What to do if a gorilla is chasing you?

What to do when a Gorilla charges on you
  1. Study the gorilla's behavior. ...
  2. Stay calm, do not react. ...
  3. Be submissive. ...
  4. Crouch down and make yourself as small a target as possible. ...
  5. Stay quiet. ...
  6. Groom. ...
  7. Remain quiet and passive until the gorilla loses interest or until help arrives.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on virungaparkcongo.com

What do you do if gorilla chases you?

Remain calm and never attempt to run. A gorilla is faster than most humans and running away will only encourage it to chase after you. Remaining calm and laying low will calm the primate down and stop seeing you as a threat or challenger. Gorillas never continue an attack if you stay calm and act submissive.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on silverbackgorillatours.com

How do you defend yourself against a gorilla?

Slowly crouch down and make yourself small. Avert your gaze from any nearby gorilla and look away. Attempt to look disinterested.
...
No matter what, never:
  1. Run from the gorilla.
  2. Show your teeth.
  3. Raise your arms and try to make yourself look bigger.
  4. Scream and shout.
  5. Thump your chest in return—not even as a joke.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on lifehacker.com

Can you outrun a gorilla?

Highly unlikely, if no firearms or tranquilizer guns are involved. A gorilla can reach speeds of 20 mph to 25 mph. In comparison, Usain Bolt's record in the 100-meter dash roughly translates into 23 mph (Bolt reaches peak speeds of around 27 mph—but still).

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on slate.com

Do gorillas chase humans?

Generally, gorillas are very shy and reserved towards people. They will attack only if they are surprised or threatened or if a person behaves in the wrong way. If the human makes an unexpected movement, the silverback male can react with horrific roaring and bluff charges.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on berggorilla.org

How to Survive a Gorilla Attack

21 related questions found

Why can't you look gorillas in the eye?

To Mountain Gorillas, anyone who keeps a direct eye contact is a challenger and an enemy who has come to disrupt the family. Direct eye contact will, therefore, trigger the silverback to charge and fight you in defense of his family. If you want peace with Gorillas, therefore, avoid direct eye contact.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on greatadventuresafaris.com

Would a gorilla hurt a human?

Besides being gentle and calm, gorillas are wild animals that can truly be dangerous if handled carelessly or threatened. In fact, gorilla attacks on human in the wild are very rare and usually motivated by a defensive instinct. A gorilla that thinks it is in danger will first make threat display noted above.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on wildgorillasafaris.com

Can a human win a fight against a gorilla?

No, an unarmed human being could not beat a gorilla in a fight. Simply put, gorillas are far too strong for human beings to overcome.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on a-z-animals.com

What happens if you stare down a gorilla?

Like shy humans, staring directly into the eyes of gorilla make them feel uncomfortable and insecure and when disrupted by your direct eye contact, they can charge aggressively at you to defend themselves.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on wildgorillasafaris.com

What are gorillas afraid of?

Certain reptiles such as chameleons and caterpillars are what are gorillas scared/afraid of. They are also afraid of water and will cross streams only if they can do so without getting wet, such as by crossing over fallen logs, and dislike rain.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on wildgorillasafaris.com

What is a gorillas worst enemy?

Predators. Leopards and crocodiles are large carnivores which may prey upon gorillas. Humans are the greatest threat to all gorilla populations.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on seaworld.org

What makes a gorilla mad?

Gorillas can also get angry when you look at them direct with eye contact, for unknown reasons they will think your challenging them and will start showing signs of charging. Even screaming at direction of mountain gorillas in their natural habitat makes them angry.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on africangorilla.com

Should you not smile at a gorilla?

Please just don't smile at a gorilla or chimpanzee. Humans, perceive smiles as being friendly. Even though gorillas and chimpanzees are also primates, they perceive smiles or showing teeth as being acts of intimidation or as a threat.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on thehealthyjournal.com

What happens if you scream at a gorilla?

When you scream this will antagonize the Gorilla. Be submissive, Gorillas hate looking directly into someone's eyes, try much as possible to look away. Crouch down and make yourself small.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on ugandarwandagorillatours.com

Do you stand your ground against a gorilla?

If a gorilla moves closer to you, you stay still and let him pass by. If you happen to be standing exactly where a gorilla wants to be, just give him the space and let him move as he likes. If the gorilla approaches you and then sits down, you should slowly move away to resume the 7-meter distance.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on gorillafund.org

How aggressive is a gorilla?

Gorillas are perhaps one of the most misunderstood animals. Though they are often portrayed as dangerous and aggressive, the truth is that gorillas are gentle giants. They are shy and retiring by nature, and usually only become aggressive when they feel threatened.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on bwindiforestnationalpark.com

Why does gorilla hit their chest?

Mountain Gorillas often beat their chests whenever they perceive a threat or danger. When the chest beatings occur, it indicates that the Gorilla is charging at a human or any rival. This is one of the warning signs that a Gorilla is definitely going to attack if you don't stay away from its territory.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on greatadventuresafaris.com

What happens if you smile at an ape?

It felt pretty silly to do, but they explained that a human smile is seen as a threatening expression to chimpanzees. When they are afraid or when they are trying to be intimidating, they will show all their top teeth and do what we call a “fear grimace.”

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on chimpsnw.org

Why do apes hit their chest?

The emanating drumming sound can be heard over one kilometre away. The presumed function of gorilla chest beats is to attract females and intimidate rival males.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on mpg.de

How strong is a punch of a gorilla?

How hard can a gorilla punch? It is believed that a gorilla punch is strong enough to shatter your skull with one slam of its arm:/Between 1300 to 2700 pounds of force. Gorillas on (avg. 400 lbs) have a muscle mass density almost 4 times higher than the most heavily muscled powerful human you know.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on wildgorillasafaris.com

Can a gorilla punch a lion?

A lion would almost certainly win in a fight against a gorilla. The reasoning should not be all that surprising. A lion will stalk and ambush a gorilla in the dense vegetation of their natural habitat by waiting until it's dark to have the edge. They have a good chance at ending the fight in seconds.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on a-z-animals.com

Can a gorilla throw a punch?

Great apes like chimps, bonobos and gorillas can't make fists with their hands, so they can't actually punch, making it difficult to directly compare our fighting abilities with theirs.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on nbcnews.com

What does it mean when a gorilla slaps the ground?

A gorilla may vocalize loudly and pound, jump or slap the ground if angry.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on virungaparkcongo.com

Can you choke out a gorilla?

A gorilla's neck is much different - thick and surrounded by thick muscles. Even if the gorilla's mouth was taped shut so he could not just bite off your arm and his arms were tied to his body so he could not tear your arms off, you still probably could not choke him out.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on quora.com

What happens if you beat your chest in front of a gorilla?

Alpha means combat. When you pound your chest that means you have challenged the gorilla for the right to mate with females. You want to battle for the right to mate. You have willingly entered into combat.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on quora.com