Gorillas and tigers are two very tough animals that inspire awe in those who see them in the wild. Both animals are easily identifiable and terribly dangerous to those that get on their bad side. With two such powerful creatures, we can’t help but wonder what would happen if these two animals got into a fight. Unfortunately, a gorilla vs. tiger fight cannot happen in real life unless they escaped their enclosures at a zoo!
We can use the available knowledge about these animals to give us insight into how a fight would play out. Take a look at our multi-point comparison of a tiger and a gorilla to see what would happen in a battle.
Comparing a Gorilla and a Tiger
| Gorilla | Tiger | |
| Size | Weight: 220–440 pounds Height: 4.4-5.1 feet Length: 4-5 feet | Weight: 500-660 pounds Height: 3-4 feet at the shoulder Length 8–12.5 feet |
| Speed and Movement Type | -25 mph -Can move quickly with knucklewalking | 30-40 mph – Galloping run – 20 – 25 foot leap |
| Bite Power and Teeth | -1,300 psi bite power -32 teeth including 2-inch fangs | 1000 psi bite power – 30 teeth total – 3-inch teeth |
| Senses | -Human-like sense of sight -Good sense of smell -Human-like sense of hearing | – Profound sense of hearing helps tigers identify prey – Binocular vision is similar to humans but much better at night. – Decent sense of smell is much less effective than a dog’s. |
| Defenses | – Threat display – Speed | – Massive size – Powerful roar – Striped fur camouflage helps tigers blend into their surroundings. |
| Offensive Capabilities | -Open-handed strikes (can’t make true fists) -Biting | – 4-inch claws – Powerful bite – Strong jaws that allow tigers to clamp down and suffocate prey – Tremendous muscle strength that helps them overwhelm prey |
| Predatory Behavior | – Opportunistic predator as an omnivore | – Ambush predator – Stalks and attacks in favorable conditions – Seeks to clamp on prey’s neck to deliver a fatal bite. |
The Key Factors in a Fight Between a Gorilla and a Tiger
Gorillas are intelligent creatures, but their
fight with a tiger
comes down to brawn.
©iStock.com/SooniosPro
Deciding the winner of a battle between a gorilla and a tiger requires focusing on a few important factors rather than an examination of every possible data point. We have established six points of data that will provide an overview of the fighters’ most important qualities: physical elements and combat elements. By examining each, we can determine the winner.
Physical Features of a Gorilla and a Tiger
Tigers can weigh 600 pounds or more, and gorillas weigh over 400 pounds.
©iStock.com/Ondrej Prosicky
The battle between a gorilla and a tiger has the potential to be a fierce fight. We are going to examine five points of data concerning their physical features, and we will assign advantages to each. See which creature has the most advantages for the physical elements of a fight.
Gorilla vs. Tiger: Size
Gorillas are very large creatures, weighing up to 400 pounds and standing about 5 feet tall. Tigers are shorter than gorillas, standing about 4 feet tall at the shoulder. However, they weigh about 600 pounds and measure up to 12 feet in length.
A contest of the largest gorilla ever vs. the largest tiger ever is surprisingly close! The largest gorilla was in captivity and weighed 860 pounds while the largest captive tiger weighed 932 pounds. Close, but the tiger once again weighs more.
Tigers are larger than gorillas, so they get the advantage.
Gorilla vs. Tiger: Speed and Movement
A gorilla can swiftly move along the ground at 25mph by using a swift knucklewalking method that leaves them somewhat vulnerable. Tigers use a galloping run that hits speeds of 40mph, and they can leap over 20 feet!
Tigers are faster and have better movement than gorillas.
Gorilla vs. Tiger: Bite Power and Teeth
Both gorillas and tigers use their bite power and teeth as their primary source of an attack. Gorillas have a very powerful bite, up to 1,300 psi. They also have 2-inch fangs. Tigers have a bite power of 1,000 psi, and they have 3-inch teeth.
Without any other context, gorillas have a stronger bite power, but tigers have better teeth.
Gorillas and tigers tie in this section.
Gorilla vs. Tiger: Senses
Tigers are incredible hunters that have amazing hearing, great night vision, and smell that is somewhat less effective than a dog’s sense of smell. Gorillas only have human-like senses that are not nearly as strong as a tiger’s.
Tigers get the advantage in terms of senses.
Gorilla vs. Tiger: Physical Defenses
Tigers rely on their size, speed, and natural camouflage to avoid enemies. Gorillas utilize their threat display and speed to ward off predators.
Tigers have far more effective physical defenses than gorillas, so they get the advantage here.
Combat Skills of a Gorilla and a Tiger
Gorillas and tigers fight with their teeth.
©Jurgen Vogt/Shutterstock.com
In combat, gorillas will often charge their foes to scare them and get them to back down. When a battle is inevitable, they will use their vast strength to grab and pull limbs, possibly breaking them.
Gorillas will also grab other vital areas, such as the genitals, and use that to harm their enemies. They will also bite their enemies, driving their powerful teeth into the vital areas of their foes. They’re very strong and dangerous.
Tigers are ambush predators. They will stalk and wait until their foe is vulnerable and then attack them when the time is right. They will use their weight and powerful legs to pin an enemy and then fatally maul and bite them in vital areas until they’re dead. Often, they’ll land a single attack at the start of the ambush that kills their prey.
What Are the Key Differences Between a Gorilla and a Tiger?
Tigers are heavier and larger than gorillas, but gorillas are smarter and possibly stronger.
©Jeff W. Jarrett/Shutterstock.com
Tigers are larger and heavier than gorillas. Gorillas weigh over 400 pounds and tigers weigh over 600 pounds, and tigers are longer but shorter than gorillas. Tigers live in South-East Asia while gorillas are located in Africa.
Gorillas and tigers are both quadrupedal, but gorillas often stand on their legs and use their arms for balance and to spring forward. Tigers simply use a galloping gait similar to other felines. These are some of the most pronounced differences between these creatures.
Who Would Win in a Fight Between a Gorilla and a Tiger?
A tiger would beat a
gorilla in a fight using stealth or brute strength
.
©Martin Mecnarowski/Shutterstock.com
A tiger would kill a gorilla in a fight. If a tiger managed to ambush a gorilla, the tiger would immediately kill it. Although the gorilla is strong, the fact is that it could not stop 600 pounds of charging muscle and teeth. Gorillas lack the sensory capabilities to notice a stalking tiger before it launches its fatal attack.
If the two creatures met on an open field, the tiger would still have the advantage in the fight. The tiger would charge at the gorilla and bowl it over with its vast size and power, mauling the gorilla badly. The only way that the gorilla could fight back would be if it grabbed a sensitive area and broke it with raw strength.
The chances of that happening are very low, though. A likely outcome would be the tiger and gorilla frantically attacking each other, with the tiger coming away the victor but suffering a few deep bites from the gorilla.
The bottom line is the tiger wins the fight.
Could Another Animal Take Down a Tiger?
Tigers are skilled hunters with a proven ambush attack plan – but how would they do against a brawling brute even more vicious than a gorilla? Could a great Siberian tiger defeat the meanest, biggest bear on the planet? Who would prevail in an epic showdown between a tiger and a polar bear?
When we consider the size factor – polar bears are the winners – hands down. Male polar bears can grow up to nearly 10 feet in length and weigh up to 1,500 pounds. Some have actually reached 2,000 pounds! A fully-grown male Siberian tiger can reach lengths of 10 feet and weigh nearly 900 pounds – not too shabby – but is it enough?
Bite force could determine the winner – and both animals can certainly deliver. Polar bears can crack a whale’s skull with over 1,200 psi of force per bite. The Siberian tiger is competitive in this category with the most powerful bite of any of the big cats at 1,050 psi. So far, this battle is too close to call.
These two carnivores both sport powerful jaws full of razor-sharp teeth designed to rip and tear flesh – but what kind of flesh? Polar bears’ teeth have evolved to bite through the thick blubber and fat on seals and whales. The tiger’s mouth contains fewer teeth – but its long fangs make the bear’s teeth look downright stubby. A polar bear’s bite inflicts more points of impact – but a tiger cuts deeper.
If a Siberian tiger ambushed a female polar bear – it would likely win. But if two big males went head to head in battle – the polar bear would just beat the tiger to death. Their superior size, stronger bite force, and unbelievable stamina would wear the tiger down until two big claw swipes could put the animal on its back – to be finished with a great big bite. This bloody battle would be a tough victory for the bear.
Gorilla vs Unarmed Human: Who Would Win in That Fight?
If an unarmed human were to encounter a gorilla in the wild and be forced into battle, he’d likely lose.
©reliacalinescu/Shutterstock.com
How likely would it be for a human to defeat a gorilla if an attack occurred? You’d need to compare the two on multiple levels. For instance, the average weight of a human is 130-199 lbs, while a gorilla’s average weight is 220-440 lbs. In height, a human stands taller at 5’3” to 5’9” vs a gorilla at 4.4 to 5.1 feet tall.
Humans can run at a top speed of 27.5 mph for a short distance, while gorillas can run 25 mph, but are more agile through their knucklewalking. In combat, humans can deliver kicks, punches, strangleholds, and bites comparable to canine force. However, gorillas can lift up to 1,800 lbs, deliver stronger open-handed punches, and deliver terrible bites with a bite force of 1,300 PSI. Their sharp fangs can tear flesh.
Humans would have an edge with intelligence, maneuvering skills, and a keen sense of sight and hearing, while gorillas could be scared away with tactics of intimidation, but have a keen sense of smell and tough skin that’s hard to puncture. Given these comparisons, it’s safe to say that a gorilla could overpower and kill a human if it really wanted to.
The photo featured at the top of this post is © Charlie Unggay/Shutterstock.com
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