Primate Growth and Development: A Gorilla's First Year at San Diego Zoo

*This footage shows growth and development through the first year of Alvila, a Western lowland gorilla born in the San Diego Zoo. Comparisons are made at various stages between the infant gorilla and chimpanzee and human infants. It represents a unique study of learning abilities of non-human primates, with implications concerning the understanding of evolution of primate intelligence in general, including man.* Alvila was born on 3 June 1965 to father Albert, 16 years of age and 115 kg, and mother Vila, 8 years and fully mature at 73 kg. Both her parents were captured from the wild. Alvila was the seventh gorilla ever to be born in captivity and survived, and the first born at San Diego Zoo. Alvila’s birth weight was 2.2 kg. Unfortunately, as was too frequently the case in captivity, her mother's care proved inadequate and so in concern for Alvila’s survival she was moved to the zoo nursery late in the first day of her birth. There she provided an unprecedented opportunity for close