# Bear VS Gorilla, who wins? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 16, 2006, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bear-vs-gorilla-who-wins/356951 "2006-05-16T08:49:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AnabolicDoberman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@AnabolicDoberman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnabolicDoberman)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bear-vs-gorilla-who-wins/356951/1 "2006-05-16T08:49:11Z")
The story about the bears killing the monkey got me thinking…what if it had been a gorilla instead of a little monkey? Gorillas are pretty damn strong but so are bears. Who would win ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bear-vs-gorilla-who-wins/356951/2 "2006-05-16T08:56:24Z")
Oh my god I wondered the exact same thing after reading the same story in the news. I have no idea who would win, but it isn’t unusual for a large bear to weigh over 1,000 pounds. ---
**Author:** ![kellner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c2a13f/32.png) [@kellner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kellner)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bear-vs-gorilla-who-wins/356951/3 "2006-05-16T09:03:39Z")
[A while ago](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=337504) most people seemed to favor the bear. ---
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bear-vs-gorilla-who-wins/356951/4 "2006-05-16T15:24:00Z")
I would run away, screaming, if that helps. ---
**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bear-vs-gorilla-who-wins/356951/5 "2006-05-16T15:30:56Z")
It may depend upon the bear. A small black bear might have a hard time, but when enraged, even they are a handful. From what I know of bears, I’d say a grizzly or polar bear would win hands down. I don’t think gorillas are all that fierce, are they? BTW, anybody know the apes’ theme song? _Gorrila My Dreams_ ---
**Author:** ![rainy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@rainy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rainy)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bear-vs-gorilla-who-wins/356951/6 "2006-05-16T15:43:49Z")
Both are incredibly strong, but I think the claws, thick hide and fur, and practice using thier bite as a killing weapon strongly favor the bear. -rainy ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bear-vs-gorilla-who-wins/356951/7 "2006-05-16T15:49:01Z")
With or without Ditka? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Controvert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bear-vs-gorilla-who-wins/356951/8 "2006-05-16T16:13:05Z")
In Magic, the strongest Bear is 4/3, but a **Gargantuan Gorilla** easily wins with 7/7 stats. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Clam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3bc359/32.png) [@Happy\_Clam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Clam)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bear-vs-gorilla-who-wins/356951/9 "2006-05-16T16:20:25Z")
> [@](#): > > In Magic, the strongest Bear is 4/3, but a Gargantuan Gorilla easily wins with 7/7 stats. Ah, but if we play _Beserk_ on that there bear (and hell, let’s agree, a bear can get pretty bloody pissed), it not only smashes the Gorilla into the dust (becoming an 8/3), but also tramples over for one point of damage! ---
**Author:** ![FlyingCowOfDoom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyingcowofdoom/32/21776_2.png) [@FlyingCowOfDoom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingCowOfDoom)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bear-vs-gorilla-who-wins/356951/10 "2006-05-16T17:32:34Z")
> [@Happy Clam](#): > > Ah, but if we play Beserk on that there bear (and hell, let’s agree, a bear can get pretty bloody pissed), it not only smashes the Gorilla into the dust (becoming an 8/3), but also tramples over for one point of damage! True, but at what cost? The bear will kill itself in the process, so that doesn’t really help answer the OP. I would suggest casting [Humble](http://www.cardkingdom.com/card_viewer.php?sid=162759626&pid=31144) on the Gorilla first. –FCOD ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bear-vs-gorilla-who-wins/356951/11 "2006-05-16T20:30:33Z")
A gorilla trained to fight bears, and in the optimum environment, would have a pretty good chance. The ape would fight by staying in the trees, going from one tree to another if the bear tries to climb up after it, and throwing big heavy things at the bear. In any circumstances short of that, the ape’s best chance of killing the bear is by giving it a bad case of indigestion. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bear-vs-gorilla-who-wins/356951/12 "2006-05-16T22:11:19Z")
This is pretty funny, seeing as I’m currently reading a satire called _Bear v. Shark_, which parodies American culture and their love affair with sports. In the future, the biggest sporting event is a tussle between a bear and a shark. Everyone in America is debating whether the bear or the shark would win. As for Bear v. Gorilla, I’m going for the gorilla. Not only does it seem more powerful (based on _King Kong_ and the like], but as a fan of _The Colbert Report_, I cannot root for a godless killing machine. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bear-vs-gorilla-who-wins/356951/13 "2006-05-16T22:27:57Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > A gorilla trained to fight bears, and in the optimum environment, would have a pretty good chance. I think I would only vote for the gorilla if it had been trained to operate a bazooka. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bear-vs-gorilla-who-wins/356951/14 "2006-05-16T22:30:36Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > I think I would only vote for the gorilla if it had been trained to operate a bazooka. Or if it was fighting a Koala Bear :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bear-vs-gorilla-who-wins/356951/15 "2006-05-16T22:34:58Z")
Since there appears to be no factually possible answer, let’s head over to IMHO. **samclem** GQ moderator ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bear-vs-gorilla-who-wins/356951/16 "2006-05-16T22:59:53Z")
Depends. Is the bear a grizzly/polar bear hybrid? If so, all bets are off. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bear-vs-gorilla-who-wins/356951/17 "2006-05-16T23:09:03Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > A gorilla trained to fight bears, and in the optimum environment, would have a pretty good chance. The ape would fight by staying in the trees, going from one tree to another if the bear tries to climb up after it, and throwing big heavy things at the bear. Problem is, the bigger ones don’t climb trees; only small females and adolescents. [Cite](http://www.bartleby.com/65/go/gorilla.html) ---
**Author:** ![samm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/858c86/32.png) [@samm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samm)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bear-vs-gorilla-who-wins/356951/18 "2006-05-16T23:22:13Z")
Could anything beat an angry bear? What about an elephant? Or rhino. I think a rhino could beat up anything. Doesn’t the Discovery Channel have a show like this where they make mechanical animal jaws and computer animations? I think I saw one that was tiger vs. … wolf? Or something like that. ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bear-vs-gorilla-who-wins/356951/19 "2006-05-16T23:56:49Z")
Yeah I remember that show, they had an episode with a salt water crocodile vs. a great white shark but I can’t remember who won. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2006, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bear-vs-gorilla-who-wins/356951/20 "2006-05-17T00:15:57Z")
How about a monkey instead of a gorilla? Turns out that was done just the other day: [Link](http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/05/16/bear.monkey.ap/) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bear-vs-gorilla-who-wins/356951.md?page=2)