Canton 11-Year-Old Wins Up-Close Training Session with 400-Pound Gorilla

The following is from ARCH Orthodontics:

Eleven-year-old Livia Davis of Canton recently had the unique opportunity to observe a training session with a 400-pound gorilla. 

Livia had won a first-of-its-kind contest sponsored by ARCH Orthodontics where she goes for her braces. The prize: An up-close and personal training session with western lowland gorilla Okpara (‘Okie’), a male gorilla that resides at the zoo’s Tropical Forest gorilla exhibit.

During the visit, Lead Zookeeper Brandi Baitchman showed Livia, her Mom Julie and Orthodontists Dr. Robert Chavez and Dr. Andrew Chase how the staff uses a toothbrush to help inspect and clean the gorilla’s teeth. 

Animal training programs play a valuable role by providing animals with choices and mental challenges. Training through positive reinforcement and operant conditioning allows the animals to voluntarily participate in activities that challenge them to think and learn new things in exchange for a favorite treat. 

The animals are trained, not only in husbandry behaviors that assist the keepers in daily care, but also in medical behaviors to help the zoo’s hospital staff with veterinary care.

Throughout the training session, Okie received treats including monkey chow, carrots, broccoli and oatmeal. Also in attendance was Zoo New England President and CEO John Linehan, a Canton native who now resides in Stoughton.

Gorillas, the largest primates, have DNA that is 95 percent similar to humans. They even have the same number of teeth as humans (32) and, as part of their health care regimen, have regular dental checkups. A few years ago one even needed a root canal!

Last fall, Drs. Chase and Chavez announced as a special thank you, that every family who referred a new patient for a consultation to ARCH would be eligible for the drawing to visit the Zoo. 

“The contest created a lot of interest,” says Dr. Chase. “We had over 100 patients who qualified. The contest had several goals:  The special Thank You.  To raise awareness about the importance of good oral hygiene for all (even animals). How great oral hygiene is necessary for Orthodontic patients. And to educate us about protecting our environment and wildlife.”  

Livia said, “This was especially exciting and interesting for me because I want to be a veterinarian. I just loved being here and soooo close.”  

Dr. Chase says attending a gorilla’s oral hygiene training session will probably be something that Livia will remember for the rest of her life.

Franklin Park Zoo is operated by Zoo New England. Visit www.franklinparkzoo.org.