Surviving a Gorilla Attack – Effective Strategies and Tips

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.

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. Are Gorillas friendly & gentle to humans?
27. Why do Apes, Gorillas beat their chest & sound hollow?
28. Gorilla Threats: Why Mountain Gorillas were endangered?
29. Why were Mountain Gorillas going extinct?
30. What is a Silverback Gorilla?
31. Gorilla Species: Different Kinds/Types of Gorilla & Breeds
32. Mountain Gorilla Diet
33. Mountain Gorilla Size, Average Height & Weight Measurements
34. Natural Mountain Gorilla Predators
35. Mountain Gorilla Population
36. Lifespan of Mountain Gorillas
37. Mountain Gorilla Natural Habitat
38. Mountain Gorilla Conservation Efforts
39. Mountain Gorilla Behavior
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