Gorillas in captivity take advantage of human medical care

Captive gorillas benefit from human medical care, which is one of the most interesting facts about gorillas. The majority, if not all, of the behaviors seen in their wild counterparts, are displayed by captive gorillas. Even when being taken care of by people, they construct nests, engage in the same social interactions, gather and prepare food, use tools, and vocalize in the same manner.

Gorillas kept in zoos, like those at Zoo Atlanta, exhibit additional behaviors like engaging with their caregivers as part of voluntary enrichment training programs. Gorillas can take part in these programs at their discretion in activities that improve the welfare of all animals. Gorillas, for instance, can voluntarily submit body parts for physical examinations, accept injections such as flu and tetanus shots, and even voluntarily submit their chests for echocardiograms to check on their heart health. The gorillas can take part in their care thanks to all of this.