Heart-Pumping Video Shows a King Kong-Sized Gorilla Coming Within Inches of a Hiking Group

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In what must have been an equally terrifying and thrilling encounter, tourists in Rwanda get up close and personal with a massive silverback mountain gorilla. The tourists manage to keep their cool, and the curious gorilla passes by peacefully without any conflict. You can watch the scene unfold in the video above posted by YouTube user, John James Lamb.

Is it normal for mountain gorillas to approach humans? And what should you do if you ever find yourself in the place of the tourists in the video? Read on to find out the details on these intelligent and fascinating primates.

Where Can You Encounter Mountain Gorillas?

The gorilla seen in the above video is a silverback mountain gorilla. Mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) are a subspecies of the eastern gorilla. The older males of the species develop a silver streak of hair across their backs and are known as silverbacks.

There are over 1,000 mountain gorillas left in the world, with estimates of around 1,063 and they currently live in the forests of the volcanic range which includes Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The video above was filmed in Rwanda. Despite their formidable appearance, mountain gorillas are mostly peaceful and eat a vegetarian diet of items such as shoots, fruit, roots, and wild celery.

One place to get to see mountain gorillas in the wild is in Volcanoes National Park in northwest Rwanda. Here, 12 troops of gorilla families roam the forests. A small number of permits are issued each day to tourist groups wanting to view the gorillas, which is done through tour guides and licensed operators.

What is the Social Structure of a Gorilla Troop?

We know the gorilla in the video is a mature male because of the silver hair on his back. Given his bravery in checking out the humans, this silverback is likely the dominant male of his troop. Gorillas live in well-structured social groups of around 30 individuals. They are led by an older dominant male, known as a silverback. The dominant male is not the only male in the troop, and the groups often include a few younger males, some females, and their offspring.

The male leads the group in daily activities, such as where they will forage and when it’s time to nest in leaves. When the dominant male’s authority is challenged he will stand upright, throw things, pound his chest, and roar. As frightening as this might be to witness, mountain gorillas are generally peaceful and only fight when necessary.

Is It Normal Behavior for Gorillas to Approach Humans?

Because of tourism, many mountain gorillas, like the one in the video, have become familiar with humans. This gorilla didn’t seem too concerned to spot humans on his mountain trail. Despite being used to seeing humans, they are still wild animals and can be unpredictable. They are also extremely powerful and could do a lot of damage if they choose to.

What to Do if You Are Approached by a Mountain Gorilla

If you are on a tour into the mountains on the search for gorillas, you will be given careful instructions as to what to do on your trip. Be sure to follow them closely. There are some recommendations to take if you find yourself close to a gorilla on a sightseeing tour. The first thing wildlife experts recommend that you do is to crouch down. Standing upright can be viewed as a challenge. But crouching, like the people did in the video above, signals to the gorillas that you are not a threat and you mean no harm.

The other thing you can see the people in the above video did was to avoid eye contact. Looking a gorilla directly in the eye can be seen as a challenge. Next, if you find yourself too close to a gorilla, you can begin slowly backing away while you stay crouched. Don’t run or they may take this as an invitation to catch you.

Finally, this one should go without saying, but don’t mock the gorilla, make funny faces at it, or show your teeth. These are incredibly intelligent animals and they may see these behaviors as a threat.

Above all, follow your tour guide’s instructions. The rangers leading tour groups into gorilla territory are highly experienced and can keep you safe if you follow their lead.

Mountain Gorillas Are Endangered

Sadly, these amazing primates are classified as endangered by the International Union of the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Conservation efforts have helped to increase their numbers, but they are still under threat from climate change and loss of habitat.