A Gorilla in the Guest House depicts the relationship between a gorilla N’Pongo and his master, Mr. Durrell. A large gamut of Gerald Durrell’s stories were semi-autobiographical, based on his real life experiences with animals, and A Gorilla in the Guest House is no exception in this regard.

In this short story, Gerald Durrell has critiqued the condition of wildlife conservation in the world. He mentions how newfound governments like those of Africa were so busy proving their worth to the world that they let issues like wildlife conservation slide through. The apathy of the rich classes towards the cause of animals is also hinted at through Jacquie’s and Hope’s pessimism that Mr. Durrell will not be able to crowd-fund the purchase of the rare specie he wished to conserve. Durrell also sheds light on the mismanagement practiced by many animal conservation establishments that failed to secure mates for their animals – something that is important for an animal’s well-being. Lastly, the cruelty of humans in dealing with animals is also hinted at through the scar in Nandy’s skull, which was given to her by the human who caught her.

Through this short story, we learn that maintaining a zoo is no easy task. One not only has to acquire animals but also has to take care of their well-being. We get to know about the anxieties of zookeepers through the episode when N’Pongo falls critically ill. The episode was such a tumultuous one for Mr. Durrell that he was even ready to cancel an important work trip to France to stay back and ensure his ape’s recovery. The dedication and concern Mr. Durrell showed during that period gives us insights into the deep love that wildlife conservationists have in their hearts for animals.

This short story also narrates in endearing details two beautiful relationships: one between the zookeeper and his animals, and one between N’Pongo and his mate Nandy. Mr. Durrell and N’Pongo were barely like master and pet. Both of them got along well as if they were friends. The relationship between N’Pongo and Nandy is also revealed through loving details – such as the small fights the apes get into and the plans they devised through which both of them could share the space of the common cage.