Gorilla Temperament – Are They Friendly Towards Humans?

Mountain gorillas are very friendly and gentle animals, even though they are giant, muscular, intelligent, and strong.

Gorillas can indeed be trained, and they become very close and friendly to humans.

Dian Fossey, who lived with mountain gorillas, had this to say: “I feel more comfortable being with gorillas than being around people.”

Gorillas are generally friendly, but they can become aggressive if they feel their territory is invaded, their infants are harmed, or they are offended.

Mountain gorillas exhibit aggression when they feel disturbed, and when they charge, their response can include vigorous bites, thumping, breaking ribs, and dragging. If not rescued, a gorilla can be lethal.

Before wild mountain gorillas become friendly or habituated to human presence, rangers and researchers go through a process that takes at least two years to acclimate gorillas to human proximity.

Even if a gorilla group is habituated, there are rules and regulations that tourists must follow during gorilla trekking Africa tours.

Below are some of the rules and regulations

• Maintain a distance of 7 meters from mountain gorillas and do not touch them; they are wild animals.
• Keep your voices low and observe quietly to avoid disturbing the peace of mountain gorillas.
• Avoid direct eye contact with gorillas, as it may make them feel insecure.
• Do not attempt to run if gorillas charge, as this can be very risky.
• If a mountain gorilla charges at you, follow your guide’s instructions, such as crouching down, pretending to eat vegetation, and waiting for the gorilla to pass.
• Avoid using cameras with flashlights while trekking with mountain gorillas, as they dislike it and may react aggressively.

In conclusion, gorillas are generally friendly animals, but when they become aggressive, it can be extremely dangerous.

They often display warning signs like chest beating, ground thumping, loud vocalizations, and tearing vegetation before charging.

Ignoring these warnings can lead to a gorilla charging at you.

Gorilla FAQs & Information

1. Why Can’t You Look or Make Eye Contact with a Gorilla?
2. Why Silverback Gorillas Fight
3. Importance of Mountain Gorillas
4. What to do when a gorilla charges on you
5. What is The Largest Species of Gorillas?
6. What is a Group of Gorillas Called?
7. What is the Mountain Gorillas Role in The Ecosystem?
8. The Mountain Gorilla Defense Mechanism
9. How to Provoke/Annoy a Gorilla
10. How Gorillas Greet Each Other
11. Do All Gorillas Become Silverbacks?
12. Do Gorillas like Humans
13. Do gorillas Eat of Kill Their Babies?
14. Do Gorillas Eat Humans?
15. Can you Tame a Gorilla
16. Can you Own a Gorilla?
17. Do Mountain Gorillas live in Families & Groups?
18. How to Protect & Save Mountain Gorillas
19. Why Gorillas Are So Strong
20. How Many Humans Does it Take to Beat a Gorilla?
21. How do you call a Baby Gorilla?
22. How Do Gorillas Sleep?
23. How Mountain Gorillas Communicate
24. The Gorilla Life Cycle
25. Do Gorillas drink water?
26. Why do Apes, Gorillas beat their chest & sound hollow?
27. Gorilla Threats: Why Mountain Gorillas were endangered?
28. Why were Mountain Gorillas going extinct?
29. What is a Silverback Gorilla?
30. Gorilla Species: Different Kinds/Types of Gorilla & Breeds
31. Mountain Gorilla Diet
32. Mountain Gorilla Size, Average Height & Weight Measurements
33. Natural Mountain Gorilla Predators
34. Mountain Gorilla Population
35. Lifespan of Mountain Gorillas
36. Mountain Gorilla Natural Habitat
37. Mountain Gorilla Conservation Efforts
38. Mountain Gorilla Behavior
39. How to Survive a Gorilla Attack on Humans
40. Are Gorillas Dangerous to the People
41. Why are Gorillas Poached in Africa
42. How Gorillas Adapt to Rain-forest Environment
43. Interesting Facts about Mountain Gorillas in Africa
44. Traits, Qualities & Characteristics of Mountain Gorillas
45. How Strong is a Silverback Gorilla?
46. Best Place to See Mountain Gorillas in Africa
47. Uganda Gorilla Families
48. Rwanda Gorilla Families
49. Congo Gorilla Families