Gorilla Predators

Gorilla Predators

It may surprise you to learn that gorillas don’t really have any predators to worry about on a regular basis. However, there are times when they have problems with other gorillas or even various types of wild cats. It seems that these instances continue to increase due to the habitat for all animals out there getting smaller. That means they are more likely to run into each other than before. It also means that they may be competing for food as well.

Generally the wild cats know that they aren’t going to be a match for the strength of the gorillas. Still, that wont’ stop them from snatching a young one that has wondered too far from its mother or one that is too sick to fight. Leopards seem to be very bold when it comes to trying to get a meal that consists of a young gorilla.

In some lowland areas including swamps, there are issues with crocodiles and gorillas. While they usually aren’t able to kill them, they can definitely cause some serious injuries that the gorilla isn’t able to recover from. Sometimes these crocodiles can successfully take down a weak gorilla though.

The dominant male of the troop is responsible for protecting the troop. He will do so as aggressively as he needs to, even it if results in his own death. The other males in the troop will also fight to protect the rest of the troop. The females will protect the young when there are dangers in place.

Amazingly enough, gorillas will use weapons that they make against predators. They can sharpen sticks with their teeth and they will use them to fight with. They are also known to throw heavy rocks at predators in an attempt to get them to run away. These abilities are very interesting to researchers as this is part of their learned behaviors and certainly not the result of the instinct to survive.

Even though gorillas don’t have natural predators they continue to have huge problems with humans. They are killed in large numbers to provide meat for villagers. They also end up being captured in nets and traps that are placed for other types of animals out there. The trophy hunting of large gorillas is a type of thrill that continues for many even though it is deemed illegal in most areas.

Sometimes hunters will destroy entire troops of gorillas. They do this in an effort to be able to capture the young. They can sell these smaller gorillas to zoos and even to various research labs that want to see how certain things affect gorillas due to how closely their DNA is to that of humans.

Should you come into contact with a gorilla, chances are that it won’t attack you. Many people that live in Africa have stories of coming face to face with them. If you are very still they won’t feel threatened by you to attack. It is also never a good idea to make direct eye contact with a gorilla. This can be viewed by them as a sign of aggression on your part.