WESTERN LOWLAND GORILLA (Gorilla gorilla gorilla)

1 CREATED BY THE AZA GORILLA Species Survival Plan Program IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE AZA Ape TAG WESTERN LOWLAND GORILLA ( GORILLA GORILLA GORILLA ) CARE MANUAL GORILLA ( GORILLA GORILLA GORILLA )] Care Manual Association of Zoos and Aquariums 2 GORILLA ( GORILLA GORILLA GORILLA ) Care Manual Published by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums in collaboration with the AZA Animal Welfare Committee Formal Citation: AZA GORILLA Species Survival Plan. (2017). GORILLA Care Manual. Silver Spring, MD: Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Original Completion Date: April 2016 Authors and Significant Contributors: Kristen Lukas, , Director of Conservation & Science, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, GORILLA SSP Coordinator Tara Stoinski, , President and CEO, The Dian Fossey GORILLA Fund International, Ape TAG Chair Reviewers: Austin Leeds, Graduate Research Associate, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Beth Richards, Primate Keeper, Disney s Animal Kingdom Beth Schaefer, General Curator, Los Angeles Zoo Craig Demitros, Associate Curator Primates, Brookfield Zoo Danielle Decker, Senior Keeper, Sedgwick County Zoo Deb Schmidt, , William R.

2 Orthwein, Jr. Family Animal Nutritionist, Saint Louis Zoo Dusty Lombardi, Vice President of Animal Care, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Elena Hoellein-Less, , Associate Curator, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Hayley Murphy, DVM, Director of Veterinary Services, Zoo Atlanta Hugh Bailey, Lead Keeper, Woodland Park Zoo Jeannine Jackle, Assistant Curator, Zoo New England Jennifer Ireland, Curator of Mammals, North Carolina Zoo Jodi Carrigan, Lead Keeper of Primates, Zoo Atlanta Larry Killmar , Chief Zoological Officer, Sr. VP & Zoo Director, Lowry Park Zoo Linda Lowenstine, DVM, , Professor of Veterinary Pathology, University of California Davis Mary Agnew, , Program Scientist Wildlife Contraception Center, Saint Louis Zoo Maureen Leahy, Curator of Primates, Lincoln Park Zoo Michelle Shaw, Animal Nutritionist, Taronga Zoo Naida Loskutoff, Director of Reproductive Sciences, Omaha s Henry Doorly Zoo Nancy Hawkes, , General Curator, Woodland Park Zoo Pam Dennis, DVM, , Veterinary Epidemiologist, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Peggy Sexton, Lead Keeper, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Safari Park Rachel Daneault, Primate Zoological Manager, Disney s Animal Kingdom Richard Bergl.

3 Curator of Conservation & Research, North Carolina Zoo Roby Elsner, Assistant Curator of Primates, Audobon Zoo Ron Evans, Curator of Primates, Cincinnati Zoo Sarah Long, Director of Population Management Center, Lincoln Park Zoo Stephanie Braccini, , Curator of Mammals, Zoo Atlanta Tom Meehan, DVM, Vice President of Veterinary Services, Brookfield Zoo Tracy Fenn, Supervisor of Mammals, Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens GORILLA Care Manual Project Consultant: Joseph Barber, AZA Staff Editors: Daniel Saks, AZA ACM Intern John Lynagh, Intern, Conservation & Science Felicia Spector, Program Assistant, Animal Programs Rebecca Greenberg, Coordinator, Animal Programs GORILLA ( GORILLA GORILLA GORILLA )] Care Manual Association of Zoos and Aquariums 3 Cover Photo Credits: Adam Thompson Disclaimer: This manual presents a compilation of knowledge provided by recognized animal experts based on the current science, practice, and technology of animal management.

4 The manual assembles basic requirements, best practices, and animal care recommendations to maximize capacity for excellence in animal care and welfare. The manual should be considered a work in progress, since practices continue to evolve through advances in scientific knowledge. The use of information within this manual should be in accordance with all local, state, and federal laws and regulations concerning the care of animals. While some government laws and regulations may be referenced in this manual, these are not all-inclusive nor is this manual intended to serve as an evaluation tool for those agencies.

5 The recommendations included are not meant to be exclusive management approaches, diets, medical treatments, or procedures, and may require adaptation to meet the specific needs of individual animals and particular circumstances in each institution. Commercial entities and media identified are not necessarily endorsed by AZA. The statements presented throughout the body of the manual do not represent AZA standards of care unless specifically identified as such in clearly marked sidebar boxes. GORILLA ( GORILLA GORILLA GORILLA )] Care Manual Association of Zoos and Aquariums 4 Table of Contents Introduction .. 6 Taxonomic Classification.

6 6 Genus, Species, and Status .. 6 General Information .. 6 Chapter 1. Ambient Environment .. 9 Temperature and Humidity .. 9 Light .. 10 Water and Air Quality .. 11 Sound and Vibration .. 11 Chapter 2. Habitat Design and Containment .. 13 Space and Complexity .. 13 Safety and Containment .. 20 Chapter 3. Records .. 27 Definitions .. 27 Types of Records .. 27 Identification .. 28 Chapter 4. Transport .. 29 Preparations .. 29 Protocols .. 31 Chapter 5. Social Environment .. 34 Group Structure and Size .. 34 Influence of Others and Conspecifics .. 36 Introductions and Reintroductions .. 37 Chapter 6. Nutrition .. 42 Nutritional Requirements.

7 42 Diets .. 44 Nutritional Evaluations .. 50 Chapter 7. Veterinary Care .. 52 Veterinary Services .. 52 Transfer Examination and Diagnostic Testing Recommendations .. 52 Quarantine .. 53 Preventive Medicine .. 56 Capture, Restraint, and Immobilization .. 59 Management of Diseases, Disorders, Injuries and/or 61 Chapter 8. Reproduction .. 65 Reproductive Physiology and Behavior .. 65 Assisted Reproductive Technology .. 67 Pregnancy, Parturition .. 67 Birthing Facilities .. 69 Assisted Rearing .. 69 Contraception .. 74 Chapter 9. Behavior Management .. 78 Animal Training .. 78 Environmental Enrichment .. 80 Staff and Animal Interactions.

8 84 GORILLA ( GORILLA GORILLA GORILLA )] Care Manual Association of Zoos and Aquariums 5 Staff Skills and Training .. 86 Chapter 10. Research .. 87 Known Methodologies .. 87 Future Research Needs .. 90 Chapter 11. Other Considerations .. 91 Surplus Animals .. 91 Additional Information .. 91 References .. 96 Appendix A: Accreditation Standards by Chapter .. 111 Appendix B: Guidelines for Creating and Sharing Animal and Collection Records .. 115 Appendix C: AZA Policy on Responsible Population Management .. 118 Appendix D: Recommended Quarantine Procedures .. 128 Appendix E: Browse List .. 130 Appendix F: Enrichment Food List .. 133 Appendix G: Housing of Gorillas with other Primate Species.

9 134 Appendix H: Apes in Media and Commercial Performances .. 136 GORILLA ( GORILLA GORILLA GORILLA )] Care Manual Association of Zoos and Aquariums 6 Introduction Preamble AZA accreditation standards, relevant to the topics discussed in this manual, are highlighted in boxes such as this throughout the document (Appendix A). AZA accreditation standards are continuously being raised or added. Staff from AZA-accredited institutions are required to know and comply with all AZA accreditation standards, including those most recently listed on the AZA website ( ), which might not be included in this manual. Taxonomic Classification Table 1.

10 Taxonomic classification for GORILLA Classification Taxonomy Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Mammalia Order Primates Family Hominidae Subfamily Homininae Genus, Species, and Status Table 2. Genus, species, and status information for GORILLA Genus Species Subspecies Common Name USA Status IUCN Status AZA Status GORILLA beringei beringei Mountain gorillas Not listed Critically Endangered N/A GORILLA beringei graueri Grauer s gorillas Not listed Critically Endangered N/A GORILLA GORILLA GORILLA WESTERN LOWLAND gorillas Endangered Critically Endangered SSP GORILLA GORILLA diehli Cross River gorillas Endangered Critically Endangered N/A General Information The information contained within this Animal Care Manual (ACM)