# 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:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2006, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bear-vs-gorilla-who-wins/356951/21 "2006-05-17T01:29:34Z")
> [@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. It would need to be a grove of something like bowling ball trees - in order for the gorilla to have an adequate supply of heavy projectiles. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2006, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bear-vs-gorilla-who-wins/356951/22 "2006-05-17T01:38:49Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > 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. Anvils? Pianos? What kind of trees are these, anyway? ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2006, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bear-vs-gorilla-who-wins/356951/23 "2006-05-17T01:44:09Z")
> [@Mach Tuck](#): > > 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/) That’s what it says in the OP too. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2006, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bear-vs-gorilla-who-wins/356951/24 "2006-05-17T02:27:54Z")
If you’re talking a polar bear or big grizzly, then I’d put my money on the bear, definitely. Gorillas are, if I’m not mistaken (and I may well be) mainly vegetarian and not nearly as aggressive as they’re commonly imagined to be (chimps seem to be a lot more vicious, in fact). Polar bears are mainly carnivorous and both polars and grizzlies regularly attack large prey. The gorilla’s also a lot smaller. An adult gorilla can weigh up to 200kg, while a polar bear can get up to 600 or 700kg. Adult grizzlies are a little smaller, but still easily double even the biggest gorillas. Even with the extra weight, a grizzly is still a very fast runner, and can probably outrun a gorilla without much trouble. If there are no handy trees to hide in, the ape’s got nowhere to go. I think Koko’s only hope is to distract the bear by tossing her kitten at it and then signing like crazy for an air strike. ---
**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, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bear-vs-gorilla-who-wins/356951/25 "2006-05-17T02:30:03Z")
> [@Blake](#): > > That’s what it says in the OP too. 😉 Busted. :smack: That’s what I get for just reading the subject line… ---
**Author:** ![cerberus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cerberus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cerberus)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2006, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bear-vs-gorilla-who-wins/356951/26 "2006-05-17T03:18:35Z")
Depends on the bear. Kodiac Island Bears always win. And I’d favor the bear if her cubs are nearby. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2006, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bear-vs-gorilla-who-wins/356951/27 "2006-05-17T03:20:26Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > It would need to be a grove of something like bowling ball trees - in order for the gorilla to have an adequate supply of heavy projectiles. Nah, he just needs barrels. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2006, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bear-vs-gorilla-who-wins/356951/28 "2006-05-17T03:40:00Z")
> [@Der Trihs](#): > > Problem is, the bigger ones don’t climb trees; only small females and adolescents. [Cite](http://www.bartleby.com/65/go/gorilla.html) The larger bears may not climb trees, but they don’t have to; they just get them to shaking back-and-forth until they uproot and topple over. Brother Bear says: “Tim-berrrrrrr! Take _that_, monkey-boy!” ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2006, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bear-vs-gorilla-who-wins/356951/29 "2006-05-17T06:45:49Z")
Lions kill hyenas bears kill monkeys people kill people try [Peace.org](http://www.peace.org). ---
**Author:** ![BadBadger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@BadBadger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BadBadger)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2006, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bear-vs-gorilla-who-wins/356951/30 "2006-05-17T07:50:09Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > Depends. Is the bear a grizzly/polar bear hybrid? If so, all bets are off. I don’t see why. That there bear would’ve been shot dead at first sight anyway, so the gorrilla is bound to win. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2006, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bear-vs-gorilla-who-wins/356951/31 "2006-05-17T13:02:28Z")
Would a chimpanzee have a better chance? Daniel ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2006, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bear-vs-gorilla-who-wins/356951/32 "2006-05-17T13:47:37Z")
> [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#): > > Would a chimpanzee have a better chance? > > Daniel A better chance at not being killed, but not of winning. (vs. Grizzly or Polar) ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2006, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bear-vs-gorilla-who-wins/356951/33 "2006-05-17T14:00:48Z")
> [@Sublight](#): > > The gorilla’s also a lot smaller. An adult gorilla can weigh up to 200kg, while a polar bear can get up to 600 or 700kg. Adult grizzlies are a little smaller, but still easily double even the biggest gorillas. Even with the extra weight, a grizzly is still a very fast runner, and can probably outrun a gorilla without much trouble. If there are no handy trees to hide in, the ape’s got nowhere to go. This is where I always start with these questions. You need to be freaky powerful or your opponent sadly defenseless if you’re going to win despite being half it’s size. All these animals live in the wild, with more than enough dangers to weed out the defenseless. You might get a double kill with something like a 300kg tiger vs. a 600kg bear, maybe. Hell, I wouldn’t bet on the tiger if he was matched against a 600kg buffalo, much less a bear. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2006, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bear-vs-gorilla-who-wins/356951/34 "2006-05-17T18:51:28Z")
I think that we can’t point to the relatively docile nature of a gorilla to answer the question. We’ve got to assume that both these animals are pissed at each other. Crap, how agile is a bear? I’m aware they’re very fast and very strong, and extremely badass, but does it have the ability to stick a few jabs like I’d assume the gorila could do? Besides, elephant whoops every animal’s ass. My buddy and I had this debate. I wouldn’t be a BIT surprised if this thread somehow got back to him, either. He said a bear would beat any animal, then I posed the elephant. He’s been firmly entrenched in the bear bandwagon, but it’s not even a contest to me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bear-vs-gorilla-who-wins/356951.md?page=1)