Scientists in the park initially believed that the gorillas were searching for insects to eat when they were scratching soil. They eventually succeeded in collecting specimens of the food that the gorillas were foraging for. Taxonomic identification of the food revealed that the gorillas were looking for a specific species of deer truffle (Elaphomyces labyrinthinus). The team believes that this truffle foraging behavior has some important social implications for the primates. Other primate species have also helped researchers find entirely new species of truffles.