Periparturitional behavior of a primiparous lowland gorilla

The behavioral interactions of a primiparous lowland gorilla and her newborn female infant were observed and recorded during the birth of the infant and the subsequent 27 hours. The mother's behavior, initially unresponsive to the infant, progressed rapidly through a series of interactions that are described as preliminary to, and perhaps essential for the ultimate development of appropriate maternal behavior. The relationship between different critical activities, such as: (1) the ingestion of birth fluids by the mother and the establishment of initial contact with the infant, (2) the progression from impersonal contact to ventral-ventral contact, and (3) the coordination between the mother's and infant's vocalizations and activity preceding nursing are described, analyzed, and interpreted.