How to Survive Gorilla Attacks – Essential Safety Tips

How to Survive Gorilla Attacks – Gorillas, being similar to humans, express emotions and experience mood changes.

Sometimes, they may become violent. However, they generally display a great sense of calmness and friendliness, especially when habituated.

Nevertheless, nothing is guaranteed. People are advised on various ways to protect themselves in the event of an attack, which include:

• Walking away steadily: During observation hours , mountain gorillas sometimes feel very insecure and charge . It is at this time that game rangers advise tourist to step back and walk steadily and not run. This is because a charged gorilla can easily run after a human and cause further damages.
• Crouching down: This involves being respectful, quiet , bending down and lowering oneself to a point of being smaller than the gorilla itself which calms the gorilla down in an assurance of no need for challenge.
• Critically following gorilla trekking rules and regulations: Gorilla trekking rules and regulations are clearly stipulated to avoid attempts of mountain gorilla Attacks on tourists. This is because it provides gorilla dos and don’ts that prevent further problems with the gorillas during trekking.
• Pretending to be an ape: In case a mountain gorilla Attacks one, one can be brave and act like one of the gorillas by demonstrating similar actions like napping the ground, plucking leaves, chewing vegetation, throwing and breaking some vegetation which makes the gorilla assume non hostility and zero aggression therefore making it calm.
• Showing one’s teeth: Trekkers are advised to immediately show their teeth out to a charged gorilla and scream in case of no option of preventing an attack. This is because the gorilla assumes the trekker being another wild gorilla in case of such actions.
• Keeping distance from gorillas: Gorilla tourists are advised to maintain a distance of 7 meters after allocating the gorillas unless they approach one or touch one by themselves. This is because they can easily charge in fear of potential danger
• Avoid looking directly into a gorilla’s eyes: Just like some humans, mountain gorillas resent being looked at directly in the eyes. Therefore , tourists are advised to avoid eye contact with a charging gorilla and instead assume zero interest in the activity which makes the gorilla chill and calm.
• Walking along with a game ranger while doing gorilla trekking: Tourists are advised to walk along with an armed game ranger to ensure their safety beyond any doubts.

Conclusively, it is much simpler to survive gorilla attacks by following rules and regulations as well as gorilla preventative measures.