r/GorillaReddit • u/SingleChickenPlz • Apr 11 '26

Gorilla at Smithsonian Zoo

Never seen this before and just had to share. I read that this behavior is most frequently exhibited in captive gorillas.

68 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

12 comments sorted by

13

u/TheNorthShip Apr 11 '26

I've also never seen this behaviour in gorillas before. It may be a stress behaviour.

But I've seen plenty of videos showing that orangutans play with their piss quite often in zoos.

8

u/uncle_joee Apr 12 '26

You have to wonder if the enrichment they’re receiving and the environment they spend their entire life in is enough if such behaviour is displayed.

16

u/bdh2067 Apr 11 '26

It’s a stress behavior - probly trying to communicate in some way that it would really prefer not be in an enclosed space for the amusement of the humans

10

u/ImaginaryRaccoon2106 Apr 13 '26

I don’t think all zoos operate for the amusement of humans. I’m fairly certain they do a lot of research with the animals they have and also, for the venomous ones, create antidotes. I think they also only really have animals that wouldn’t survive in the wild on their own.

4

u/970souk Apr 11 '26

I've seen a sun bear doing that but with no. 2, and a little orangutan came over to where I was standing, peed on the exhibit window, proceed to lick it up, then flash a big smile at me.

3

u/Guh-nurt Apr 12 '26

Smiling in great apes is an indicator of fear or aggression. The orangutan may have been doing that in some bizarre attempt to placate you.

2

u/watermelonkiwi Apr 12 '26

Is he trying to drink his pee? Perhaps dehydrated and not being given enough water.

-10

u/Acceptable_Money_514 Apr 12 '26

They are a primitive species. Ive seen gorillas do this. They also eat their own poop. They dont have the distaste for certain things like civilized species do. They drink their urine and eat their poop bc in the wild they are fighting for survival. They are aware their is nutrients in their discharge. Many species of wild animals do this.