A western lowland gorilla at the Toronto Zoo stares into space.

As someone who is familiar with big cats, I am confident that felids can be given a great life in captivity if keepers are knowledgeable enough and have the resources to address their needs. With more intelligent and complex animals, however, my knowledge fades and uncertainty grows.

I don't claim to know enough about gorillas or other large primates to judge whether they are well suited for a captive environment and I tend to avoid seeing human emotions and expressions in animals. However, there is something a bit unnerving when a gorilla stares off into space for hours on end.

I am sure it's keepers want nothing more than to provide it with the best possible care, but it makes one think. Can highly intelligent animals like this gorilla be given a fulfilling and enriched life in captivity? Would the benefits of bringing such charismatic animals closer to the public outweigh the potential problems? Until I'm more well informed, I'll let greater minds dictate the course of this debate.

In any case, seeing these animals up close is a rather surreal experience. We share so much in common and yet have so much to learn. What does it say about us that this species is now on the verge of extinction? To lose a form of life this incredible and so close to us would be an unspeakable tragedy. Please support your favourite conservation non-profit in the fight to save them.