What to Do If You Encounter a Gorilla in the Jungle

If you love to go on adventures and travel around the world, and you ever find yourself in the jungle, especially in the tropical forests of Africa, there’s a chance that you may come across a gorilla. Since these animals can grow quite big, the experience may be startling. However, the question is, should you be afraid, and are gorillas a threat to humans? The answer is a bit mixed, but we’re here to help. In this guide, we’ll tell you what gorillas eat, how afraid of them you should be, and what to do if you ever come across a gorilla in the wild.

Are Gorillas a Threat to Humans?

The short answer to the question of “Are gorillas a threat to humans?” is no. By nature, gorillas are generally peaceful, shy, and reserved creatures. During a typical day, a gorilla will spend much of it foraging in the jungle for food, caring for its young, and playing with other gorillas. They’re not interested in hunting humans.

It may be hard to believe when you consider their initial appearance. Female gorillas can grow to up to 59 inches in body length, and males can get up to 70 inches in body length and weigh over 450 pounds, so they’re quite impressive. If you’re not around large animals on a regular basis, your instinct may be to be afraid, but the chances of a gorilla attack are slim to none.

Other unique features of gorillas include their muscular arms and legs, their 32 teeth (the same as humans), and their opposable digits. Also contributing to their size is their large stomachs, which are generally larger than their chests. The reason for this is that their stomachs hold enlarged intestines, which allow them to digest bulky vegetation. So yes, seeing a gorilla may at first be startling. But even though gorillas don’t go out of their way to hurt humans, could they ever cause any type of threat?

Would a Gorilla Ever Attack a Human?

Although they are generally gentle giants, gorillas are not totally immune to lashing out if a human were to intentionally or unintentionally impose on their personal space. They will not go out of their way to attack a person, but like most living creatures, they may strike out to defend themselves.

If you were in the jungles of Africa and saw a gorilla, you would want to stay quiet while maintaining a respectful distance. It can also help to know the signs that you may be near a gorilla. It’s not always easy to determine if one is nearby, but potential signs can include overturned logs, broken plants, and, of course, footprints. If you are walking through the jungle and you spot any large footprints, be alert and cautious.

What to Do If You Were Attacked

Though it’s unlikely that someone would ever be attacked, if you know that you would potentially be in the same areas as a wild gorilla, you should know what to do to defend yourself. For starters, before it even considers attacking you, a gorilla will often try to warn you away with a series of low grunts. Use the sounds as a warning to slowly leave the area. Don’t make any drastic moves.

If you continue to get too close, it’s possible that the gorilla may lash out in an act of self-defense by trying to charge or maul you or anyone else that they perceive as a threat. It’s also possible that a gorilla may try to strike at you with its arms or use its teeth as a defense mechanism and try to bite you.

If the gorilla does try to charge you, then try your best to refrain from making any sudden movements. Walk away at a steady pace. Don’t run because the gorilla will likely run after you. Don’t make a lot of big movements. Just slowly get out of the situation. If the gorilla keeps coming, you can try to crouch down to make it clear that you’re not looking for a fight.

Some experts also recommend doing things that may confuse the animal into believing that you are a fellow gorilla. Doing things like plucking leaves off of vegetation, chewing on plants, and other acts may confuse the gorilla enough to go away. You can also show your teeth and scream to cause confusion. Whatever you do, don’t look directly into their eyes or they may take it as a challenge.

Do Gorillas Eat Meat?

Another reason why the answer to the question of “Are gorillas a threat to humans?” is negative is that gorillas are herbivores, meaning that their main source of food is plants. So they’ll never come after you because they’re hungry. Gorillas that live in the mountains will consume a diet that consists mostly of bamboo shoots and thistles. Those who live in the forest will look for leaves and stems, and they’ll often eat fruit. The closest thing to meat or protein that a gorilla would consume would be small insects like termites and ants.

Will Gorillas Ever Attack Other Animals?

So, are gorillas a threat to humans? No. But what about other animals? Yes, gorillas may attack other creatures, but it’s typically only when they feel threatened. However, it has been reported that gorillas and chimpanzees have landed in altercations over the years, sometimes with lethal results. Ultimately, the key takeaway is to leave a gorilla in the wild alone. Gorillas are not a threat to humans, but like us, they will defend themselves or their families if necessary. Stay safe and enjoy these gentle giants from a distance.

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