What to do if a gorilla charges on you?: Mountain gorillas are one of the most sought-for animals on earth, the gorillas are the largest primate species living in groups. They are known for being peaceful and calm that is why they are known as Gentle Giants, the gorillas have a charming character that makes it interesting to have a face-to-face encounter with them in their natural habitat.
Mountain gorillas share 98% human DNA meaning they share more characteristics with humans, the gorilla visited by travelers are habituated. They all undergo a gorilla habituation experience which takes about 2 to 3 years, this is intended to make them used to human presence and less hostile to their interaction.
Mountain gorillas live in gorilla groups which are under the leadership of a dominant silverback and they will do anything to defend and protect his family from any cause of threat that leads to harm to his family that is why travelers are advised to follow the instructions given to them by the guide for the safety of the tourists as well as the gorillas.
What to Do If the Gorilla Charges on you?
So far, there are few cases of gorilla attacking visitors during gorilla trekking safari experience in the forest. When you have followed the rules and regulations for gorilla trekking as passed on to you by the rangers during briefing. These include keeping your voices low while in the forest, avoid feeding the gorillas and eating in their presence, avoid direct contact with the gorillas, avoid direct flash lights from the camera, not raising arms in front of the charged gorillas, keeping a distance of 7 meters feet away from the gorillas, do not wonder in the forest at wee hours, stay in your groups of 8 and not wonder alone in the forest. When you follow all these instructions, you will surely have a successful gorilla trekking and the gorillas will not disturb or attack any of you in the forest.
Naturally, mountain gorillas are strong primates and the silverback – the dominant leader of each gorilla family will do anything to defend and protect his family from any cause of threat that may cause harm to his gorilla family. Therefore, in case the gorilla charges at you, visitors taking part in gorilla trekking are advised to follow the instructions given to them or listen to the instructions from your guide who will then direct you on what to do in order to safe guard yourself.
Here is what to do if the gorilla charges on you
Walk away steadily – when the gorilla charges, you are not supposed to run as it will run after you and will attack you, instead you are advised to walk away from the gorilla trekking on step after the other without making any sudden movement to create the distance between you and the gorilla.
The gorilla will cool down and walk away from you, you can even falls down or keep relaxed or looking up at trees to show that you are defeated and you do not want to attack him.
Crouch down – when a gorilla charges, it is advisable to be calm down, keep quiet and unthreatened. You can even bend down to show respect and unwillingness to attack the gorillas, you can lower yourself on the ground making yourself smaller than the silver. This is to show that you not a challenger and you mean no harm so it will cool down and will not attack you.
Follow the instructions from your guide – to be on a safer side, you need to follow all the instructions given to you by the rangers preciously, before heading to the forests to look for mountain gorillas. All travelers are briefed at the starting point (park’s headquarters), you will be reminded of the dos and the don’ts of gorillas while you are with the gorillas. You will be led by an armed ranger guide since they spend number of times visiting the gorillas so they are well aware of the moods and when the gorillas are irritated. Therefore, the guide will direct/instruct you on how to behave in case the gorillas become wild in the presence of the visitors and in this case, the guide will instruct you on what to do so all you need to do. if you do not know what to do, ask your guide and will instruct you throughout the process.
Never look directly in to the eye of the gorillas – in case the gorilla charges, restrain from looking directly into their eyes. If you do, this shows that you are ready to challenge the gorilla therefore, these will force the gorillas to attach you as well as of defending its self. Rather pretend not to show any interest in them and mind your own work and avoid direct contact with the gorillas it will walk away from you.
Show your teeth and shout back – in case you are very close to the gorilla with no chance of steeping back, you can defend yourself showing the gorilla your teeth and shouting back to the charged gorilla is away you can defend yourself and even thumping your chest just like gorillas do when they have charged. When you shout, the gorilla gets to feel scared and will walk thinking that you are another wild gorilla.
Keep a distance during gorilla trekking – visitors are advised to keep a distance of 7 meters feet away from the gorillas, though these gorillas are habituated. They are still wild and they can retaliate when they feel threatened or when you touch them, under these circumstances they may be forced to attach you as away of defending themselves.
Sometime, you can pretend to be an ape – in case of a gorilla charges and you have tried all possible options and nothing seems to be working, be brave and act like another ape yourself. By coming towards the charged gorilla, you can start plucking leaves, breaking stems, chewing vegetation, napping on the ground to show the gorilla that you are aggressive and hostile too, it will get scared and run away from you.