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Husbandry
The
care of gorillas is never easy, as they are complex and intelligent
creatures. The challenge is to provide a safe and enriching
physical habitat while maintaining complex social groupings.
It's no easy feat but it's one that zoos and the SSP face
every day.
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O.J.
and Bwang,
G.g. gorilla,
San Francisco Zoo
(photo by Rick Murphy)
How
are welfare standards
generated? Learn more about
gorilla research.
Bebac,
G.g. gorilla
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
(photo by Grace Fuller)
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Care of gorillas
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The
gorillas living in accredited zoos across North America are our
primary charges. The SSP® helps individual zoos keep informed
with the latest techniques and management strategies for housing
gorillas to optimize their well-being.
The
Standardized Guidelines project is a collaborative effort between
the TAGs, SSPs, AZA Animal Welfare Committee, and individual
AZA members to create guidelines
for
animal care for all vertebrates in AZA collections. These guidelines
will combine
up-to-date scientific information and years of animal care expertise
in an easy-to-use template that identifies the biological and
physical needs of the animals.
The Standardized Guidelines will also contain current TAG recommendations.
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Kali
and Taz, G.g. gorilla,
Zoo Atlanta
(photo by Adam Thompson) |
The
Gorilla SSP is hard at work on the standardized guidelines for gorillas.
Soon they will be reviewed by internal and external sources and
available here on the website.
Guidelines
for the captive care of primates produced by the International
Primatological Society can be found here.
Ensuring
the welfare of geriatric animals requires special care.
Banga,
G.g. gorilla, Zoo Atlanta
(photo by Jodi Carrigan)
Arthritic
female ascends custom-made stairs.
Beta, G.g. gorilla, at Brookfield Zoo
(photo © Chicago Zoological Society)
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Exhibit
Design
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