Introduction
The National Zoo is situated along Connecticut Avenue in Washington, D.C. The National Zoo takes care of about four hundred species of animals. Additionally, it offers research and recreation services. Most of the animals in the park are in danger of extinction. I visited the National Zoo on 4th May 2014. I walked to the zoo because it is located near my residence. I arrived at the National Zoo at 8.00 o’clock in the morning. I had a great experience at the zoo because I saw many animals. The Great Ape House is one of the sections of the park that I visited. I was really amused by gorillas. This essay discusses nutrition for gorillas at the National Zoo.
Nutrition for Gorillas
Good nutrition is necessary for gorillas in confinement. Proper nutrition involves determining what gorillas should eat and the amount of food they should be given. Gorillas are herbivores that eat several pounds of vegetation each day. Most gorillas like eating wild fruits and herbs in the jungle. Thus, gorillas mainly eat foodstuffs rich in fiber. They also feed on insects intermittently (Cheeke and Dierenfeld 234).
Conversely, gorillas at the National Zoo do not have access to natural foodstuffs such as herbs and wild fruits (Wolfensohn and Honess 54). At the Great Ape House, gorillas mainly eat foodstuffs rich in vitamins, carbohydrates, and proteins. Nutritionists at the park ensure that gorillas eat a balanced diet. “Due to the need to provide gorillas with an appropriate and carefully balanced diet, visitors are not allowed to feed them” (National Zoo 1).
At the National Zoo, “some of the common foodstuffs consumed by gorillas include dandelion greens, romaine lettuce, green beans, alfalfa, apples, formula biscuits, and bananas” (National Zoo 1-2). Additionally, they are given clean water regularly. Therefore, the diet for gorillas at the National Zoo is relatively similar to that of human beings. For example, gorillas in the zoo feed on similar fruits consumed by human beings (Caputo 1).
At the Great Ape House, gorillas are less active compared to those in the jungle because they do not search for food. Therefore, they are more likely to become overweight than those in the jungle (Wolfensohn and Honess 67). Similarly, human beings that eat unbalanced diets are susceptible to heart diseases and obesity.
It is important to note that gorillas are mainly vegetarians. Nonetheless, young gorillas at the National Zoo are often given foodstuffs rich in proteins to make them healthy (Caputo 1). The same nutrition plan is applied in feeding children. According to the zoo nutritionists at the park, gorillas in captivity should mainly feed on vegetables because fruits and formula biscuits contain a lot of sugar, which can lead to health challenges. In other words, gorillas need a lot of vitamins but require fewer carbohydrates and proteins. Human beings also need a lot of vitamins (Rees 132).
Conclusion
This essay has discussed the nutrition for gorillas at the National Zoo. It has been revealed that gorillas require a balanced diet. Nonetheless, they mainly eat vegetables because they are less active in the zoo. Gorillas at the National Zoo are regularly supplied with food because they need a lot of calories. Indeed, they feed on high-quality foodstuffs, which human beings can eat. Therefore, the diet for gorillas at the National Zoo is comparatively similar to that of human beings.
Works Cited
Caputo, Joseph. Feeding the Animals at the National Zoo. 2009. Web.
Cheeke, Peter and Ellen Dierenfeld. Comparative Animal Nutrition and Metabolism. New York: Wiley, 2010. Print.
National Zoo. Feeding the Animals at the Zoo. 2010. Web.
Rees, Paul. An Introduction to Zoo Biology and Management. London: Wiley-Blackwell, 2011. Print.
Wolfensohn, Sarah and Paul Honess. Handbook of Primate Husbandry and Welfare. London: Wiley-Blackwell, 2005. Print.