THE TREATMENT OF APES IN CAPTIVITY
In conclusion, I deem it in order to offer a few remarks with regard
to the causes of death among these apes, and to the proper treatment
of the animals in captivity. We know so little and assume so much
concerning them that we often violate the very laws under which they
live.
We have already noticed the fact that the gorilla is confined by
nature to a low, humid region, reeking with miasma and the effluvia of
decaying vegetation. The atmosphere in which he thrives is one in which
human life can hardly exist. We know in part why man cannot live in
such an atmosphere and under such conditions, but we cannot say with
certainty why the ape does do so. It would seem that the very element
that is fatal to the life of man gives strength and vitality to the
gorilla.
We know that all forms of animal life are not affected in the same way
by the same things, and while it may be said in round numbers that
whatever is good for man is good for apes also, it is not a fact.
The human race is the most widely distributed of any genus of mammals
and, as a race, can undergo the greatest extremes of change in climate,
food and other conditions of any other animal. His migratory habits,
both inherent and acquired, have fitted him for a life of vicissitudes,
and such a life inures him as an individual to all extremes. On the
other hand, the gorilla, as a genus, is confined to a small habitat,
which is uniform in climate, products and topography; and having been
so long restricted to these conditions he is unfitted for like changes,
and when such are forced upon him the result must always be to his
injury.
In certain parts of the American tropics there is found a rich, grey
moss growing in great profusion in certain localities and on certain
kinds of trees. It is not confined to any certain level, but thrives
best on the lowest elevations. Under favourable conditions it will
grow at altitudes far above the surrounding swamps. The character and
quantity, however, are measured by the altitude at which it grows. It
is an aerial plant, and may be detached from the boughs of one tree
and transplanted upon those of another. It may be taken with safety
for a great distance so long as an atmosphere is supplied to it that
is suited to its nature; but when removed from its normal conditions
and placed in a purer air it begins to languish and soon dies. If it be
returned in time, however, to its former place or one of like character
it will revive and continue to grow.
What element this plant extracts from the impure air is a matter of
doubt; but it cannot be carbonic acid gas which is the chief food of
plants, nor it cannot be any form of nitrogen; and it is well known
that the plant cannot long survive in a pure atmosphere. Whatever the
ingredient extracted may be, it is certain that it is one that is
deadly to human life, and one which other plants refuse. Moisture and
heat alone cannot account for it.
We have another striking instance in the eucalyptus, which lives
upon the poison of the air around it. There are many other cases in
vegetable life, and while the animal is a higher organism than the
plant, there are certain laws of life that obtain in both kingdoms
which are the same in principle.
Between the case of the gorilla and that of the plant there is some
analogy. It may not be the same element that sustains them both, but it
is possible that the very microbes which germinate disease and prove
fatal to man sustain the life of the ape in the prime of health. The
poison which destroys life in man preserves it in the ape.
The chimpanzee is distributed over a much greater range, and is capable
of undergoing a much greater degree of change in food and temperature.
The history of these apes in captivity shows that the chimpanzee lives
much longer in that state and requires much less care. From my own
observation I assert that all of these apes can undergo a greater range
of temperature than they can of humidity. This appears to be one of
the essential things to the life of a gorilla, and one fatal mistake
made in treating him is furnishing him with a dry, warm atmosphere,
and depriving him of the poison contained in the malarious air in
which he spends his entire life. Both of these apes need humidity. The
chimpanzee will live longer than a gorilla in a dry air, but neither of
them can long survive it, and it would appear that a salt atmosphere is
best for the gorilla.
I believe that one of these apes could be kept in good condition for
any length of time if he were supplied with a normal humidity in an
atmosphere laden with miasma and allowed to vary in temperature. A
constant degree of heat is not good for any animal, there is nowhere in
all the earth that nature sustains a uniform degree of it. We need not
go to either extreme, but a change is requisite to bring into play all
the organs of the body.
The theory of their treatment which I would advance is to build them
a house entirely apart from that of any other animal. It should be
18 or 20 feet wide by 35 or 40 long, and at least 15 feet high. It
should have no floor except earth, and that should be of sandy loam or
vegetable mould. In one end of this building there should be a pool of
water 12 or 15 feet in diameter, and embedded in the mould under the
water should be a steam coil to regulate the temperature as might be
desired. In this pool should be grown a dense crop of water plants such
as are found in the marshes of the country in which the gorilla lives.
This pool should not be cleaned out or the water changed, but the
plants should be allowed to grow and decay in a natural way. Neither
the pool nor the house should be kept at a uniform heat, but allowed to
vary from 60 to 90 degrees.
In addition to the things mentioned, the place should be provided with
the means of giving it a spray of tepid water, which should be turned
on once or twice a day, and allowed to continue for at least an hour at
a time. The water for this purpose should be taken from the pool, but
should never be warmer than the usual temperature of tropical rain. The
animal should not be required to take a bath in this way, but should be
left to his own choice about it.
The house should be separated by a thin partition that could be removed
at will, and the other end of the building from the pool should be
occupied by a strong tree, either dead or alive, to afford the inmates
proper exercise. The rule that visitors or strangers should not annoy
or tease them should be enforced without respect to person, time, or
rank. No visitor should be allowed on any terms to give them any kind
of food. The reasons for these precautions are obvious to any one
familiar with the keeping of animals, but in the case of a gorilla
their observance cannot be waived with impunity.
The south side of the house should be of glass, and at least half
of the top should be of the same. These parts should be provided
with heavy canvas curtains, to be drawn over them so as to adjust or
regulate the sunlight. In summer-time the building should be kept
quite open so as to admit air and rain. The ape does not need to
be pampered: on the contrary, he should be permitted to rough it.
Half of the gorillas that have ever been in captivity have died from
over-nursing. By nature they are strong and robust if the proper
conditions are supplied, but when these are changed he becomes a frail
and tender creature. They should not be restricted to a vegetable
diet nor limited to a few articles of food of any kind, but should
be allowed to select such things as they prefer to eat. I have grave
doubts as to the wisdom of limiting the quantity. One mistake is often
committed in the treatment of animals, and that is to continue the
same diet at all times and limit that to one or two items. It may be
observed that the higher the form of organism is the more diverse the
taste becomes, and while very hardy animals or those of low forms may
be restricted to one staple kind of food, the higher forms demand a
change.
One thing above all others that I would inhibit is the use of straw of
any kind in their cage for beds or any other purpose. If it be desired
to furnish them with such a comfort, nothing should ever be used but
dead leaves if they can be supplied. In their absence a canvas hammock
or wire matting should be used. There are certain kinds of dust given
off by the dry straw of all cereal plants. This is deleterious to the
health of man, but vastly more so to these apes. It is taken into the
lungs, and through them act upon other parts of the body by suppressing
the circulation and respiration. No matter how clean the straw may be,
the effect will be the same in the end. Hay is better than straw, but
even this should not be used.
Another thing which is necessary is to entertain or amuse them in some
way, otherwise they become despondent and gloomy. It is believed by
those who are familiar with these apes that loneliness or solitude is a
fruitful cause of death. This is especially so with the gorilla. I have
a photograph of one that was kept by a trader on the coast of Africa
for nearly three years. She was devoted to him, and was never content
when not in his company. His business required him to make a journey
of a few days to the interior. He left the gorilla at his place on the
coast where she had lived up to this time. The day after he departed
she became morose and fretful, and within a few days died without any
apparent cause except pining. This was observed by natives and by white
traders, and her death has always been ascribed to the cause assigned.
She was well known to all the traders on that part of the coast, and
has been regarded as one of the best specimens known. She is the only
one that I have ever known to become devoted to a human being.
Another important fact that is little known but very singular is, that
tobacco smoke is absolutely fatal to a gorilla. Every native hunter
that I met in Africa testifies that this simple thing will kill any
gorilla in the forest if he is subjected to the fumes for a short time.
I have reason to believe that it is true. It may not prove fatal in
every instance, but it will in many. The chimpanzee is not so much
affected by it, although he dislikes it, but the gorilla detests it and
shows at all times his strong aversion to it. I have no doubt that this
is one of the reasons that these apes always die on board the ships by
which they are brought from Africa.
Both of these apes are possessed, in a degree, of savage and resentful
instincts. But these are much stronger in the gorilla than in the
chimpanzee. He therefore requires firm and consistent treatment.
This can be used without being severe or cruel, but the intellect
of the gorilla must not be underrated. He studies the motives and
intentions of man with a keen perception, and is seldom mistaken in
his interpretation of them. He often manifests a violent dislike for
certain persons, and when such is discovered to be the case the object
of his dislike should not be permitted in his presence, for the result
is to enrage the ape and excite his nervous nature. When they become
sullen or obstinate they should not be coaxed or indulged, nor yet
used with harshness. They should either be left alone for the time or
diverted by a change of treatment.
At this point I submit the foregoing to the world as the sum of my
labours in this special field of research up to this time. I regret
that I have been compelled to deny much that has been said, but I
make no apology for having done so. In this work I have sought to
place these apes before the reader as I have seen them in their native
forest. I have not clothed them in fine raiment or invested them in
glamour, but I trust that this contribution may be found worthy of the
respect of all men who love Nature and respect fidelity.
I have the vanity to believe that the methods of study which I have
employed will be made the means of farther research by more able
students than the writer.
_Printed by_ BALLANTYNE, HANSON & CO.
_London and Edinburgh_
Transcriber's Notes:
Punctuation and spelling were made consistent when a predominant
preference was found in this book; otherwise they were not changed.
Simple typographical errors were corrected.
Ambiguous hyphens at the ends of lines were retained.
Page 227: "=Y=" indicates a symbol.