What to do when a gorilla charges on you

What to do when a gorilla charges on you : Mountain gorillas are endangered wildlife species and are the largest primate species found only in Bwindi impenetrable national park and Virunga Conservation Area  comprising of Volcanoes national park in Rwanda, Virunga national park in Democratic Republic of Congo and Mgahinga Gorilla national park in Uganda.

Mountain gorillas share 98% of their DNA with human beings, mountain gorillas are peaceful and calm creatures, however they can get aggressive when irritated. Generally mountain gorillas are charming and interesting animals that is why they are among the remarkable attractions on the African continent.

Each year, Africa registers millions of tourists who visit for mountain gorilla trekking experience, this experience is governed by a set of rules and regulations and this is for the conservation of the gorillas and protection of the tourists.

Gorillas are the largest primate species living in the dense tropical forests in high altitude areas of Africa that is in three countries Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo. Mountain gorillas live in groups comprising of about 2 – 30 mmbers including silverbacks, female gorillas and juveniles, each gorilla family is lead by a dominant male silverback. The roles of the dominant Male silverback is offering  to the members from danger, looks after the females and young ones, determine the feeding time and a place to stay for the family.  Gorillas are herbivores animals feeding on plants, leaves, roots, stems, fruits among others.

Gorilla trekking is one of the popular safari activities and interesting adventures in Africa, mountain gorilla trekking as an activity starts with briefing where rules and regulations to follow on this adventure are passed on to the trekkers, you are grouped into 8, be assigned a gorilla family to trek and then hike into the thick forests of Bwindi looking for mountain gorillas. When you locate the gorillas, you are allowed to stay in their presence for only 1 hour as you witness their behavior. Mountain gorilla trekking safari takes about 30 minutes to 7 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas and where they spent the previous night.

Though mountain gorillas are calm and peaceful animals, it is important to note that they are wild animals which is why it is hard to predict their behavior during you encounter with while on a mountain gorilla trekking safari. When mountain gorillas detect danger they can charge and react by making loud grunts, hoots and buoys. The Silverback who is the leader of the group normally the leader of the group stands on 2 legs and bound its chest, when the threat persists the silverback will grasp anything and tears it down to show that he is ready to do any so as to protect his group or family from any form of harm.

Gorillas can also charge when they are fighting for a female (trying to win a female in its group or when there are two silverbacks in the group), normally silverbacks do not allow to share so they fight when one wants to break away for the family since one family cannot have 2 leaders, the fight determines the winner who will take over the family and the defeated gorilla will go away to form his new family group.

What to do if the gorilla charges

There have been a few cases of gorilla charging and attacking the visitors on a gorilla trekking experience, as trekkers, when you follow rules and regulations for gorilla trekking giving to you by rangers such as keeping your voices low while in the forest, no feeding of the gorillas , avoiding direct eye contact with the gorillas , keeping 7 meters distance between you and the gorillas , taking the flashlight off when taking pictures and not wandering in the forests among others you will have no issues with the gorillas.

However, when a gorilla charges at you, here are some of the things to do to safe guard yourself.

Walkway steadily

When mountain gorilla charges, you are not supposed to run away from the gorillas. This is because if you run, the gorilla will be tempted to attack you. Instead you are advised to walk away from the gorilla steadily taking one step after the other without making any sudden movement to create the distance between you and the gorillas. The gorilla is bound to cool down and walk away from you, you can either fall down or keep relaxed or look up at trees to show that you are defeated and you have no intentions of attacking them.

Crouch down

When gorillas charge, it is advisable to be calm, keep quiet and unthreatened, you can even bed down to show respect and unwillingness to attack them. You can lower yourself down on the group which makes you look smaller than the silverback, this shows that you are not a challenger and mean no harm to them so the silverback will cool down and not attack you.

Follow the instructions from your guide

To be on a safer side it is important to follow instructions, before you trek into the forests in search for the gorillas. You are briefed about the rules and regulations to follow, you trek into the forests is led by an armed ranger guide and since they spend a lot of time in the forests they are well aware of the moods and when they gorillas are irritated. The guide will be able to direct you on how to behave in case the gorillas become wild in the presence of the visitors.

In case a gorilla charges, the guide will instruct you on what to do so all you need to do is if you do not know what to do, it is advisable to as k your guide, he will instruct you through the process.

Never look directly into the eye of the gorillas

In case a gorilla charges, you are advised not to look directly into the eyes of the gorilla as looking directly into their eyes shows that you are ready to challenge the gorillas, this will force them to attack as a way of defending themselves.

When the gorilla charges, it is important to pretend not to show any interest in them and mind your own business.  Avoid contact with the gorillas will make them walk away.

Show your teeth and shout back

In case you are very close to the gorillas with no chance of stepping back, you can defend yourself by showing the gorilla your teeth and shouting back at the charged gorilla. You can also thump your chest just like gorillas do when they have charged, when you shout the gorillas feel scared and will walk away thinking that you are another wild gorilla.

Keep a distance

During gorilla trekking safari, trekkers are advised to keep a distance of 7 meters  feet away from the gorillas while in their nature habitat, since gorillas are wild animals visitors are not allowed to touch the them expect a gorilla can touch you. When you touch the gorillas, the feel threatened and may be forced to attack as away of defending themselves.

Pretend to be an ape

When a gorilla charges and you have tried all the possible options and nothing seems to work, be brave and act like another ape yourself. By coming towards the charged gorillas, you can start by plucking leaves, breaking stems, napping on the ground and chewing the vegetation among others to show the gorilla that you are also aggressive and hostile too. Gorillas will get scared and run away from you.