Gorillas are very peaceful and calm primates in the world, although they are often mistaken for being very violent.
Mountain gorillas will only attack humans or other animals when they are disturbed and not comfortable with their presence.
How to Survive Gorilla Attacks
Gorillas are very strong and will defend their families in case of trouble, and as soon as they sense danger, they will react with chest-beating, loud grunts, propping themselves on two hind legs.
If the attacker doesn’t move away after these warnings, a gorilla will attack by scratching, vicious bites, strikes, and can even drag someone away by hand or leg.
Below are some of the ways you can survive a gorilla attack in case gorillas charge at you:
1. Walk away steadily
Mountain gorillas will sometimes charge when they feel insecure during the observation hour while trekking gorillas.
Tourists are advised to slowly step back and walk away steadily from the gorilla scene.
Never run away from a charged gorilla because they will run after you to attack, and no human being is capable of fighting and defeating a mountain gorilla.
2. Crouching down
Crouching down while a mountain gorilla is attacking is very advisable.
You have to bend down and make yourself small before a mountain gorilla.
When a mountain gorilla sees that you’re not interested in challenging them, they will calm down and have no reason to attack you.
3. Follow gorilla trekking rules and regulations
To avoid mountain gorillas from attempting to attack, you have to follow the gorilla trekking safari rules and regulations.
Your guide ranger will always give you guidelines on the dos and don’ts while in the presence of mountain gorillas in case they attack.
4. Pretend to be an Ape
One of the ways to survive a mountain gorilla attack is by behaving like a gorilla when a charged gorilla comes towards you.
You can do so by pretending to chew vegetation, plucking leaves, napping on the ground, and breaking some vegetation.
You can pretend to be one of the forest dwellers, and a gorilla will lose interest in attacking you.
5. Show your teeth
Mountain gorillas may sometimes attack humans very closely.
If there is no chance of stepping back and crouching, visitors are advised to show their teeth to a charged gorilla and endeavor to scream.
This may scare the gorilla away, thinking you’re another wild gorilla.
6. Never look directly into gorilla’s eyes
For some unknown reasons, mountain gorillas do not like to be looked at directly in the eyes.
In case they charge, you’re advised to avoid direct eye contact with the gorillas and pretend to be less interested.
This will make them calm down.
7. Keep a distance from gorillas
Tourists are advised to keep a distance of at least 7 meters from mountain gorillas.
You cannot touch gorillas because they are wild animals, except if they come near you or touch you by themselves without posing any threat.
Getting too close to these apes may cause them to charge.
In conclusion, mountain gorillas usually don’t attack people unless they are disturbed, and they always send warnings before charging.
The best way to survive a mountain gorilla attack is to follow the gorilla trekking rules and regulations given at the briefing before trekking and also follow the park ranger’s guidelines while in the presence of mountain gorillas.
