Does Gorillas Attack Humans?

Besides being gentle and calm, gorillas are wild animals that can truly be dangerous if handled carelessly or threatened. In fact, gorilla attacks on human in the wild are very rare and usually motivated by a defensive instinct.

Do gorillas fear humans?

Generally, gorillas are very shy and reserved towards people. They will attack only if they are surprised or threatened or if a person behaves in the wrong way. If the human makes an unexpected movement, the silverback male can react with horrific roaring and bluff charges.

Has anyone been attacked by a gorilla?

On 18 May 2007, Bokito jumped over the water-filled ditch that separated his enclosure in Rotterdam from the public and violently attacked a woman, dragging her around for tens of metres and inflicting bone fractures as well as more than a hundred bite wounds.