These gorillas eat fruits during the wet season and more herbs and bark in the dry season. They eat termites every day. They seem to prefer sugary fruits and pith, as well as protein-rich leaves and bark. Like other apes, gorillas feed on seasonal fruits and disperse seeds in their dung as they travel from place to place. The males range farther in the wet season in search of fruit and spend more time on the ground eating herbs in the dry season.
Females feed higher in the trees and eat more leaves than males.
The daily regimen of the Columbus Zoo gorillas attempts to replicate a wild diet. There are morning and afternoon feedings of fruit and vegetables. Monkey chow is a manufactured product, similar to dog or cat food, that contains nutrients and fiber in percentages thought to be needed. Monkey chow, popcorn, cereal, and dried fruit are scattered about the exhibit or hidden in bedding to encourage foraging behavior. Foods given to the gorillas are similar to, but not the same as, those available in the wild and include bananas, peanut butter, marshmallows, and lemons.