This gorilla is enjoying a bit of ‘iPad-time’ at Port Lympne Wild Animal Park in Kent, UK

I read the article in UK newspaper The Sun about an experiment at the animal park where animal behaviour experts handed out iPads to five gorilla’s with the hope that the gadgets aid alertness and keep the primates happier in the zoo.

The gorilla’s appeared fascinated with their new toys and quickly learned how to scroll through the pages.

Amazingly not a single one of the iPads broke because rather than banging the iPads on rocks, they carried them round as if they were babies.

Animal Expert Terry Nutkins says about the experiment, which is monitored by Apple:

Gorilla’s are one of the most intelligent primates and here’s the proof.  It’s no surprise that they’d pick up an iPad and play with it’. ‘We were putting TV’s into ape compounds 20 years ago to give them stimulation – and they loved it. Gorilla’s are extremely inquisitive and laidback so anything unusual will attract their attention.  Anything which provides interest and doesn’t harm is good’

…I did note however that the date that this article ran across many of the UK newspapers was 1st of April 2011… …!

Port Lympne Wild Animal Park is a world leader in the successful breeding of many primate species, some of which cannot be readily seen in captivity outside of their native country. The park houses Old World Monkeys, Lemurs, Lesser Apes and the ever-famous Lowland Gorilla’s.

Marc Carter of the English Group – the designer and author of Lady Lori’s ‘Africa by Air’ book, and occasional contributor to the Lady Lori blog – together with Amos Courage – stepson of the late John Aspinall who founded Port Lympne (and sister park Howletts)– visited Gabon together to reintroduce a group of captive born and orphaned gorilla’s back into the wild. For more information click here

Via: The Sun