Gorilla charging – How and why do gorillas charge?

Gorilla charge (or attack) is a topic that is searched for mostly by travelers that are planning the gorilla trekking adventures in Africa as a concern for their safety. The gorilla trekking experience brings you face to face with the gorillas in the jungles. The gorillas visited have undergone through the habituation process to make them tolerant to humans, but that does not mean they have been tamed, they are very much still wild and are sensitive to threats even from humans they have learned to tolerate. Below the topic of charging is discussed and questions such as; what is a gorilla charge, why do gorillas charge, what to do when a gorilla charges you?

What is charging in gorillas?

Gorilla charging is an act gorillas use to stomp their authority when they feel challenged or threatened. The gorilla charge display is many times initiated by first the beating of chest and then rushing forward as if to attack the victim, in an effort to cause fear and intimidate the victim. The gorilla will also make vocalizations during the charge to make it more fearsome and as a way of communicating his anger. The charge does not always end in attack and in fact the gorillas use it primarily to intimidate the perceived threat which gives time to other members of the group to scamper into hiding. Gorillas start learning how to charge at a young age by mimicking the chest beating every now and then. During the gorilla trekking tour in Rwanda or Uganda’s jungles it is exciting to observe the little gorillas slap their chests as a way of showing off and catch the attention of the onlookers as though to show they are in charge or maybe they are simply boasting.

Which gorillas charge?

It is observed that it is the male gorillas, more so the dominant silverback gorilla who is the leader of the group, are the gorillas that engage in the charging. The silverback gorilla can be joined by other males in the group to charge when the group is faced by an external threat, say attack by wild animal such as a leopard.

Do female gorillas charge?

The female gorillas that are meeker have been observed not to really engage in charging. The female gorillas are under the protection of the adult male gorillas of the group who do the charging and fighting when the group is attacked or threatened. When there is a threat the females will go into hiding along with the babies and juveniles. However the breastfeeding female are very protected of their babies and can charge if approached to closely.

Why do gorillas charge?

The silverback gorilla can charge at males in his group to subdue them and show authority when they try to challenge him. The silverback gorilla and other males of the gorilla will charge at an outside silverback trying to take over the group. The silverback gorilla will also charge at new intruders in his environment such as humans who are on the gorilla tracking experience as long as the gorilla feels his authority and safety of his group is about to be undermined. To find out how dangerous gorillas are please visit this article (how dangerous are gorillas). The gorilla may charge at the tourist for a number of reasons such as;

• the tourist makes sustained eye contact with the silverback which is an indication of a challenge to his authority can trigger a charge,
• make sudden movement toward the gorilla that makes the gorilla feel threatened,
• spending too much time near the gorillas to the extent they start to feel stressed (gorillas are easily stressed, reason a maximum of one hour is allowed to see them),
• using flash on the camera scares or irritates the gorillas,
• standing in the way of the gorillas that he has no choice but charge at you,
• coming too close to the gorillas,
• making loud noises while with the gorillas may trigger a charge as the gorilla may find these sounds unusual and suspicious. Keep silent or speak in low tone. The tourist will also be briefed on particular I-come-in-peace “gorilla language” to vocalize to communicate when near the gorilla to calm it
• A stressed out gorilla that has probably been involved in scuffle within the group or jungle will be less receptive to humans when they are arrive and may charge when unprovoked.
• encountering an unhabituated gorilla who definitely does not tolerate humans

What to do when a gorilla charges you

The gorillas are the strongest of primates (find out how strong are gorillas) and the thought of one charging you is scary! So, what do you do if one charges you?? Well it is simple.. You are advised to keep and avoid any sort of eye contact with the silverback, in fact look down and avoid making abrupt movement. This posture shows the gorilla that you have submitted to his authority, that you are not a threat, and he will let you be. But can you really stay calm in the face of 400 pound silverback gorilla growling and dashing toward you? Your instincts may tell you different… So more tips:

• Crouch as you look down, again while trying to be as calm as possible
• Step aside away from the direction of the charging gorilla
• Walk towards your guide who knows how to vocalize to reassure the gorilla that he is not under any threat from the people in his vicinity