Regurgitation/reingestion and coprophagy in captive gorillas

Abstract

Abstract The behavior of wild animals can be significantly affected by captivity. Among the least documented adaptations are (1) the regurgitation and reingestion of food and (2) coprophagy. This paper reviews the occurrence of the two phenomena in captive lowland gorilla populations. In addition, data and speculations based on wild populations are discussed. Data from a preliminary study at the Stone Zoo are reported, and several causal relationships are explored.