Though they live in a rainy, damp climate, mountain gorillas don't seem to particularly like to get wet and have been observed using giant leaves as umbrellas. Evelyn, who was born and raised at the L.A. Zoo, is considered one of the brightest gorillas at the Zoo by her keepers. She picks up new concepts and routines quickly and was also a very good mom to Jim, one of the male gorillas born here at the zoo. The tendons in a gorilla's hand lock the fingers in a hook-shaped position if the wrist is extended. David Erwin School Gorillas can catch our colds and other illnesses, which is why it is important never to throw anything into their enclosures.
Mountain gorillas appear to receive most of their water requirements from the plants that they eat.
They have rarely been observed drinking. Gorillas do not know how to swim. Terry Erwin School Gorillas seem to have a slightly better sense of smell than humans. According to his keeper, Caesar will carefully touch a stranger with one finger and then smell his finger to learn more about that person. The dense, bony ridges on a gorilla skull are necessary to support the massive jaw muscles gorillas need to chew the plant material that makes up their diet.