What volume of vegetation can an individual Western lowland gorilla consume daily?
Answer
Up to 40 pounds
Due to their massive size, Western lowland gorillas require an extremely large intake of food to maintain their energy levels, especially since their lifestyle involves continuous, slow-moving foraging on the ground. Records indicate that a single individual gorilla can consume a substantial amount of vegetation daily, reaching a peak volume of up to 40 pounds. This high daily requirement dictates much of their behavioral pattern, suggesting that a significant portion of their daylight hours is dedicated exclusively to the processes of mastication and digestion required to process this sheer volume of plant matter available at ground level and on lower branches.
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