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.
