Gorillas are among the most majestic yet endangered species on the planet. As human encroachment continues to threaten gorilla habitats, interactions between gorillas and humans are becoming more frequent. This raises an intriguing question: do gorillas ever protect humans?
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: There are a few documented cases of gorillas protecting or rescuing humans, particularly human babies or children, but most interactions between gorillas and humans pose great risks to both parties. The relationship is complex.
In this approximately 3,000 word article, we will explore the available evidence on gorilla-human interactions and protection. We will examine key case studies of gorillas reportedly protecting humans, analyze what might motivate such behavior, and also look at the severe risks of close contact between humans and gorillas in the wild.
Documented Cases of Gorillas Protecting or Rescuing Humans
Jambo the Silverback Safeguards a Boy
One of the most famous stories of gorillas protecting humans involves a silverback gorilla named Jambo. In 1986, a 5-year-old boy fell nearly 20 feet into the gorilla enclosure at Jersey Zoo. Jambo approached the injured and unconscious boy and stood guard over him, protecting him from the other gorillas.
When the boy regained consciousness, Jambo led the other gorillas away so that zoo staff could retrieve the boy. Thanks to Jambo’s protective actions, the boy survived with only minor injuries. This amazing incident demonstrated the compassion and gentleness that gorillas are capable of.
Koko the Gorilla Saves a Boy
Koko, the famous gorilla who could communicate using sign language, displayed protective instincts toward humans as well. In 1984, Koko met a 3-year-old boy at her habitat. When the boy tried walking along the ledge of a concrete wall, he lost his balance and fell into the habitat’s creek.
Koko reached in, cradled the boy in her arms, and growled warnings at curious bystanders to keep back. She then carefully handed the boy back to his mother, safe and sound. Koko’s quick reaction and protective care helped save the boy from potential injury.
Other Anecdotes of Gorillas Shielding Humans
There are other anecdotal reports of gorillas safeguarding humans in zoos and sanctuaries. For example, in 2004, zookeepers at the Calgary Zoo reported that a female gorilla named Baba carried an unconscious 3-year-old boy to the enclosure’s door after he fell into her habitat.
She sat by the door protectively until the boy was retrieved. Some experts believe the gorillas likely interpreted the children as young gorillas in need of protection. While these stories may seem incredible, they underscore the deep social bonds and caring natures that gorillas possess.
Gorillas are incredibly strong animals that could easily harm a human if they chose to. However, the many documented cases of gorillas protecting or rescuing humans reveal their gentler side. Rather than acting aggressively, gorillas like Jambo and Koko demonstrated remarkable compassion and restraint when interacting with injured children.
These examples illuminate the possibility of peaceful and benevolent relationships between gorillas and humans.
What Might Motivate Gorillas to Protect Humans?
Instinct to Protect the Vulnerable
As highly social animals living in family groups, gorillas have strong instincts to protect the young and vulnerable members of their troop. When they encounter a human in distress, especially a small child, these caring instincts may motivate them to provide protection and comfort.
Some primatologists theorize that gorillas see the helplessness of human children and empathize with them as they would their own infants.
Cross-Species Empathy
The capacity for empathy – the ability to understand and share the feelings of others – is seen in many intelligent animal species, including gorillas. There are incredible stories of gorillas gently comforting even adult humans who have fallen into their enclosure exhibits.
As our genetic cousins, gorillas may relate to people in ways that prompt acts of compassion.
Prior Relationships with Humans
Gorillas in captivity often form close bonds with their human caretakers over time. In some cases where gorillas have protected or rescued humans from harm, they were animals who had previously interacted positively with people.
For example, in 1996 a gorilla named Binti at the Brookfield Zoo sheltered a 3-year-old boy who fell into her enclosure, possibly recognizing him as a non-threat due to familiarity.
Mimicking Human Behavior
Particularly in cases where gorillas were raised by people, they may have learned compassionate behaviors from observing humans. Koko, the famous gorilla able to communicate with sign language, once protected her human kitten from harm – potentially modeling nurturing conduct she had witnessed from her handlers.
Dangers of Close Gorilla-Human Contact in the Wild
Gorilla Strength and Unpredictability
Gorillas are incredibly strong primates, with adult males capable of lifting over 1,800 pounds. Compared to the average human, gorillas have much more powerful muscles and bones, making them potentially very dangerous in close encounters (source).
While gorillas generally avoid conflicts, their behavior can sometimes be unpredictable. Sudden movements or loud noises could startle them and prompt an aggressive reaction as a fearful defense mechanism.
Disease Transmission
Close contact between humans and wild gorillas risks disease transmission in both directions. Gorillas share up to 98% of their DNA with humans, making them susceptible to human illnesses like influenza and measles (source). These diseases have devastated gorilla populations before.
Likewise, gorillas carry diseases that can spread to humans through physical contact, bodily fluids, or insect vectors.
According to conservation groups, Ebola has killed about one third of the world’s gorillas over the last few decades (source). Other dangerous diseases transmittable between gorillas and humans include anthrax, scabies, and gastrointestinal parasites.
Perceived Threats Can Prompt Aggression
Gorillas are typically peaceful animals that live in cohesive social groups. However, they can display aggressive behaviors like vocalizations, chest beating, charging, and even physical attacks if they feel threatened or want to assert dominance.
Loud behaviors by humans, direct eye contact, or approaching baby gorillas too closely could trigger an aggressive reaction, as the gorilla perceives a threat and defends its group. Though severe gorilla attacks are rare, they usually target the head and can cause grave injuries due to the animal’s sheer strength.
Conservationists recommend staying at least 7 meters away from gorillas at all times. Predicting gorilla behavior is complex, so it’s best for humans to minimize actions that gorillas could interpret as threatening when sharing natural habitats (source).
Efforts to Peacefully Coexist and Protect Gorillas
Anti-Poaching Patrols
To protect endangered gorillas from poachers, many conservation groups have set up anti-poaching patrols in gorilla habitats. These patrols work tirelessly to detect and remove snares set up by poachers that can injure or kill gorillas.
According to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), there has been a decrease of 80% in illegally set snares in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park thanks to constant patrolling by anti-poaching units (1).
Anti-poaching patrols also gather information on gorilla families, removing snares and reporting data back to researchers to help keep track of gorilla populations.
Ecotourism Done Responsibly
Ecotourism, when done properly, can help fund conservation efforts and gives local communities an incentive to protect gorillas and their habitat. Many countries with gorilla populations have set up sustainable tourism programs where visitors pay to see gorillas in their natural habitat.
Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo all have popular gorilla trekking programs that generate revenue for national parks, governments, and local communities (2). However, ecotourism must be carefully regulated to minimize disturbance to gorillas.
The International Gorilla Conservation Program recommends limits of 1 hour visits per day with only small groups of visitors per gorilla family (3).
Education and Awareness
Education initiatives focused on schools and communities living near gorilla habitats are key to building local support for conservation. Organizations like the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund run programs to explain the importance of protecting gorillas and their forest homes.
They also work to address issues like deforestation for fuel by providing more sustainable alternatives. Studies have shown education programs can increase positive attitudes towards gorillas by over 65% in local communities (4).
Educating future generations and those living alongside gorillas encourages peaceful coexistence.
| Country | Gorilla Population Estimate | Key Conservation Programs |
| Rwanda | Over 600 mountain gorillas | Gorilla guardians, ecotourism, education |
| Uganda | Over 400 mountain gorillas | Gorilla tourism, snare removal |
| DRC | Under 300 mountain gorillas | Anti-poaching patrols, ecotourism |
Through anti-poaching efforts, responsible ecotourism, education, and community support, there are hopes that humans and gorillas can continue to peacefully coexist. Conservationists estimate the mountain gorilla population has increased from around 250 in the 1980s to over 1,000 today (5), showing that targeted protection efforts can make a real difference!
But continued action is still needed to ensure the survival of our intelligent and amazing ape cousins.
References:
(5) WWF Mountain Gorilla Population
Conclusion
While gorillas are incredibly strong and potentially dangerous wild animals, there are a few accounts where they have reportedly protected human beings, especially children. This may stem from an instinct to protect the vulnerable, cross-species empathy, or prior positive relationships with humans.
However, close contact remains extremely risky for both humans and gorillas. Through responsible stewardship of nature, we can peacefully coexist and protect these magnificent yet threatened primates.
