Zoo database

Western Lowland Gorilla

Gorilla gorilla gorilla

Natural diet Western Lowland Gorilla

Fruits
Grain / seeds
Herbs
Leaves

The western lowland gorilla is an opportunistic herbivore that consumes a variety of leaves and other plants based on their availability. While fruits and seeds are favored, in their absence roots, barks and herbs are consumed as well.

Feeding advice Western Lowland Gorilla

Feed quantity per day

5-10% of body weight

Sample percentage calculation

If an animal weighs 100 kg and eats 5% of its body weight, it will get

100 x 0.05 = 5 kg feed in total per day

Feed composition

50% Leafy and cabbage vegetables
20% Other vegetables
25% Browse
5% Other

Proportions (fresh product)

0.5 x 5 kg = 2500 g leafy and cabbage vegetables
0.2 x 5 kg = 1000 g other vegetables
0.25 x 5 kg = 1250 g browse
0.05 x 5 kg = 250 g other

Diet suggestions

In moderation

Insects

Not recommended

Fruits

Additional advice

Divide the “Feed quantity per day” over at least three feeding moments per day.
Although present in their natural diet, feeding fruits might lead to abnormal fermentation in the hindgut because of high sugar levels in cultivated fruits compared to wild fruits (read more about nutritional values of (wild) fruits and vegetables).
Supplement a diverse selection of vegetables (read more about differences between vegetables).
Provide less palatable food in the morning, when hunger is greatest.
Feeding in bowls is not recommended.
Stimulate foraging behaviour by hiding, stacking or hanging the feed. Examples can be feeding puzzles, tubes, hanging boxes and/ or scatter feeding (read more about feed enrichment and foraging behaviour).

Common diseases

An unbalanced diet may result in one of these more commonly occurring diseases/conditions:

Cardiovascular disease
Ulcerative colitis

Feed quantity per day

Sample percentage calculation

Feed composition

Proportions (fresh product)

Birch leaves - 10-20 kg bag

Willow frozen - ca. 300 kg

DK Leaf-eater L

DK Maintenance Hi-Fibre (Primate)

Primate Leaf eater (cold pressed)

DK Leaf-eater Basic

Jeroen Hartman

Team leader Warehouse