Are Mountain Gorillas Dangerous? Mountain gorillas are gentle giants with broad chests, small eyes, and large arms and legs, which make them strong and stocky.
Mountain gorillas have thicker and darker fur compared to other gorilla species. This helps them adapt to their natural environment.
They are natural herbivores. They mainly eat fruits, leaves, bamboo, and sometimes insects.
Mountain gorillas share 98.3% of their genes with humans. This is why they show human-like traits, such as being emotional. They cry, laugh, and mourn their loved ones.
Gorillas live in families or groups of about 5 to 40 individuals.
Gorillas are friendly, family-oriented animals. They are not a threat or danger to humans if handled carefully. However, their friendliness has limits. If they sense danger or feel insecure, they can become aggressive.
They show aggression by:
- Stamping their feet loudly.
- Beating their chests.
- Grunting.
- Roaring.
- Hooting.
- Moving on their hind legs.
Gorillas use these signals to warn their enemy to back off before they attack.
Therefore, gorillas only become dangerous during an attack. During an attack, they may:
- Bite viciously.
- Scratch.
- Crack ribs.
- Whip.
- Drag.
Gorillas also become very dangerous when defending themselves or their territory from predators or challengers. In such cases, the fight can lead to injury, death, or life-threatening situations for either side.
A gorilla is also dangerous when it charges. It can kill humans during such an attack.
Gorillas can be dangerous to each other, especially when fighting for dominance. In these fights, the silverback and its challenger fight until one submits, dies, or leaves the group.
A silverback gorilla is also dangerous when another male tries to take members from its group. In such cases, the gorillas fight fiercely to protect their group.
The silverback is also dangerous when other males try to mate with females in the group. Mating with females is a privilege only for the dominant silverback, and other males are not allowed to do so.
Mountain gorillas are not exactly dangerous unless they are attacked by enemies, predators, or other groups, or when they feel insecure.
