases each for three female western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla). Two of these females (JoRayK and Rapunzel) were housed at the Denver Zoo; the third female (Asha) was housed at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs. JoRayK was an experienced mother, but the other two females were raising an infant for the first time. Two of the infants were female and one was male. The first phase of data collection occurred after each infant was born, and the second phase began at 7-8 months when each infant was becoming more independent and not always in physical contact with its mother. The following active maternal behaviors were observed: hold/support, groom/inspect, pat/rub, reposition/pick up, gaze, touch, push away, play, reprimand, and restrain. Proximity to other gorillas was also recorded. Results include the following: Of the three females, the experienced mother JoRayK spent the least time holding and playing with her son and the most time grooming him. Also, JoRayK’s proximity to adult group members decreased significantly in Phase 2. Of the two inexperienced females, Asha spent the most time playing with her daughter in Phase 1 of data collection, and Rapunzel spent the most time playing with her daughter in Phase 2. Rapunzel was the only female observed pushing her infant away, and Asha was the only female observed reprimanding her infant. Although some of the results correspond to differences that might be expected between experienced and inexperienced mothers, other differing behaviors indicate that each female gorilla can be expected to exhibit her own mothering style. These data also demonstrate that gorilla infants can thrive within a broad range of mothering styles.             

The Introduction and Development of a Mixed Species Exhibit: A Bachelor Gorilla Troop and a Pair of DeBrazza Monkeys
Yakubinis, Lynn; Floyd, Sara
Riverbanks Zoo

As bachelor gorillas troops become more common in small and medium sized zoos, different ways to house and display them will change according to the needs of the facilities they are exhibited by. Riverbanks Zoo has had the unique opportunity to use their gorilla exhibit for multiple species. This includes a pair of Debrazza monkeys (Cercopithecus neglectus) which have been introduced to the Riverbanks bachelor gorilla troop, and can be exhibited simultaneously or separately. The philosophy for this use of the gorilla exhibit included efficient use of space, the education of the visitors to the zoo, offering a complex social environment for all of the animals involved, and to enhance the aesthetics of the exhibit.
    
This management strategy included many factors to be considered, such as husbandry, holding/exhibit design, introduction strategies, operant conditioning, and flexible enrichment strategies. This complex management method has been beneficial for the animals, the guests at our zoo, and for the keeper staff. Achieving success in a project of this size involves group brainstorming sessions, advanced problem solving, effective communication, and research from other sources including the Ape TAG, and advice from other facilities which have tried similar introductions. Working through the various challenges this concept presents, requires the dedication and cooperation between the keeper staff, veterinarians, education personnel, public relations, and mammal curators. Managing multiple species in a great ape facility also requires a flexible exhibit and holding space, which may require building renovation or improvements.
    
It is only after both species have been exhibited together for a long period of time, do all of the ramifications become apparent. If considerations are made for all of the animals involved, a mixed species exhibit can result in improved overall animal welfare. The positive impact of this strategy was immediately apparent and the educational impact was immediately expanded, with the ultimate experience of watching multiple primate species interact.                                  

Moving Forward
Zdrojewski, Keith
Dallas Zoo 

This presentation is about what happened after the escape and unfortunate death of Jabari in 2004. It deals with Patrick, whom Jabari lived with almost all of his life, the changes that occurred to our gorilla exhibits, and the positives that we have taken from this tragic event.
    
After this event many discussions occurred both internally and from various colleagues around the country. From those discussions the Dallas Zoo decided to make some exhibit modifications. These modifications enhanced the safety of the exhibit and also made a more personal experience for the visitor. These changes included higher exhibit walls, better visitor viewing, a training area viewable by the public, microphones so guest can hear the gorillas, cool air blowers and exhibit rocks.
    
One of the first issues we encountered was that now we had a solitary male instead of a bachelor group. This meant we had to make sure that this male, Patrick, had a high level of stimulation to encompass his day. This was compounded by the fact that he would now have to spend the foreseeable future inside until construction plans were made and then completed. Even though he was inside for two years the Dallas Zoo has a great indoor holding area with 20 foot high community rooms, huge garage doors that open for fresh air, and lots of variation to change around his living space for him to exercise both with keepers and by himself.
    
Patrick’s personality and actions taught the keepers about resilience and adaptability. Patrick’s intelligence and patience far exceeded our expectations. One of the main discoveries we made was his ability to use and to understand tool usage. He was able to fashion sticks through is own ingenuity to solve very complicated enrichment devices (most of which he had never used before). Some of these were fishing for food outside the mesh in large water tubs, making stabbing tools to get to food out of tubs hanging below a mesh shelf and using various self made tools and techniques to obtain food from barrels and on balls outside his bedroom.
  
During this time inside Patrick’s training also accelerated. When the exhibit construction was completed we knew there was going be an area allocated for public training demonstrations through a meshed window surrounded by glass. Both of which were new to him. Again even with all this change he adapted beautifully. The use of this training window demonstrated to the public how peaceful, calm and intelligent gorillas are.
    
Through this presentation I want to show how keepers at the Dallas Zoo were able to deal with a very traumatic event and the heartache from that same horrible event then turn that negative energy around and direct it towards positive outcomes while working with Patrick as a coping mechanism.
                                     

Posters:

Voluntary Cardiac Ultrasound of a Captive Gorilla
Caiharr, Jennifer
Kansas City Zoo

This poster will focus on the process and steps the Kansas City Zoo took to get a voluntary ultrasound from its 30 year old male gorilla “Wanto”. From desensitization to the probe and ultrasound gel, to the modifications that had to be made to the blood sleeve, this process has been ongoing for the past eight months. We have some interesting results to show from all of the work done by Keeper staff as well as Veterinary staff, not to mention the cooperation and training of “Wanto”.
 

Gorilla Wounding: Managing Wounds in Multi-male Groups
By Danielle Decker and Donald L. Neiffer, VMD, DACZM, Disney’s Animal Kingdom

As the males have matured in the bachelor and family gorilla troops at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, managing wounds has become a regular part of the husbandry and veterinary care of the gorillas.  Utilizing keepers, zoological managers and veterinaries, we have developed husbandry and training techniques that aid in the management and care of these social groups.  The poster will discuss the wound healing process, training and husbandry techniques for wound treatment, and a staff decision-making process regarding the treatment process and management of the social group. 

Advanced Treatment of a Uterine Fibroid in a Gorilla
Demitros, Craig; Schmidt, Kim
Brookfiled Zoo

Beta, a 46-year-old, wild born gorilla at Brookfield Zoo has a history of making history. Beta was the first gorilla to give birth through assisted reproduction (artificial insemination) and the first and only gorilla to have bilateral hip replacement. In 2007 two more procedural firsts were added to Beta's resume. In late 2005 Beta showed signs of abdominal discomfort and heavy vaginal bleeding. An ultrasound exam revealed a fibroid (a benign tumor) in her uterus. Hormone therapy, with birth control pills, initially resulted in some improvement but in early 2007 the bleeding returned. In April of 2007 Beta received a hydrothermal ablation (HTA). In this procedure heated saline solution was flushed into the uterus with the hope of causing destruction of the uterine lining and the fibroid. The HTA showed some promise for a few months but again, the bleeding returned. In September 2007 interventional radiologists performed a uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) on Beta. During this procedure a catheter was inserted into an artery in Beta's left arm and guided into the uterine arteries that supplied blood to the fibroid. Small plastic spheres were injected into the arteries, cutting off the blood supply to the fibroid and causing it to shrink. Beta's bleeding stopped the next day. This poster presentation documents the fibroid problem and the various procedures used to address this health issue.
 

Comparing the Social Behavior of the Saint Louis Zoo’s Bachelor Gorillas in Two Different Exhibits
Dodson, Dawn; Moore, Rachel
Saint Louis Zoo

The Saint Louis Zoo currently houses 4.0 gorillas: ages 7, 9, 10, and 19. The group is housed in an indoor exhibit during the winter months and a larger, more complex outdoor exhibit during the rest of the year. The ape staff was interested in the question of whether and/or how the male’s social relationships were affected by these two different environments. The keepers reviewed all behavioral interactions they had observed and recorded in the Zoo’s computerized animal record keeping system. The results revealed an overall trend that showed the gorillas participated in more affiliative interactions when housed in their outdoor as compared to their indoor exhibit. Specifically, the keepers had recorded 47 versus nine affiliative interactions among the males over 11 months of outdoor versus seven months of indoor enclosure time. In sharp contrast, the recorded occurrences of agonistic behaviors were essentially equal; 24 in the outdoor versus 21 in the indoor exhibit.

The above findings led the keepers to initiate a more systematic approach to collecting behavioral data that was also feasible to accomplish within a typical work day. Data are collected via hourly scan samples that record the location, proximity and behavior of each male. Behavior has been classified into seven broad categories: Affiliative (play, groom), Inactive (rest), Agonistic (chase, slap, hit, bite, fight), Forage (searching for food or eating), Locomote (all forms of arboreal and terrestrial travel), Abberant (hair plucking, ear covering, R and R, etc) and Other. Two measures of social proximity are collected: the location of the males within their enclosure provides a general measure of social proximity and “Close Proximity”, defined as males within one arm’s length of each other. Data collection began in September 2007 and will continue through 2008. Our poster will present the results of the first five months of data collection (September 07 – January 08).
 

Going Up! Making Life Easier for Zakula
Giambro, Roseann; Vacco, Karen
Pittsburgh Zoo

As more gorillas