A behavioral investigation of captive lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla)

The purpose of this study was to document the individual and social behavior of the San Francisco family gorilla group, as well as other gorilla groups at the Los Angeles, San Diego, and Sacramento Zoological Gardens. Data obtained are compared and contrasted with previous captive studies and particularly with the natural behavior reported by Schaller (1963) and Fossey (1970, 1971, and 1972). An attempt is made to correlate and interpret behavior observed in the context of the existing social and physical environments in which it occurred. Data obtained from these observations will hopefully supplement knowledge of gorilla behavior and possibly of the peculiar combination of environmental conditions most conducive to the maintenance of a psychologically and physically healthy captive gorilla.