title: Behavioural ecology and group cohesion of juvenile western lowland gorillas (Gorilla g. gorilla) during rehabilitation in the Batéké Plateaux National Park, Gabon.
abstract: Rehabilitation of animals followed by reintroduction into the wild can benefit conservation by supplementing depleted wild populations or reintroducing a species in an area where it has been extirpated or become extinct. The western lowland gorilla (WLG, Gorilla g. gorilla) is persistently poached; infants are often illegally traded and used as pets. Some are confiscated and rehabilitated, then kept in sanctuaries or reintroduced into the wild. Prior to reintroduction, the ability of the orphans to survive independently in their environment needs to be assessed. Here, we performed a multivariate analysis, including diet composition, activity-budget, and pattern of strata using of a group of five juvenile WLG in the process of rehabilitation and distinguished three sub-periods of ecological significance: the high furgivory period, the Dialium fruits consumption period, and the high folivory period. The consequences of these variations on their well-being (play behaviour) and the group cohesion (spatial proximity and social interactions) were examined. Like wild WLGs, diets shifted seasonally from frugivorous to folivorous, while the same staple foods were consumed and large amounts of Dialium fruits were seasonally gathered high in trees. When succulent fruit intake was the highest, thus providing high energy from sugar, juveniles spent less time feeding, more time playing and group cohesion was the highest. Conversely, the cohesion decreased with increasing folivory, individuals spent more time feeding and less time playing together. Nonetheless, the group cohesion also decreased after the death of one highly social, wild-born orphan. This may underscore the importance of skilled individuals in the cohesion and well-being of the entire group and, ultimately, to rehabilitation success. This study evaluates the rehabilitation success with regards to the methods used and highlights the need to consider a set of individual and environmental factors for enhancing rehabilitation while preserving the local biodiversity and individual well-being.
authors: The Aspinall Foundation, Projet Protection des Gorilles, Franceville, Gabon; African Parks Network, Parc National d'Odzala-Kokoua, Unité de Gestion, Brazzaville, République du Congo.
authors: Guillaume
authors: G
authors: Le Flohic
authors: Centre International de Recherches Médicales de Franceville, Franceville, Gabon.
authors: Peggy
authors: P
authors: Motsch
authors: The Aspinall Foundation, Projet Protection des Gorilles, Franceville, Gabon.
authors: Hélène
authors: H
authors: DeNys
authors: The Aspinall Foundation, Projet Protection des Gorilles, Franceville, Gabon.
authors: Simon
authors: S
authors: Childs
authors: The Aspinall Foundation, Port Lympne Wild Animal Park, Hythe, Kent, Great Britain.
authors: Amos
authors: A
authors: Courage
authors: The Aspinall Foundation, Port Lympne Wild Animal Park, Hythe, Kent, Great Britain.
authors: Tony
authors: T
authors: King
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D005681:Gabon; D006071:Gorilla gorilla; D000068316:Parks, Recreational