Volunteering with the Gorillas

Yesterday was my trial day as a volunteer gorilla keeper at a nearby animal park. I had a fantastic day and met some really nice people, not to mention some really nice gorillas too!

 

I got up at 6am and set off around 6:45. I didn’t have to be there until 8:30, and it’s only an hour’s drive, but I wanted to be there early and had to leave extra time in case I got lost. Inevitably I did – twice – but luckily I had my trusty map to find my way back on route… eventually! (Why is it that every time I get lost, I end up in places that have no road names whatsoever?!) I found the park in the end, still managing to be there early, and was met by the head keeper and taken down to the gorillas.

 

After being introduced to the rest of the keepers, my first job of the day was to help give the gorillas their breakfast. I rode with the head keeper on the back of a trailer (bumpy, but fun!) down to a separate set of gorilla enclosures where four male gorillas were waiting patiently for their breakfast, which consisted of yoghurt, fruit and veg, some gooey substance and some browse (leafy branches of various sizes). First we put the yoghurt in some just and diluted it with some water and then came the fun part – hand feeding it to the gorillas. They were amazingly cute when drinking their yoghurt-water; when I held the jug up to the cage they would open their mouths like little funnels for me to fill up then they’d noisily slurp it down before opening up again for more! It was amazing to be so close to them and to see how big they are, not necessarily in height, but in bulk – some was due to muscle but one had a fair bit of fat on him too (don’t tell him I told you though)!

 

After they finished their yoghurt and were safely shut inside, it was time to go into their outside enclosures and spread their fruit, veg and browse around. In the first enclosure I had to attempt to throw some of the fruit and veg onto some high platforms, but alas my aim isn’t that great and I think I got more flying back at me than where it was supposed to go! Next the gooey stuff – I’m still not quite sure what it was exactly! – was put inside a little dome with holes in for the gorillas to poke sticks from their browse into to get it out. this was to simulate natural behaviour found in wild gorillas and I imagine the goo must have been tasty to one gorilla as soon as we let them out he grabbed a stick and set to work!

 

After a coffee break it was on to my next job of the day – cleaning out the gorilla’s indoor enclosure. This involved sweeping the straw out, scrubbing the cages down and finally using a squeegee to help the cages dry out before laying out some fresh straw for them. This was hard work, (my arms are still suffering today!) but I also rather enjoyed it. I find it quite satisfying doing jobs like that as you can see the effort paying off and also you know you’re doing it for a good reason. The gorillas did leave their cages quite smelly, but I forgive them, besides by the end of the day I’m not sure I smelled much better!

 

By the time we were finished with that it was nearly lunchtime, but there was just time for a visit to the roof of the main enclosure where I got the chance to feed some nuts and berries to a lovely female gorilla. She held her hands out for me to fill up with goodies and then clapped when she wanted more, it was very cute! Then it was time to throw the nuts and berries that were left out to the large garden below where the rest of the group, including two adorable youngsters, were waiting. We had to spread them out wide to avoid squabbles and try to make sure all the gorillas got some. With my amazing (!) accuracy one or two of the gorillas ended up being hit my accidental berry and nut missiles! But they soon forgave me when they realised these missiles were edible!

 

It was an amazing feeling to be standing up on the cage looking down on the gorillas foraging around for the food. The animal park has really made a huge effort to try and recreate the animals’ natural habitats and I think you can really see the difference it makes when you look at the animals.

 

After lunch it was time to make up their dinners, which was a mixture of more fruit and veg, (they’re definitely getting their 5-a-day!) feed them in their separate rooms (again to make sure they all get enough to eat) and then, too soon, it was time to go home.

 

Oops! I just looked back over the document and I seem to have rambled on quite enough for one day so I’ll have to stop there. The worst thing is I could probably go one even longer if my bed was staring so temptingly at me!

 

Congratulations from me if you managed to read this all the way through!