Could an Unarmed Human Beat a Gorilla?

Could an unarmed human beat a gorilla? While gorilla attacks on humans are rare, they do happen. These rare events are generally the result of human provocation, like being overtly aggressive or doing something that the gorilla interprets as being aggressive. While a human armed with the right weapons can take down the primate, would an unarmed human survive a fight with a gorilla?

Read on to learn what methods each creature uses to attack when they lack weapons, and which primate would survive such an interaction!

Comparing an Unarmed Human and a Gorilla

What Are Key Differences Between an Unarmed Human and a Gorilla?

The most pronounced differences between an unarmed human and a gorilla are related to strength, size, speed, offensive power, and predatory behavior.

Gorillas, though typically shorter in stature, can weigh up to 300 percent more than humans.

Incredibly strong in comparison to their human cousins, gorillas have the ability to lift 10 times their body weight, whereas humans can lift only the equivalent of their body weight with their arms, or 1.5 times that amount when performing squats.

Achieving speeds of up to 25 miles per hour, for short distances, gorillas are much faster than their human counterparts, whose top speed is 8 mph.

In terms of offensive power, humans are at a complete disadvantage, lacking the strength and unmitigated power of the gorilla.

Humans, however, have the edge when factoring in predatory behavior, as gorillas are gentle giants who will only attack when feeling threatened or provoked.

These differences will greatly impact the fight, but we need to get more information before we declare a winner.

Unarmed Human vs Gorilla: Size

The average gorilla is larger than a human being. Gorillas weigh between 220 and 440 pounds on average, and they can stand anywhere from 4 to 5.1 feet tall. Humans weigh about 130 to 199 pounds on average, and they stand between 5 feet 3 inches and 5 feet 9 inches on average.

Gorillas have a size advantage in this fight.

Unarmed Human vs Gorilla: Speed

The fastest human being on record, reached a speed of 27.5 mph for a short distance, however, the average person cannot move nearly that quickly. Even the most physically fit humans top out at speeds of between 6.5 and 8 mph. Gorillas are much faster, reaching speeds of 25 mph using knucklewalking. They can reach their top speed quickly, too.

Gorillas have a speed advantage over human beings.

Unarmed Human vs Gorilla: Defenses

The defenses of an unarmed human are no match for those of a gorilla. The human body is quite fragile, and barring any sort of weapon to fend off a larger assailant, humans must rely on their wits to elude a confrontation in which they would be risking life and limb. On the other hand, gorillas have larger bodies that are thick, muscled, and built for power. They can absorb blunt damage and continue fighting. Some gorillas have taken damage from spears, slashing blades, and even bullets, and have still been able to keep fighting.

Gorillas have superior defenses compared to humans.

Unarmed Human vs Gorilla: Offensive Capabilities

An unarmed human is not helpless, but they’re not in a good position. The offensive power of human beings comes from their intellect and ability to make weapons. In this fight, they’re severely disadvantaged by their lack of access to weapons.

Humans can punch, kick, and grapple. They can only bite with a force of between 120 and 160 PSI, and human teeth are too small and blunt to be a threat to a gorilla.  

Compared to many animals, humans are not that strong, at least when considering strength relative to body weight. Though a physically fit human is capable of lifting the equivalent of their body weight, that is nothing compared to the strength of the gorilla.

Gorillas are unfathomably strong, with some capable of lifting as much as 1,800 pounds. Their 1,300 PSI bite is practically 10 times stronger than a human’s, and their 2-inch fangs can rip apart flesh and puncture skulls.

Gorillas have a significant offensive advantage in this battle!

Unarmed Human vs Gorilla: Predatory Behavior

Humans tend to attack using a variety of predatory methods. They will pursue prey until it’s too tired to fight back. They may also ambush their prey and try to kill it with a quick strike.

Gorillas don’t have a prey drive since they are primarily herbivorous. They prefer to eat plants and some insects rather than hunt down animals. When they confront most new creatures, including humans, they’re more curious than anything else. Their capacity for terrifying attacks doesn’t come to the forefront unless the animal triggers it first.  

Humans have an advantage in predatory behaviors.

Would an Unarmed Human Beat a Gorilla in a Fight?

No, an unarmed human being could not beat a gorilla in a fight. Simply put, gorillas are far too strong for human beings to overcome. If the human sees the gorilla first, the best the human could hope for is to find a nearby place to hide.

When threatened, gorillas have viciously thrashed and mauled humans. They used a combination of beating, bites, and dragging in these attacks, one of which has resulted in death for the human.

Gorillas are certainly capable of killing a human, and it would be a brutal, bloody affair. Not that it needs to be said, but if the opportunity ever presents itself, do not ever try to attack a gorilla or any other primate. Even the strongest human beings have no chance against these animals.  

What Animal Is Capable of Taking a Gorilla Down?

The one creature the world’s largest primate has to remain on the lookout for in the wild: the leopard. Gifted with exceptional agility, the spotted feline is also incredibly powerful in spite of being somewhat slightly built compared to lions, jaguars, and tigers. On the other hand, gorillas are far heavier and capable of weighing 440 lbs compared to the leopard’s maximum weight potential of 167 lbs. They also come with 2-inch fangs, not to mention a bite force twice a lion‘s at 1,300 psi and over four times a leopard’s at 310 psi.

However, leopards come with excellent offensive capabilities of their own in the form of fangs the same length as gorillas’, as well as paws tipped with 1-inch claws. They also have exceptional night vision, keen hearing, an acute sense of smell, and incredible agility. And thanks to their rosette-covered coat, they are also capable of blending into their surroundings. These qualities are essential to enabling them to strike unseen and take full advantage of the element of surprise, and to battle effectively at any time of the day.

There is also the fact that leopards are actually considered the strongest felines of all, relative to their weight, and are capable of dragging prey which is three times their size. A leopard would typically pounce on an unsuspecting primate, lock its jaws onto its neck, and deliver a crushingly deadly bite. An effective method that would enable it to earn a meal unscathed if all goes according to plan.

What Wild Animals Can a Human Defeat Barehanded?

We’ve ruled out the gorilla as a foe a human could take on successfully. But what wild animals could a human triumph over in hand-to-hand (or paw) combat? People don’t like to purposely put themselves in harm’s way, as our instinct, just like wild animals, is survival. While gladiators put themselves in jeopardy by battling wild animals, we modern-day folks can only imagine what animals we think we could beat out.

An interesting poll was taken of Americans by YouGov asking them what animals they believed they could beat in a fight. The results were as follows:

• Rat – 72%
• House Cat – 69%
• Goose – 71%
• Medium-Sized Dog – 49%
• Eagle – 30%
• Large Dog – 23%
• Chimpanzee – 17%
• King Cobra – 15%
• Kangaroo – 14%
• Wolf – 12%
• Crocodile – 9%
• Gorilla – 8%
• Elephant – 8%
• Lion – 8%
• Grizzly Bear – 6%

As you can see, gorillas are low on the list, with the lowest being grizzly bears. The number one animal most Americans think they can defeat in a fight is a rat! Ha! “House cat” is an interesting label, as it leaves out feral cats. Those poor kitties!

While people, especially men, enjoy imagining what wild animals they could kill barehanded, we’d like to give props to Travis Kaufman, a Colorado jogger who was attacked by a mountain lion while jogging and actually killed the animal with his bare hands! The attack happened in 2019, and his battle made national news. We now know that it is possible for a human to kill a mountain lion with his bare hands. Amazing!