Hierarchy in gorilla groups

2001/07/19 Elhuyar Zientzia

• Zoologia

Gorillas use water from rivers in the hierarchical struggle.

Gorillas living in lowland forests (which do not live in mountain forests) often approach rivers and small lakes for food. There they find aquatic plants to eat. But besides eating, gorillas also use these spaces to work social relations. In fact, around a river five groups can be joined.

In the wells that are there the males splash with water. In this way, they threaten males from other groups and make attractive exposures to females. Doing it through the water is very effective as it is easily seen from a distance. Zoologist Richard Parnell has researched and follows the gorillas of Congo's Nouabale-Ndoki National Park.

The most splashed are gorillas not integrated into groups. According to Parnell, chimpanzees also behave in this way. Therefore, the list of terrestrial animals that communicate through water is growing.