# Could a gorilla tear a human's head off? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 9, 2017, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-gorilla-tear-a-humans-head-off/793190 "2017-08-09T19:59:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2017, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-gorilla-tear-a-humans-head-off/793190/1 "2017-08-09T19:59:57Z")
I was wondering if a gorilla would be able to grab a human adult by the head and tear it off. And no, I don’t need an answer fast. Just curious, is all… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2017, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-gorilla-tear-a-humans-head-off/793190/2 "2017-08-09T20:18:02Z")
A gorilla is about 27 times more powerful than a human being, so it’s plausible. However, gorillas don’t have the temperament to rip off a person’s head. They prefer to avoid confrontation, although a pissed off gorilla could administer a severe thrashing and bite you savagely. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2017, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-gorilla-tear-a-humans-head-off/793190/3 "2017-08-09T20:38:56Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > A gorilla is about 27 times more powerful than a human being, so it’s plausible. Assuming the gorilla is sufficiently motivated, this still doesn’t indicate whether it has sufficient strength. How much force does it take to pull a human head off? You have to put a rope around someone’s neck and then decelerate them pretty severely to make that happen. How much acceleration? I’ll SWAG 10 G’s using a 200-pound man. That’s 2000 pounds of force - and that assumes the victim isn’t deliberately using all of his neck muscles to prevent the vertebral joint ligaments from rupturing first (this is analogous to performing a deadlift with, versus without, deliberately tensing your triceps and biceps to help hold your elbow joints together). Can a gorilla exert 2000 pounds? Maybe so in certain circumstances (e.g. a bench press), but how’s he going to apply that force so as to separate a human head from its body? Both arms around the victim’s neck, then pull in opposite directions? One arm each around the victim’s chest and neck? I’m doubtful it’s possible, even if the force requirement is substantially lower than I estimated. ---
**Author:** ![YamatoTwinkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/cc9497/32.png) [@YamatoTwinkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YamatoTwinkie)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2017, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-gorilla-tear-a-humans-head-off/793190/4 "2017-08-09T21:03:38Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > How much force does it take to pull a human head off? You have to put a rope around someone’s neck and then decelerate them pretty severely to make that happen. How much acceleration? I’ll SWAG 10 G’s using a 200-pound man. That’s 2000 pounds of force Some of the information from Wikipedia article for the [long-drop hanging method](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanging#Long_drop)(caution for the squeamish, article contains photos), which occasionally resulted in decapitation, indicate that the force was around 1260-1000 lbf, so I’d say 1000 lbf should be a good minimum value to start with. ---
**Author:** ![mazinger\_z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@mazinger\_z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mazinger_z)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2017, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-gorilla-tear-a-humans-head-off/793190/5 "2017-08-09T21:10:05Z")
Couldn’t the gorilla sit atop the poor soul’s shoulders and lift up with his arms along the jaw line/base of neck, while simultaneously using his back and and legs to push down/away causing separate of said head? Or, is this way too complex a maneuver for a gorilla to perform (presumably preferring to ground and pound)? ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2017, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-gorilla-tear-a-humans-head-off/793190/6 "2017-08-09T21:25:53Z")
I would say it could twist it off, certainly. And if it bit through the back of the neck first, it would be easy for him. But if the OP means to limit the question to a single straight pull upward, I doubtful. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2017, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-gorilla-tear-a-humans-head-off/793190/7 "2017-08-09T21:56:31Z")
Could a gorilla tear open an M1A2 Abrams and feast upon the goo inside? ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2017, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-gorilla-tear-a-humans-head-off/793190/8 "2017-08-09T22:19:44Z")
I’ll ask my gorilla. … … He said “maybe” and refused to explain further. Didn’t seem like a good idea to push it. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2017, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-gorilla-tear-a-humans-head-off/793190/9 "2017-08-09T22:25:10Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > I’ll ask my gorilla. > … > … > > He said “maybe” and refused to explain further. Didn’t seem like a good idea to push it. Ishmael? ---
**Author:** ![ChickenLegs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecc23a/32.png) [@ChickenLegs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChickenLegs)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2017, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-gorilla-tear-a-humans-head-off/793190/10 "2017-08-10T00:23:51Z")
Gorilla, you’re a desperado. ---
**Author:** ![SigMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@SigMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SigMan)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2017, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-gorilla-tear-a-humans-head-off/793190/11 "2017-08-10T00:33:46Z")
I know that gorillas are amazingly strong that I think they are capable of it. I don’t think they’ll rip your head off but they’ll waste you pretty quick. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2017, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-gorilla-tear-a-humans-head-off/793190/12 "2017-08-10T00:33:50Z")
I’m doubtful that someone will be able to come in with a factual response, so I’ll just suggest that with the maneuver that would probably be necessary for a gorilla to accomplish this - i.e., sitting on the shoulders and pulling - I think it’s likely that it would end up shattering the jaw before it was able to exert enough force, and thereby lose the handhold that would be necessary. That said, any tear in the flesh might provide enough of a start to eventually rip the head free, but I doubt that it would be anything like a clean slice across the throat. More likely it’d just be a significant chunk of one side of the head, and further clawing and biting would be necessary from there to get the rest. ---
**Author:** ![SCSimmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@SCSimmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCSimmons)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2017, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-gorilla-tear-a-humans-head-off/793190/13 "2017-08-11T02:11:50Z")
Grip sounds like the issue. Perhaps if the gorilla took a length of rope and looped it around the human’s neck, then pulled on it while pushing on the human’s shoulders with its feet … Of course, a gorilla with the cognitive ability to do that is not far from just inventing the headsman’s axe, or the guillotine. (Gorillotine?) ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2017, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-gorilla-tear-a-humans-head-off/793190/14 "2017-08-11T02:24:35Z")
Follow-up question: if a gorilla _ **did** _ rip off your head, would s/he then deposit feces down your neck? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2017, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-gorilla-tear-a-humans-head-off/793190/15 "2017-08-11T03:03:14Z")
Need answer fast? ---
**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2017, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-gorilla-tear-a-humans-head-off/793190/16 "2017-08-11T03:09:45Z")
Q. Where does an 800 lb gorilla deposit its feces? A. Anywhere it likes, but given a choice it likes depositing them down a human’s neck the most. THINK ABOUT IT, ZOOKEEPERS!!! ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2017, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-gorilla-tear-a-humans-head-off/793190/17 "2017-08-11T03:48:11Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > I’ll ask my gorilla. > … > … > > He said “maybe” and refused to explain further. Didn’t seem like a good idea to push it. Do not let him see the new Planet of the Apes movie!!! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![puddleglum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puddleglum/32/137_2.png) [@puddleglum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puddleglum)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2017, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-gorilla-tear-a-humans-head-off/793190/18 "2017-08-11T14:36:18Z")
> [@SCSimmons](#): > > Grip sounds like the issue. Perhaps if the gorilla took a length of rope and looped it around the human’s neck, then pulled on it while pushing on the human’s shoulders with its feet … > > Of course, a gorilla with the cognitive ability to do that is not far from just inventing the headsman’s axe, or the guillotine. > > (Gorillotine?) Since gorillas have to support their own weight when climbing trees, their grip is very powerful. A gorilla could definitely grab a human head and hold on through the decapitation process. The issue would be holding the rest of the body down so that he doesn’t just lift the person in the air. I think if the person was in a sitting position on the ground and the gorilla stood on the person’s legs, he could then tear the head off since most places I have read estimate a gorilla’s strength as 6-10 times that of a man. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2017, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-gorilla-tear-a-humans-head-off/793190/19 "2017-08-11T14:42:44Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > A gorilla is about 27 times more powerful than a human being, so it’s plausible. However, gorillas don’t have the temperament to rip off a person’s head. They prefer to avoid confrontation, although a pissed off gorilla could administer a severe thrashing and bite you savagely. This is a bit exaggerated. Most experts state the range as about 6 to 12 times stronger, with great variation depending upon the position, grasp, direction of force, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2017, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-gorilla-tear-a-humans-head-off/793190/20 "2017-08-11T14:55:05Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > Follow-up question: if a gorilla _ **did** _ rip off your head, would s/he then deposit feces down your neck? I certainly hope not. The wound might become infected. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-gorilla-tear-a-humans-head-off/793190.md?page=2)