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From Stephen Munro

There is little doubt that humans are very comfortable and enjoy being in the
water. Your correspondent Gail Vines’s assertion that “Gorillas hate getting
wet”, may not, however, be entirely accurate (17 July, p 52).

In his book The Magnificent GorillaDon Cousins describes how
gorillas in central Gabon have been observed entering marshes and streams in
search of edible aquatic plants. Moreover, he writes, “the Fang tribesmen of
Equatorial Guinea maintain that they have seen wild gorillas `bathing’ in forest
streams.”

Sydney’s Toranga Park Zoo had to add an electric wire to its gorilla exhibit
a few years ago because the inhabitants used to have a great time wading through
the moat, which was meant to keep them separated from the viewing public.

In fact, gorillas are probably descended from creatures that were
significantly more aquatic in the past—regular waders in lakes, lagoons
and marshes. This would certainly help to explain the little-known behaviour
described above.

Perth, Western Australia