All About Gorillas A Resource for Conservation Educators © Florence Perroux © Sébastien Meys © IMPRINT Authors: DISCLAIMER Florence Perroux, Published by the Zoo de la Palmyre, France The­contents­of­this­volume­ World Association of Zoos florence.p@zoo­‑palmyre.fr do­not­necessarily­reflect­the­ and Aquariums (WAZA) and the Anne Sofie Meilvang, views­of­WAZA/IZE­or­con‑ International Zoo Educator’s Givskud Zoo, Denmark, tributory­organizations.­The­ Association (IZE) ­[email protected] designations­employed­and­ Shasta R. Bray, Cincinnati Zoo the­presentations­do­not­imply­ All about Gorillas. the­expression­of­any­opinion­ A Resource for & Botanical Garden, USA, [email protected] whatsoever­on­the­part­of­ Conservation Educators WAZA/IZE or contributory or‑ ©­WAZA/IZE,­Bern,­Switzerland. ­ Proof­Reading: ­ ganizations­concerning­the­legal­ 32­pages Shasta R. Bray, status­of­any­country,­territory,­ Cincinnati Zoo, USA city or area in its authority, or Produced by Bill Street, Busch Gardens, USA concerning­the­delimitation­of­ WAZA and IZE Gerald Dick,­WAZA,­Switzerland its­frontiers­or­boundaries.­ Coordinated by WAZA Executive Office Silvia Geser,­IZE­Central­Office,­ Lindenrain 3 [email protected] 3012 Bern Switzerland Design: Michal Stránský,­Czechia, Tel +41 31 300 20 30 [email protected]­ Fax +41 31 300 20 31 [email protected] ©­2009­World­Association­of­ www.waza.org Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) / International Zoo Educator’s As‑ IZE Central Office sociation­(IZE). Lindenrain 3 3012 Bern This­publication­may­be Switzerland ­reproduced­in­whole­or­in­part­ and­in­any­form­for­educational­ Tel +41 31 300 20 35 or­non­‑profit­purposes­without­ Fax +41 31 300 20 31 special­permission­from­the­ [email protected] copyright­holder,­provided­ www.izea.net acknowledgement­of­the­source­ is­made.­WAZA/IZE­would­ appreciate­receiving­a­copy­of­ any­publication­that­uses­this­ publication­as­a­source. ­No­use­of­this­publication­may­ be­made­for­resale­or­for­any­ other­commercial­purpose ­whatsoever­without­prior ­permission­in­writing ­from­WAZA/IZE. ISSN: 1662-7733 All­About­Gorillas­|­A­Resource­for­Conservation­Educators 1 Forewords United for Conservation! Nobody­can­save­the­world’s­biodiversity­alone,­and­if­we­can,­we­can­only­ The­protection­of­biodiversity­is­crucial­to­the­well­being­of­people­and­to­ achieve­­it­together.­Therefore­partnerships­and­joint­efforts­are­essential­in­ ensuring­a­healthy­planet­for­generations­to­come.­Gorillas,­the­gentle­gi‑ order­to­bring­together­different­approaches­and­skills.­WAZA­and­CMS­have­ ants­of­the­forest,­are­one­of­human’s­closest­relatives,­and­failure­to­stop­ joined­forces­and­together­support­species­conservation­and­the­increase­of­ their­current­decline­would­be­a­bad­sign­for­the­future­of­humankind­itself. public­awareness­on­migratory­species.­It­is­therefore­with­great­pleasure­to­ present­this­gorilla­resource­manual­for­education­and­awareness­purposes­as­ The­Year­of­the­Gorilla­and­other­projects­for­long‑term­gorilla­protec‑ a­result­of­collaboration­of­many­partners­within­the­international­zoo­com‑ tion­aim­to­conserve­not­only­the­gorilla,­but­also­its­tropical­rainforest­ munity,­united­under­the­WAZA­and­IZE­umbrella. habitat.­Gorillas­are­the­‘gardeners­of­the­forest’­and­must­be­saved­if­our­ children­are­to­benefit­from­the­forests­and­their­unique­natural­resources­ This­manual­is­a­contribution­to­the­endeavours­to­save­all­four­gorilla­subspe‑ tomorrow.­Through­provision­of­a­healthy­climate,­fresh­air,­clean­water­ cies­–­highlighted­by­the­gorilla­agreement­under­CMS­and­the­related­action­ and­many­other­ecosystem‑services,­these­forests­are­a­central­pillar­of­ plans­as­well­as­the­Year­of­the­Gorilla­2009.­As­one­can­only­protect­what­is­ a­‘functioning’­planet.­The­African­range­states­have­shown­their­commit‑ known,­it­is­hoped­that­increasing­knowledge­about­gorillas­will­in­fact­con‑ ment­to­saving­the­gorilla­by­concluding­an­Agreement­under­the­auspices­ tribute­to­the­survival­of­wild­gorillas! of­the­UNEP­Convention­on­Migratory­Species­covering­all­four­gorilla­ sub‑species­and­adopting­urgent­projects­to­ensure­their­survival.­­Sup‑ Gerald Dick porting­them­in­their­endeavour­is­a­noble­cause.­This­fun­and­educational­ Executive Director, publication­will­tell­you­more­about­gorillas,­their­important­role­and­the­ World Association way­they­live­their­lives.­Enjoy! of­Zoos­and­Aquariums­ (WAZA) Robert Hepworth Executive Secretary, Convention on­the­Conservation­of­Migratory­ Species­of­Wild­Animals­(UNEP/CMS) 2 2009 Year of the Gorilla The Convention on Migratory Why focus on gorillas? © Sébastien Meys © Species of Wild Animals (CMS), also known as the Bonn Convention, Gorillas­are­very­threatened­in­the­wild.­ the UNEP/UNESCO Great Ape They­suffer­from­habitat­destruction­ Survival Partnership­(GRASP),­ through­logging,­mining,­production­ and the World Association of Zoos of­charcoal­and­expanding­agriculture,­ and Aquariums­(WAZA)­have­joined­ from­poaching­and­bushmeat­trade,­ hands to declare 2009 the from­the­effects­of­armed­conflicts,­and­ Year of the Gorilla­(YoG). from­diseases­like­Ebola.­Three­of­the­ four­subspecies­are­listed­as­“Critically­ Endangered”­on­the­International­Union­ for­Conservation­of­Nature’s­(IUCN)­Red­ List­of­Threatened­Species.­ According­to­scientists,­gorillas­are­the­ 9 third­closest­relatives­of­humans­after­ chimpanzees­and­bonobos.­Humans­ and­gorillas­share­a­common­ancestor,­ and­only­1.4%­of­human­genes­differ­ Year of the from­those­of­gorillas.­Letting­them­ GORILLA disappear­would­be­a­huge­loss­of­ Année du information­about­the­evolution­ of­modern­humans. GORILLE 200 All­About­Gorillas­|­A­Resource­for­Conservation­Educators 3 What is the purpose of a gorilla manual? …Letting them © Florence Perroux The­following­contents­should­help­you­ disappear would to­better­understand­gorillas­and­find­ answers to many questions about them: be a huge loss for •­ What­do­the­different­species­look­like? •­ Where­do­they­live?­ understanding the •­ How­many­gorillas­are­there­ in­the­wild?­ evolution of modern •­ What­are­their­habits?­ •­ Why­are­they­so­threatened?­ humans… •­ Why­do­they­need­to­be­protected?­ •­ How­are­we­conserving­them?­ You­will­also­learn­how­you­can­act­to­ help­save­them.­Gorillas­need­you! 4 Acknowledgements Table of Contents Many zoos and organisations Zoos Forewords ..................................................................................1 and their staff contributed ideas, in North America (USA) 2009 Year of the Gorilla ................................................................2 pictures, assistance, Bronx Zoo | WCS: Acknowledgements ....................................................................4 information, and free time. www.bronxzoo.com | www.wcs.org Table of contents ........................................................................4 Thank you to all those Denver Zoo: www.denverzoo.org What is a gorilla?­................................................................................ 6 who helped to realize Atlanta Zoo: www.zooatlanta.org Difference­between­monkeys­and­apes­........................................... 6 this publication: Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden: ­ Gorilla­species­and­subspecies­........................................................ 7 www.cincinnatizoo.org ­ Range­map­..................................................................................... 7 in­Europe Western Lowland Gorilla Fact sheet­................................................8 Authors Givskud Zoo, Denmark: ­ Gorilla­Identification­by­nose‑shape­................................................ 9 www.givskudzoo.dk Physical adaptations .................................................................10 Florence Perroux, La Palmyre Zoo, France: A­powerful­and­well‑adapted­body­............................................... 10 Zoo de la Palmyre, France www.zoo­‑palmyre.fr ­ A­herbivorous­way­of­life................................................................11 Anne Sofie Meilvang, Loro Parque­(Canary­Islands),­Spain:­ ­ Thumbs­Up!­|­Activity!­....................................................................12 Givskud Zoo, Denmark www.loroparque.com Gorilla family ............................................................................ 13 Shasta R. Bray, Cincinnati Zoo Rotterdam Zoo, The Netherlands: A­strong­family­unit­.......................................................................13 & Botanical Garden, USA www.rotterdamzoo.nl From birth till adolescence­.............................................................14 Zoo Zürich,­Switzerland:­www.zoo.ch ­ Do­gorillas­have­friends?­|­Zoo‑Activity!­.........................................15 Zoo Basel,­Switzerland:­www.zoobasel.ch Gorilla behaviour ......................................................................16 Organisations Antwerp Zoo,­Belgium:­ ­ A­very­busy­day:­How­does­a­gorilla­spend­its­time |­Zoo‑Activity!­. 16 www.zooantwerpen.be ­ Where­do­the­gorillas­hang­out?­|­Zoo‑Activity!­..............................17 UNEP/UNESCO Great Apes La vallée des singes, France: ­ Label­gorilla­behaviour­illustrations­activity­|­Activity!­................... 18 Survival Project (GRASP): www.la‑vallee‑des‑singes.fr Gorilla communication­................................................................. 19 www.unep.org/grasp ­ Face­it! |­Activity!........................................................................... 20 Dian Fossey Gorilla