Behavioral responses around conspecific corpses in adult eastern gorillas (Gorilla beringei spp.)

A groundbreaking study reveals that eastern gorillas (Gorilla beringei spp.) exhibit complex behavioral responses to conspecific corpses, challenging the notion that humans are unique in recognizing death. Researchers observed similar patterns of affiliative/investigative and agonistic behaviors among mountain gorillas (Gorilla b. beringei) in Rwanda and Grauer’s gorillas (Gorilla b. graueri) in Democratic Republic of Congo, regardless of whether the deceased was a same-group member or an extra-group silverback. Notably, adult females with infants avoided the corpse of an extra-group male, while close social relationships influenced interaction duration. The study highlights the role of curiosity and social bonds in gorilla responses to death, with implications for disease transmission dynamics within and between groups.

Porter, A., Eckardt, W., Vecellio, V., Guschanski, K., Niehoff, P. P., Ngobobo-As-Ibungu, U., Nishuli Pekeyake, R., Stoinski, T., & Caillaud, D. (2019). Behavioral responses around conspecific corpses in adult eastern gorillas (Gorilla beringei spp.). PeerJ, 7, e6655. Portico. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.6655