Do gorillas eat meat?

Do gorillas eat meat? Are gorillas carnivores?

If you think about mountain gorillas or any other gorillas, you might picture a huge animal sitting quietly in a rainforest, its bulk and strength making it blend into the black colored fur. One would think that such massive muscles and bulk would require a diet filled with meat, as one would imagine a bear engrossed in its hunts for prey.

Well the fact of the matter is that the reality lies deeper, and is in some ways, quite surprising.

I remember standing on a narrow trail in Uganda, marveling as a silverback gorilla was methodically peeling long, fibrous stems as if it were the most absorbing task ever.

Every so often, he would go as far as to pick at the bark with thick fingers. No concern for the world around him, but slowly never rushing. He looked anything but a predator. This moment still makes me rethink the assumption regarding all large animals requiring to hunt down food to survive.

So does that mean gorillas are hunting meat? And if they do, does that mean they classify as carnivores?

What Do Gorillas Eat Most of the Time?

Gorillas mostly feed on plants. Spending around several hours a day foraging and chewing like slow moving lawnmowers through the dense vegetation. Different subspecies, such as mountain gorillas and lowland gorillas, have slightly different menus but the basic components remain the same.

Here is an outline of a gorilla’s daily routine:

Leaves and Shoots: The soft young leaves form the major part of their diet. It is incredible the amount they can eat daily, at times even reaching 40 pounds.
Stems and Bark: Consumed mainly during periods of fruit scarcity.
Fruits: During the season, it becomes increasingly popular to ripe figs and wild berries.
Roots: Carefully extracted.
Insects: Termites, ants, and caterpillars can be found sporadically.

Considering the above, it’s safe to say that their diet resembles that of a grazing cow, rather than a predator lurking nearby. Still, the question about “insects” remains only if they sometimes consume protein, can that classify as meat? of course not.

Do Gorillas Eat Meat?

No, gorillas do not eat meat. You may witness gorillas eating insects but as you know, that is not meat.

Remove pieces from decayed stumps to get termites. Gather ants from foliage. Ingest insects while consuming plants.

Some experts believe that insects make up maybe 1-2% of their total intake.

Sometimes that figure does increase, but only during certain times of the year. However, for the most part, gorillas will not be consuming appreciable quantities of flesh from other mammals or birds.

Gorillas do not pursue monkeys as chimpanzees sometimes do. They do not forage for carcasses. They do not even seem particularly keen on whatever might flee when disturbed.

If we were to define “meat” from a gorilla’s perspective, it is most likely minute insects encountered while searching for plant matter.

Consider a scenario where a massive salad is being prepared and an ant or two unknowingly enters the bowl. That is on the same scale as the excitement gorillas have towards animal protein. Yes, they do have meat as part of their diet but only sparingly.

Are gorillas carnivores?

Not the way we usually define the term.

A carnivore is an animal that predominantly feeds on flesh. true carnivores include lions and leopards. Gorillas are described better as herbivorous omnivores – animals that primarily feed on plants, with the occasional insect added to their diet.