prompter: What do gorillas usually eat?

assistant: Gorillas are primarily herbivorous animals, meaning they mostly consume plant-based foods. Their diet consists of a variety of leaves, stems, fruits, flowers, and bamboo shoots. Gorillas can also occasionally eat small insects, such as ants and termites, but this makes up only a tiny fraction of their diet.

There are two main species of gorillas, the eastern gorilla and the western gorilla, which are further divided into subspecies. Each subspecies may have slightly different dietary preferences depending on their habitat and availability of food sources.

Mountain gorillas (a subspecies of eastern gorillas) primarily feed on leaves, stems, and shoots, with a preference for plants in the family Urticaceae, which include stinging nettles and other similar plants. They also eat fruit when it's available, but fruit makes up a smaller portion of their diet compared to other gorilla subspecies.

Lowland gorillas (both eastern and western) typically have more access to fruit in their habitats, so fruit makes up a larger part of their diet compared to mountain gorillas. They still consume leaves, stems, and shoots but have a more varied diet due to the increased availability of food sources in their environment.

prompter: is it true they like bananas

assistant: While gorillas can eat bananas, it is not entirely true that they like them. According to, gorillas primarily eat a diet rich in herbs, leaves, and seasonal fruit. They do eat the leaves and pith of the banana plant but not the fruit itself. In fact, as per, gorillas typically do not eat bananas because they have no way of getting to them in their natural habitat due to the thick jungle where they live. However, in zoos, gorillas might be fed bananas as a treat because they are tasty and high in nutritional content. Therefore, while it is not entirely false that gorillas like bananas, it is also not entirely true that they do.

assistant: Yes, it is true that gorillas like bananas, but they are not a natural part of their diet and they typically eat a variety of plants, leaves, fruits, and even insects.

assistant: Gorillas are herbivores, which means that they eat only plant-based foods. Their diet consists primarily of leaves, stems, fruit, and occasionally insects. In the wild, they have been observed eating over 100 different types of plants. Some of the plants they eat include bamboo, celery, nettles, wild celery, thistles, and certain types of bark. Gorillas also eat fruit when it is in season, such as berries, figs, and even the fruit of certain trees. They have also been known to eat ants, termites, and other insects as a source of protein.

prompter: How big can gorillas get

assistant: Gorillas are **mostly vegetarian** and eat a lot of **plants** like **leaves, stems, roots, fruits and bamboo**.
They also snack on **some insects** like **ants** and **termites**, sometimes they eat a bit of **soil** or **ash** to help their digestion.

prompter: How does soil or ash help with digestions? Would eating soil and ash help humans with their digestion as well? If so, is eating soil or ash done by any culture?

assistant: That's an interesting question. Soil or ash consumption, also known as geophagy, can provide some nutritional and medicinal benefits for gorillas:
- Soil may provide minerals and nutrients that the gorillas do not get enough of from their plant-based diet. The soil can help address potential mineral deficiencies.
- The alkaline soil can help neutralize toxins or acids in the gorilla's digestive system and improve gut health.

However, geophagy does not provide the same benefits for humans and can be dangerous:
- Humans get sufficient nutrients from a varied diet and do not need to consume soil or ash to address deficiencies. Our digestive systems are also different from gorillas.
- In humans, consuming soil can introduce harmful parasites, bacteria, and toxins that lead to infections and other illnesses.

That said, geophagy is practiced in some human cultures, often for ceremonial or cultural reasons. It is most common in areas where the soil is thought to have medicinal properties. The risks are often mitigated through processing the soil in specific ways before consumption. But overall, the scientific consensus is that soil consumption does not provide health benefits for humans and may be dangerous.

Let me know if you would like me to elaborate on any of these points or discuss other aspects of gorilla or human diet and nutrition.

assistant: Soil and ash are not typically used by humans to aid digestion. Some cultures from Africa and Asia have eaten soil, but it's not safe or necessary. 
In animals, soil and ash may play a role in digestion by providing minerals or acting as grit to aid in the mechanical breakdown of food in the stomach. For humans, the minerals needed for good digestion are typically obtained from a balanced diet.
Eating soil or ash can be harmful to humans and cause infections, exposure to toxins or heavy metals, and gastrointestinal blockages. Health experts discourage this practice.

assistant: Gorillas consume soil and ash known as geophagy, to help them digest their fibrous and starchy diets. The minerals present in the soil and ash, such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium bind together with the digestive fluids and help break down the food.

Although there is no scientific evidence of soil or ash aiding in human digestion, some cultures consume soil or clay as a traditional practice. This practice is called geophagy and has been documented in many communities worldwide. In some cultures, it is believed to provide additional minerals and nutrients or improving gut health.

However, improper consumption of soil or ash can pose health risks, as it may contain harmful microbes or heavy metals. Geophagy should not be practiced without thorough research and consultation of medical professionals.