How strong is a Gorilla? Silverback Gorilla strength
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Written by: Ezra
- Published:
- Updated: September 8, 2025
How strong is a Gorilla? | Silverback gorilla strength
Silverback gorillas are strong. They have immense body size, muscular physique with lifting ability of unto 10 size it’s body size. With average silverback gorilla being able to lift up to 1800lbs, Silverback gorillas are without any doubt the strongest primates on the earth.
When compared to humans, a gorilla charge power is unmatched. The gorilla strength and power is greatly attributed to their giant size, muscular physique and massive food they eat. Out of the two-gorilla species, the Eastern and Western gorillas. The most common gorillas are those found in Eastern Africa, where they can be found in both lowland and mountain regions.
Since the lowland gorillas are more massive in size compared to the lowland gorillas, they are always more powerful and stronger than their mountain equals.
Gorillas are surprisingly stronger than you may imagine. They have sufficient abilities to carry up to 10 times their weight. Therefore, when it comes to the question of How strong is a gorilla, even the world’s strongest human may not weigh up to half of what an average gorilla does.
A mature silverback’s strength can surpass that of over fifteen men with similar build put together, and a gorilla’s strength is not just in it’s lifting abilities. In fact, gorilla strength and power is widely dispersed through out it’s body. Their teeth protrude, the chest and their jaw muscles are strong.
With the massive body size of gorillas, an average fully grown gorilla weights depending on the gender. The average weight of a mature male silverback gorilla ranges between 300 to 500 kg, whilst the female weighs between 150 and 250 kg.
Comparing gorilla strength vs Lion’s strength
A silverback gorilla stands a head of the strongest lion because of it’s superior strength, agility and bite force, even if the lions’ claws and agility would be formidable. Just with a single bite, the king of the jungle would be no more.
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Why are silverback gorillas strong?
A gorilla’s strength is greatly influenced by its enormous body size. This explains why the male silverback gorillas are heavier and stronger than their female counterparts. A Female gorilla typically weighs 150–250 pounds, whereas males often reach 300–500 pounds or even more the wild.
Other factors contributing to the silverback gorilla strength include; massive muscle composition, genetics and bone structure giving them robust physique and giving them ability to exert immense force. This is why a gorilla can weigh ten times more than it’s own weight.
Evolutionary adaptation: Gorillas evolved in forests where knuckle-walking, climbing trees and foraging demanded massive strength and broader arms. This robust physique is a direct adaptation to fit in their hostile environment enabling them to feed, survive and defend themselves from their predators.
Also, since gorillas live in extremely colder environments, their massive size enables them to properly regulate their body temperature especially during colder days.
Another main reason contributing to the massive power of a silverback gorilla is their diet. An average gorilla eats about 34kg everyday. A gorilla diet consists majorly vegetations, fruits, leaves and small insects. This contributes effortlessly to their massive body size, power and strength.
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Where to find Gorillas?
The most exciting and safe to visit gorillas are mountain gorillas and lowland gorillas and there are just about 1,109 mountain gorillas in the whole world. Half of these mountain gorillas live in the misty jungles of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in southern Uganda.
The remaining ones are found in the northern Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, and the remaining few are found in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Virunga National Park, Africa’s oldest national park.
Where to see Silverback gorillas.
Silverback gorilla trekking may be done in Uganda’s famous Bwindi impenetrable National park or Rwanda’s famed Volcanoes National park. Both National parks offer unique trekking experiences however, it’s important to notice that the cost to track these formidable animals in their natural habitat varies by country and season; in Uganda, it is 800 USD for foreign non-residents, 700 USD for foreign residents, and 250,000 USD for East African citizens; in Rwanda, it is 1500 USD for foreign citizens and in the Democratic Republic of Congo, it is 400 USD.
Whether your dream is to sightsee mountain gorillas in Uganda, Congo or Rwanda, Nata Adventures is always able to arrange the most exciting and authentic adventure to quench your safari thirst. Get in touch and let’s arrange this together!
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