Gorillas are incredibly strong primates that can be very dangerous to humans. A gorilla weighing 400 lbs can lift up to 8 times its body weight, meaning it can lift over 3000 lbs! Their teeth are large and sharp, designed for chewing tough vegetation. A gorilla bite has a biting force of 1300 psi, compared to a lion’s bite force of 650 psi. Their arms are longer and more muscular than human arms. Gorillas can move very fast for short bursts and climb trees with ease. So in a physical fight, a gorilla has size, strength, biting power and agility advantages over a human.
Can you outrun a gorilla?
Gorillas are not built for running long distances. Their max speed is about 25 mph. Usain Bolt, the world’s fastest human, can run almost 28 mph. So over a short distance, say 100 meters, a gorilla would likely catch a human. But over longer distances, a fit human could potentially outrun a gorilla.
However, gorillas can climb trees incredibly fast, up to 20-25 feet in just a few seconds. So climbing up a tree likely won’t save you from a gorilla attack. Your best bet is to get into an enclosed space like a car or building that the gorilla can’t access.
Can you fight and survive a gorilla attack?
Very unlikely. Pound for pound gorillas are much stronger than humans. The average male gorilla is 5-6 times stronger than the average human. Here is a chart comparing the strength of a gorilla vs human:
| Physical trait | Gorilla | Human |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 300-500 lbs | 150-200 lbs |
| Arm span | 7-8 feet | 5-6 feet |
| Biting force | 1300 psi | 120-140 psi |
| Lifting strength | 3000 lbs | 450 lbs |
Some key points:
- Gorillas can lift over 6 times their body weight, whereas most fit humans can only lift 1-2 times their weight.
- A gorilla bite delivers over 10 times more force than a human bite.
- Gorillas have much longer arms providing greater striking range.
The only advantages a human may have are greater endurance and better technique if they have martial arts or fighting experience. However, technique can only overcome so much weight and strength disadvantage.
There are a few cases where humans have survived gorilla attacks through grappling techniques like choking the gorilla unconscious or jamming fingers in its eyes. But these cases involved smaller, juvenile gorillas. An adult silverback would be too strong to grapple and restrain.
Can weapons even the odds in a gorilla fight?
Weapons like knives, bats, rocks can help even the odds against a gorilla. But gorillas are intelligent animals and may be able to disarm you. Pepper spray or tasers are unlikely to fully incapacitate an enraged gorilla before it can do serious damage.
A gun gives a human the best chance of surviving an angry gorilla attack. But you would need a powerful caliber like a 12-gauge shotgun slug or large caliber revolver. Even then, you may need multiple accurate shots to stop a charging gorilla.
Shotgun vs gorilla
A 12-gauge shotgun loaded with slugs is one of the most effective weapons for self-defense against a gorilla, but multiple shots may be required. Shotguns have limited range, so you need to be within 30 yards ideally. The goal is to accurately target the head and upper torso to damage the central nervous system.
Handgun vs gorilla
For handguns, you would need a high caliber like a .44 magnum or .500 S&W revolver. 9mm and .45 ACP pistol rounds likely won’t penetrate deep enough to reliably stop a gorilla unless you achieve perfect shot placement, which is difficult under stress. As with the shotgun, you need to aim for the head and upper torso.
Hunting rifle vs gorilla
For longer range, a hunting rifle chambered in .30-06 Springfield or larger caliber would be effective. Accurately targeting the head and heart/lung region from 50+ yards could potentially bring down a gorilla.
No matter what weapon you use, multiple well-placed shots may be required to incapacitate a gorilla unless you achieve instant critical hits to the brain or spine. Gorillas have thick muscle and hide that resist penetration.
Can you survive a charge from a gorilla?
A gorilla charge is terrifying. An adult silverback can reach speeds over 20 mph for short bursts. Combined with their size and power, getting hit by a charging gorilla is like getting hit by a small car. Few people could survive the impact.
Here are some stats on gorilla charges:
- Speed: Up to 25 mph
- Weight: 300-500 lbs
- Bite force: 1300 psi
- Strike force: Enough to break bones
Your only hopes are to dodge the charge at the last moment or have an obstacle like a car or wall between you and the gorilla. Lying flat and playing dead is unlikely to work as the gorilla may still maul you. Running in a straight line is also futile as the gorilla will quickly catch up.
Charges are meant to intimidate though and in some cases gorillas may bluff charge without making contact. But this is still an extremely dangerous scenario.
How to avoid a gorilla attack
The best way to survive a gorilla encounter is to avoid provoking an attack in the first place:
- Do not stare directly at a gorilla, especially in the eyes.
- Avoid sudden movements that may be seen as threatening.
- Do not scream, wave your arms or make other agitated gestures.
- Back away slowly, do not turn your back or run away.
- Stay in a crouched, non-threatening posture if charged.
- If attacked, curl into a ball and protect your head and neck.
Gorillas typically only attack when they feel threatened or need to protect their group. By appearing small and non-threatening, you reduce the risk of attack.
But animal behavior is ultimately unpredictable. Some gorillas may attack unprovoked. In that case, your options are limited to flee, fight back with any means possible, or submit and hope for the best.
Can you survive a gorilla bite?
A gorilla bite is one of the most dangerous animal attacks. Their jaws can apply over 1300 psi of force, compared to less than 200 psi for a large dog bite. This extreme biting power combined with large canine teeth can cause deep puncture wounds and heavy crushing injuries.
While it is possible to survive a gorilla bite, the injuries can be severe. Bites often crush bones, tear off limbs, or cause deep tears to the face and body. Even with medical treatment, gorilla bite infections are common and can lead to permanent disability or complications.
Areas like the skull, throat, and major arteries are vulnerable to lethal damage from gorilla bites. Multiple biting attacks increase the risk of bleeding out or suffering a critical injury.
Surviving a gorilla bite requires immediate first aid care like bleeding control and urgent medical treatment including potential reconstructive surgery.
Can you survive being hit or thrown by a gorilla?
Gorillas can generate incredible striking force with their arms, fists, and open hands. Documented cases exist of gorillas hitting humans with enough force to crush their skull or break multiple bones.
Being struck in the head is most likely to be fatal due to the risk of traumatic brain injury or fractured skull. Blows to the chest can also be lethal by stopping the heart or restricting breathing.
Gorillas may also grab and throw a human. Being slammed to the ground or against objects can easily break bones and cause organ damage.
Surviving a gorilla attack with blunt force trauma requires luck in avoiding critical areas. Bones can be rebuilt and organs may heal, but brain and spinal cord injuries are often irreversible.
Can medical treatment save you after a gorilla attack?
Here are the medical treatments that may save your life after suffering injuries in a gorilla attack:
- Wound care: Cleaning and debriding bite wounds and lacerations to avoid infection. Careful hemostasis to control bleeding.
- Fracture stabilization: Splinting and casting broken bones. Internal fixation for complicated fractures.
- Organ repair: Suturing/stapling lacerations to organs. Removing damaged tissue.
- Pain management: Opiate pain medication for severe trauma. Regional nerve blocks.
- Rehabilitation: Physical, occupational and speech therapy to regain function.
With advanced trauma care, you can potentially survive very severe gorilla attack injuries. But full recovery may take months to years depending on the extent of damage.
Conclusion
Surviving a full on gorilla attack is extremely unlikely for the average person. Gorillas have enormous strength and biting power that can easily cause life-threatening injuries. Weapons like guns offer the only realistic chance of stopping an enraged gorilla, and even then multiple accurate shots are required.
The best strategy is to avoid provoking a gorilla attack through non-threatening body language. But if attacked, curl into a ball to protect vital organs and cover your neck. Seek immediate medical help to treat potentially deadly trauma. With quick action and luck, it is possible but very difficult to survive a brutal gorilla attack.