Adopt a Gorilla or Golden Lion Tamarin.
Human Origins Program at the Smithsonian's Museum of Natural History.
How do you watch a gorilla? You know the answer to that old
joke—very carefully! Behind the humor lies the truth.
Gorillas are basically shy, peaceful animals. By carefully
observing them and watching how they watch you and each other,
you can learn some very simple rules for gorilla watching.
First, and perhaps most important, don't stare. When you were very young your parents probably taught you not to stare at people. In gorilla society it is also considered rude to stare. A staring gorilla is communicating a challenge to fight—or at least an immediate "cease and desist" command—as when the silverback male glares at squabbling females or rowdy youngsters.
As you watch the Zoo's gorillas you may see them glance at you from under lowered brows and then look away quickly as soon as—or perhaps a split second before—your eyes meet. This is a courtesy they also extend to each other, and it is behavior you should imitate when observing them closely.
It is fascinating that young children seem to be excused by the apes for violating the staring taboo. Perhaps it is because they are so small and a childish stare is insignificant.
Size is intimidating to both apes and humans. Imaginary monsters—from King Kong to Godzilla—are all larger than life. Male gorillas are considerably larger than females, and this is fitting since one of the males' roles is the defense of their families. When they wish to impress each other, both males and females rise up on their hind legs and beat their chests or shake branches as part of their defensive/aggressive displays.
When they wish to appear un-intimidating, they stand quietly with their heads tucked down, almost slouching. Visitors can reduce their size—and the animals' discomfort—by crouching down, especially when closely approaching the glass-fronted enclosures.
Crouching
with your back resting against the glass seems to stimulate
the animals' curiosity, causing them to investigate at close
range. It may be that a back stands out in the sea of visitor
faces.
A good rule of thumb for appropriate gorilla watching is to behave as you would with a small child. Rapid movement, loud noises, and other forms of boisterous behavior are unacceptable to babies and gorillas.
You may observe other visitors in the Great Ape House who are not familiar with these guidelines and it may appear that the animals are not troubled by their inappropriate behavior. Fortunately, the apes have adjusted well to this large glass environment and appear to be less sensitive to crowds than was anticipated. In large measure this can be attributed to the "privacy areas" designed into the facility.
Each animal has a refuge to which he can retreat if he feels the pressure of too many eyes. Just knowing they have a private spot probably makes life a lot more comfortable for these intriguing animals.
Perhaps because they are more solitary in the wild, orangutans do not display as much sensitivity to close observation as gorillas do. Even so, the same behaviors are suggested for viewing orang utans.
Following these simple guidelines for ape watching should make for a more pleasant and interesting visit on both sides of the glass.
