Why We Should Love Western Lowland Gorillas
- tigercatmariah
- Jun 2, 2016
- 3 min read
In light of the tragic passing of Harambe the Western Lowland Gorilla at the Cincinnati Zoo, I thought I would dedicate this post to the beautiful Western Lowland Gorilla. The viral video of Harambe and the child in his enclosure may have devastating impacts on the conservation of an already critically endangered species. It is very important that we remember how important and brilliant the Western Lowland Gorilla is, and continue to try our best to save this species from extinction which is becoming a greater and greater threat to them. This species is capable of many things we never thought were possible. They are highly aware of what is going on around them and have true- very humanlike- reactions to them. Koko the Western Lowland Gorilla is one of the best examples of a gorilla who has shown just how much these animals are capable of. Koko was able to learn more than one thousand sign language words and use them properly in context just as a human would. She proved that she was able to understand the meaning of the words- often using them in ways we thought only humans could. For example, it was believed for quite some time that humans were the only species that could communicate about objects that weren't currently present, a process called displacement. Koko showcased displacement when she used sign language to discuss the past- including her personal memories or future. It was also believed that humans were the only species able to communicate about communication itself and Koko was also able to showcase this ability with sign language. Koko was also able to show that Western Lowland Gorillas carry the capability to self recognize when she passed the mirror test- an infamous test where an animal is marked on an area they can't readily see, and put in front of a mirror to see if they use the mirror to look for the mark, thus showcasing that they are able to recognize themselves in the mirror. The similarities between gorilla's and humans are truly much more common that we thought. Koko was even able to use humour and deception while communicating with humans using sign language! She used her mind to create new words showing that she truly knew what each word meant- for example, when she wasn't taught the word "ring" she used the words "finger bracelet" to describe one.
Koko was able to readily communicate her emotions not just showing that she was highly intelligent linguistically but also emotionally. She grew very attached to a kitten that she was given and was able to express her love and happiness about her kitten; when the kitten died she was able to express her grief and sadness and her future desires to have a baby of her own. Koko's behaviour toward the kitten and other animals showcased the ability of Western Lowland Gorillas to have empathy for other beings outside their own species. Western Lowland Gorillas have been observed destroying poaching snares. Instead of ignoring and avoiding the snares when they are spotted, the gorillas collectively destroy it to ensure no animals will be harmed in the future. The gorillas teach their young as well how to destroy these snares. These behaviours not only show a complex understanding of what a snare is and what it is used for, but also show a level of empathy and compassion for other individual's wellbeing. Western Lowland Gorillas even use facial expressions like humans to communicate with each other. They've been observed grinning and smiling to communicate playfulness and submissiveness. They've even been observed laughing when they are having lots of fun!
Western Lowland Gorillas are considered gentle giants, much more calm and patient than their primate relatives. In many ways we never imagined, they are so much like humans. We cannot forget this, and must continue to respect and care for these animals as we would another human being. These wonderful animals need our help more than ever and cannot afford a single person to turn their back on them.
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