How do zoos feed gorillas?

Here at the Smithsonian's National Zoo, our gorillas eat a varied diet made up of browse (fresh tree trimmings), leafy greens, vegetables and fruits that are prepared by our wonderful Nutrition Science team. Their wild cousins eat wild celery, stems, bamboo shoots, fruits and tree pulp.



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Many captive gorillas accept cooked or raw meat in their diets and there is some evidence that feral gorillas may also occasionally consume matter of animal origin.

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In the morning before the Zoo opens when the gorillas are still in their night quarters, keepers go into each habitat to clean, scrub, mow, trim and put out the morning portion of their diet. The night quarters are cleaned during the day when the gorillas are out.

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If the gorilla is living in the wild, its average lifespan is around 30 to 40 years, while in captivity, gorillas can live up to 50 years.

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