What supplementary food sources do Western lowland gorillas consume besides fruits, leaves, and stems?
Answer
Small insects like ants and termites
While the diet is overwhelmingly herbivorous and focused on plant matter such as fruits, leaves, and stems, Western lowland gorillas are known to incorporate animal protein by supplementing their intake with small invertebrates. Specifically mentioned examples of these supplementary food sources include ants and termites. This dietary flexibility allows them to maintain nutritional balance by utilizing locally available resources, especially when preferred fruits become scarce seasonally.
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