What to do when a gorilla charges at you
What to do when a gorilla charges at you: Tips for handling a gorilla charging at you In Africa, gorillas are one of the most sought-after primate species, with mountain gorillas being the most sought-after. As the world’s largest primates, mountain gorillas are often very calm and gentle, only displaying symptoms of aggressiveness when they feel threatened. In fact, gorillas are fascinating creatures to see during your safari in Africa because of their endearing personalities.
In Rwanda, Africa’s Parc de Volcanos, a juvenile mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) is tearing through the bush.
Only four national parks in the world—Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo—allow visitors to see mountain gorillas.
On gorilla trekking excursions in Africa, hikers traverse thick jungles while searching for a group of gorillas using their feces, fresh tracks, and food scraps. Gorilla trekkers typically travel in groups of no more than eight people, escorted by a park ranger or guide. Trekkers are only allowed to spend an hour with the gorillas after locating a group.
Gorillas are herbivores that inhabit high-elevation regions of Africa as well as tropical rainforests. A male gorilla, sometimes called a silverback, typically leads or dominates a group of two to thirty mountain gorillas, which is made up of females, juveniles, and newborns. In addition to choosing the family’s feeding schedule and location, the silverback protects and provides for his family in the event that they feel unsafe around other gorillas or people.
When gorillas are upset or even appear to be in danger, they may react by grunting loudly, hooting, buoying themselves, standing on two hind legs, and pounding their chests. This is something you may encounter when gorilla trekking. In order to protect the family, the silverback will seize anything and tear it down if the threat continues.
Gorillas charge for a variety of reasons, including loud noises made by guests, abrupt movements while in their presence, and direct contact with the gorillas, among other things that endanger the family. As a result, the gorillas charge to protect their families from outsiders and poachers, or they charge to win females or to break away from the family because no gorilla family can have two males. The victor of the fight for leadership takes over the family, and the loser starts a new one.
How to respond if a gorilla attacks you.
Given their strength, mountain gorillas will stop at nothing to defend and protect their families from harm. In the event that a gorilla attacks you, visitors should take the following actions:
Squat down.
Be calm, quiet, respectful, and unthreatening when a gorilla charges during gorilla trekking. You can do this by crouching down, lowering yourself to the ground, and making yourself smaller than the silver. The silverback won’t see any motive to fight you because it will see that you are not a challenger.
Step away steadily.
You should avoid running away when the gorilla is charging because it will after you and attack you. Instead, you should put some distance between you and the gorilla by taking calm, deliberate steps back and leaving the area. You can even appear disinterested by feigning to do your own task, like unwinding or gazing at the trees, or you can collapse to the ground to show that it has already conquered you.
Pay attention to what your guide tells you.
At the beginning point, tourists receive a briefing on what to expect and what not to do when interacting with gorillas in the wild before beginning their jungle adventure. In any national park, visitors who undertake gorilla trekking are accompanied by an armed park ranger who will provide them with instructions while they are among the gorilla family. Because park rangers are aware of each gorilla family’s temperament, irritability level, and moods, visitors are given behavior advice in case the gorillas become unruly while they are around.
Avoid staring into a gorilla’s eyes.
Since gorillas are timid primates, visitors should avoid staring into their eyes after charging because this indicates that you are prepared to confront the animal, which will cause it to attack you. Instead than staring into their eyes, visitors are urged to act indifferent and begin working on their own projects.
Flash your teeth and give a shout-back.
If you are extremely near to a gorilla and have little way of retaliating, you should show your teeth and roar back at it. In order to scare the charged gorilla away and demonstrate that you are another wild gorilla, you will be instructed to scream or roar loudly and thud your chest like the gorilla.
Act like you’re an ape.
Be brave and act like an ape in the wild when you have exhausted all other choices and nothing seems to be working. Approach a charging gorilla and begin picking leaves, breaking and chewing vegetation, and napping on the ground to demonstrate to the gorilla that you are not hostile or violent.
Stay Away
As gorillas are wild animals, approaching them will cause them to charge and may injure or fight you in an attempt to protect themselves and their families. Therefore, tourists should maintain a 7-meter distance from gorilla families while trekking in the jungle and should not touch them unless they touch you.
You will undoubtedly escape unscathed if you adhere to the aforementioned procedures in the sad event that a gorilla or silverback charges at you. Following the guidelines provided by the park’s head guide is crucial for trekkers participating in gorilla trekking. This will be useful and facilitate your gorilla trekking experience.
To go gorilla trekking in Uganda, Rwanda, or the Democratic Republic of the Congo, visitors must first obtain a gorilla trekking permit, which costs between USD 600 and USD 700 per person in Uganda, USD 1500 in Rwanda, and USD 400 in Congo.
Get in touch with us to schedule your gorilla trekking trip in Rwanda, Congo, or Uganda.