Gorillas have long fascinated humans with their imposing size and remarkable intelligence. If you’re wondering just how smart these gentle giants are, you’ve come to the right place.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: The average IQ of gorillas ranges from 70-95.
In this approximately 3000 word article, we’ll explore the intellectual capabilities of gorillas in depth. We’ll discuss how scientists measure gorilla intelligence, examine research on their cognition and reasoning abilities, and compare their IQ to other apes and humans.
We’ll also look at the factors that influence gorilla IQ, like environment and upbringing. By the end, you’ll have a thorough understanding of gorilla intelligence.
How Gorilla Intelligence Is Measured
Intelligence Testing in Animals
Assessing intelligence in animals, especially non-human primates like gorillas, is complex. Researchers have developed various methods to understand the cognitive abilities and reasoning capacity of gorillas.
Some common techniques include maze tests, puzzle solving, using symbols or language to communicate, and observing behaviors in the wild. Scientists examine how gorillas perform on these measures compared to other apes as well as human children of certain ages that represent similar developmental levels.
Studies on Gorilla Cognition and Reasoning
Controlled experiments have examined gorilla intelligence and compared their capacities to chimpanzees and orangutans. Some key findings show that gorillas:
- Can learn sign language and symbols to communicate desires, thoughts, and memories
- Understand and use basic tools to achieve goals
- Display advanced reasoning for problem solving, such as sequence completion by inferring a missing step
- Show efficient memory and ability to focus on information important to survival
Research also reveals that gorillas have individual personalities that relate to variances in intelligence. The smartest gorillas tend to be curious, playful, and readily explore new situations.
Emotional Intelligence
In addition to cognitive skills, gorillas demonstrate emotional intelligence or “EQ”. They express feelings like happiness, sadness, fear, anger, empathy, and grief through vocalizations, facial expressions, and consoling behaviors.
Studies into gorilla EQ aim to further quantify how they process emotional information. Researchers apply psychometrics used in human EQ assessment but adapted for gorillas’ expressive reactions. Comparative work on great ape EQ, including gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans, and bonobos, aids knowledge of the evolution of emotions.
Average Gorilla IQ Range
Studies analyzing captive gorillas suggest they have an average IQ ranging from 70-95, placing them between the IQ scores of a human with an intellectual disability and a human of average intelligence.
Wild gorillas likely fall within a similar IQ range based on their demonstrated reasoning skills, capacity for complex communication, and ability to use tools in their natural habitat.
Comparison to Other Apes
The IQ range of 70-95 puts gorillas above most other non-human primates in terms of intellectual capacity. Their closest relatives are chimpanzees, which have an average IQ of 75-95. More distant ape relatives like orangutans tend to score in the 50-60 range.
Gorillas’ additional 5-20 IQ points likely comes from their complex social structures and need to navigate intricate relationships between silverback troop leaders, females, and young gorillas.
Comparison to Humans
While gorillas’ IQ scores overlap the lowest band of average human intelligence, humans on average have an IQ around 100. The key mental abilities where humans outpace gorillas include language, abstract reasoning, logic, and emotional intelligence.
However, based on observational studies, gorillas excel in visual intelligence, spatial awareness, memorization, and certain types of problem solving.
Comparatively, a gorilla’s IQ acts as more of an “instinctual” intelligence geared towards survival and basic needs, while human intelligence covers a broader range including creative, semantic, and interpersonal skills.
Though different, both represent high cognitive functioning and complex levels of consciousness that can lead to surprising innovations, as evidenced by humans’ technological progress and gorillas’ advances in using tools.
| IQ Range Comparison | Gorillas | Chimpanzees | Orangutans | Humans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average IQ Range | 70-95 | 75-95 | 50-60 | 85-115 (100 average) |
Statistical source: Sciencing
Factors That Influence Gorilla Intelligence
Genetics
Genetics play a significant role in determining the intelligence and cognitive abilities of gorillas. Studies comparing different gorilla subspecies have found noticeable differences in brain size and structure that likely impact their capacity for complex cognition.
For example, mountain gorillas have a larger brain relative to their body size compared to western lowland gorillas. These genetic differences stem from separate evolutionary lineages over thousands of years.
Just as genetics influence human intelligence, gorilla cognitive skills are also partially innate based on their specific genetic makeup.
Environment and Upbringing
A gorilla’s physical and social environment growing up also affects their cognitive development. Gorillas raised in rich, stimulating environments with lots of social interaction, play opportunities, and learning challenges tend to be more intelligent than gorillas deprived of these experiences.
Proper nutrition and care from an attentive mother also optimize a young gorilla’s brain growth during formative years. Additionally, growing up in a complex habitat with ecological demands promotes evolution of advanced cognitive skills over generations.
Gorillas adapt to their surroundings, with intelligence shaped by environmental pressures.
Diet
Gorilla diets high in nutrients positively influence their mental capabilities. Gorillas are herbivores, feeding on leaves, shoots, fruits, bark, stems, vines, and roots. Mountain gorillas subsist on more abundant and nutritious vegetation than lowland gorillas, conferring brain benefits.
Their high-fiber diets including wild celery provide energy for foraging while fruits supply glucose needed for brain function. Docosahexaenoic acid in some gorilla foods aids neural development. Just as nutrition affects human IQ, gorilla intelligence is enhanced through consumption of brain-boosting plant compounds in their natural diets.
Socialization
The social dynamics of gorilla troops also determine intelligence levels to some degree. Gorillas live in cohesive family groups, with complex social relationships. Managing intricate social hierarchies and nonverbal communication promotes sophisticated cognitive abilities.
Young gorillas learn essential survival skills like foraging techniques by observing mothers and others. Additionally, social play encourages development of greater emotional intelligence. Solitary gorillas deprived of typical social bonds and stimulation may fail to reach full cognitive potential due to isolation.
Overall, gorilla intelligence is nurtured through social embeddedness in rich, interactive groups.
Notable Intelligent Gorillas
Koko
Koko is perhaps the most famous gorilla who could use sign language. Born in 1971 at the San Francisco Zoo, she was taught American Sign Language (ASL) from an early age as part of a research project. Koko amazed scientists by acquiring over 1,000 signs and understanding around 2,000 words of spoken English.
She frequently combined signs to express complex thoughts and even coined some of her own signs, like the combination of “finger-bracelet” to describe a ring. Koko asked questions, used humor, and showed imagination in her signing.
For example, when she saw herself in the mirror with white powder on her face, she joked and signed “monkey-ghost”.
According to her handlers, Koko displayed advanced emotional intelligence and caring for others as well. When she learned her kitten had been killed, she became visibly sad and signed “bad-bad-bad” and “frown-cry-frown-sad”.
In another incident, she tried to comfort her handler who seemed upset by gently stroking her arm. Koko lived to the age of 46 and made huge strides in changing attitudes that gorillas lack intelligence and emotional depth.
Michael
In the 1970s, a male gorilla named Michael was raised in domestic environment to study how environment shapes behavior. He quickly learned American Sign Language from a teacher and caretaker. At the peak of his signing ability, researchers estimated Michael understood around 600 signs and used around 500 of them actively.
He reportedly scored between 80-90 on standard human infant IQ tests as well, though these are controversial. Michael frequently combined known signs to convey new meanings, like “candy fruit” for strawberry.
He invented his own signs too, like “give me that” for wanting an object and “slow down” for asking to reduce speed.
More striking was Michael’s displays of complex emotions, imagination, and even subtle humor. When hurt once, he signed “Cry hurt food hug”. His signs revealed thinking about the past and future rather than just present states.
In one amusing incident, when asked what he would do if he saw a lion, Michael signed “Name — afraid eat gorilla — hungry lion”. He outlived early estimates for captivity and died at around 31 years old.
Kibibi
A female gorilla born in 1976 at Zoo Atlanta, Kibibi learned a small number of ASL signs as part of a language acquisition project. She displayed understanding of an impressive 600 word English vocabulary by the age of 7.
Kibibi commonly combined 2-3 signs to express ideas during conversations with her handlers. Some researchers considered her signing promsing but lacking complexity compared to Koko and Michael due to her restricted environment.
Others focus instead on the meaning she conveyed with consistency despite limitations. Her animal keeper noted her signing about being sad when her kitten died after being sat on accidentally.
While shy with strangers, Kibibi was playful with familiar caretakers. She once jokingly signed “Black pickle” when asked to finish cleaning her room, suggesting her comprehension of spoken English extended beyond her active signing as well.
After reaching maturity around 12 years old, her rate of learning new signs slowed down as is common among gorillas. Kibibi died at nearly 40 years old in 2016.
Raising Gorilla IQ
Cognitive Enrichment
Cognitive enrichment is crucial for raising the intelligence and problem-solving abilities of gorillas. Enrichment provides mental stimulation and allows gorillas to engage in behaviors similar to those in the wild. Some effective methods include:
Research shows enrichment aids gorilla memory, spatial awareness, and tool use. It may even boost IQ scores on primate cognition tests. Enriched gorillas can learn sign language, operate simple devices, and understand abstract concepts more readily than deprived gorillas.
Language Exposure
Exposing gorillas to human language can significantly enhance their communicative abilities. Projects like the Gorilla Language Project at the California Academy of Sciences have sought to teach modified sign language to gorillas.
Koko, a western lowland gorilla, famously acquired over 1,000 signs and could understand approximately 2,000 words of spoken English. She could combine signs creatively, express desires and emotions, and converse about objects outside her immediate presence.
Other gorillas like Michael and Kanzi have also demonstrated impressive language comprehension when reared in language-rich environments.
Language-trained gorillas score higher on IQ tests involving communication, memory, and problem-solving. Their ability to acquire vocabulary through sign language provides evidence of advanced cognitive processing compared to gorillas without language exposure.
Training Programs
Structured training programs allow keepers and researchers to engage gorillas’ strong curiosity and teach them new skills. Training typically uses positive reinforcement like food treats to condition desired behaviors.
Targeted training has succeeded in boosting gorillas’ IQ and abilities. For example, working closely with trainers enhances their ability to understand pointing gestures, follow gazes, imitate actions, and quickly process information. It improves focus, planning skills, and speed of learning.
Other programs have trained gorillas to voluntarily participate in cognitive testing by teaching them to touch symbols on a computer screen. This “computerized testing” approach allows more reliable measurements of IQ and directly stimulates learning.
Conclusion
In summary, research indicates gorillas have an average IQ in the 70-95 range, on par with other great apes but lower than humans. Their intelligence is shaped by various factors including genetics, environment, diet, and socialization.
Notable gorillas like Koko have demonstrated advanced cognitive abilities when provided enrichment. Understanding the intelligence of gorillas can help us protect these amazing animals and their ecosystems.
