I guess all of you have seen the movie, King Kong. Haven’t you? Then probably you might have been attracted by that giant but cute and friendly animal. Yes, this giant primate has captured the minds of everyone for its innocency and caring. Though this ape is just an imaginary character, it looks like the gorillas of the present day.
But have you seen gorillas eating their own poop or the feces of other gorillas? It feels yucky to see that gross behaviour, but it is common in almost all animals, and gorillas are not an exception.
Let us understand in this article, “Why Do Gorillas Eat Their Poop?”
Why Do Gorillas Eat Their Poop: Here Are The Reasons:
There are many studies going on to prove that humans mainly developed from monkeys, apes, gorillas, etc. Though they show some similarities, these animals, especially gorillas did not completely develop into humans.
They have 98% human DNA and can recognize the hand signals. They also know how to use the tools, but they are not similar to humans in any way. Their size, their eating habits, and their behaviours are all different from humans.
There are several reasons why do gorillas eat their own poop. Though it is annoying to see someone eating a poop, it is quite natural for gorillas to eat their own or other gorillas’ poop. This behaviour of animals is called coprophagy.
Here are the reasons why do gorillas eat their poop:
1. Nutrient Recycling:
One of the main reasons for why do Gorillas eat their poop is described here. Gorillas being herbivorous depends usually on plant-based products including fruits, vegetables, and small insects for their living. Vitamin B12 is absent in plant products and hence gorillas don’t get Vitamin B12 from their food. But their intestines generally produce this nutrient and will come out in the form of poop. When gorillas eat their poop they will get back this nutrient.
Gorillas’ digestive system cannot extract all the nutrients from their plant-based foods. But the eating of poop helps them to re-digest the remaining plant material and are able to get back the necessary nutrients that were not absorbed before.
2. Balancing Their Intestinal Health:
Just like humans, the gut or gastrointestinal tract of gorillas contain various microorganisms that help to digest the food in a proper way. When gorillas consume feces it makes them get back and maintain these gut micro bacteria which helps in improving their digestion and promote their overall health.
3. Maintaining Social Connectivity:
Eating poop not only has digestive benefits but also helps in serving social needs. It allows them to communicate in their group by exchanging scent markers displaying their health and eating habits.
4. Inherited Behaviour:
This behaviour of gorillas to eat their poop can be a result of hereditary nature that has come from their ancestors. It might be regarded as the evolutionary nature passed on from generations to generations.
5. For Their Survival:
When there is a scarcity of food sources in their habitat, gorillas try to eat the poop of their own or of others for the purpose of living.
Do All Gorillas Eat Their Poop?
No, not all gorillas eat their poop at all times. This habit might be found in some domesticated or wild gorillas. It is not a regular behaviour but can be a result of some conditions and to serve some purposes.
There was a gorilla in Burger’s Zoo, who was not fond of eating her poop. And as a result, she used to fall ill, like having a cold or fever more often. To stop this, the caretakers started giving her tea with Vitamin supplements daily. After some time, she started eating her own poop and they stopped feeding her with supplements. She recovered completely from that day.
There was another gorilla named Bauwi who was also not having enough vitamins. One of his arms was not working properly and was having problems with walking. After a few days, instead of walking he started crawling. But when they started giving him extra supplements, he started eating his own poop and he too recovered.
But, why do gorillas eat their own poop? Let’s check the answer:
1. It Is Not A Regular Food Habit:
Eating poop is not their daily source of food and nutrition. Eating their poop regularly denotes that they lack the desired nutrition and are facing some health problems.
2. Having Behavioural Problems:
Just like humans, mood swings or behavioural variation are seen commonly in gorillas as well. Age, health, mood, aggressiveness, etc can lead to eating poop (coprophagy) nature in gorillas.
3. Not Having Proper Monitoring:
It is hard to keep on monitoring each of the gorillas all through the day and we cannot tell clearly when they will lick their own poop.
4. It Is A Form Of Supplement:
We use probiotics as a food supplement. Similarly, gorillas swallow their poop as a nutritional supplement. We might not be taking these supplements regularly but we prefer taking it occasionally. Similarly, gorillas eat their poop only when their internal health or external factors suggest them to do so.
Final Thoughts:
Where have you seen gorillas, in zoos, forests, or safari? Though being giant primates they rely upon plant-based diets. Their behaviour, eating habits, and their living environment make them more distinctive animals. They too understand hand signals and behave more like humans.
But what if I tell you they eat their own poop? It is disgusting for humans, but not for gorillas. You might ask, “why do gorillas eat their poop.” The reasons may surprise you. They may sometimes eat gross for various reasons such as to get nutrition, to communicate in the society, to improve their gut health, and so on. But sometimes, eating poop constantly signifies their underlying health problems.
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