# Grizlly Bear vs Silverback Gorilla **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 29, 2003, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grizlly-bear-vs-silverback-gorilla/221495 "2003-12-29T01:06:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DrunkenNinjaMaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@DrunkenNinjaMaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrunkenNinjaMaster)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grizlly-bear-vs-silverback-gorilla/221495/1 "2003-12-29T01:06:56Z")
Who would win? HUGE argument over this, and I’d like some educated responses. I choose gorilla. ---
**Author:** ![BF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5ac83/32.png) [@BF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BF)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grizlly-bear-vs-silverback-gorilla/221495/2 "2003-12-29T01:17:24Z")
Totally unedumacated response, but, from viewing the 9 foot grizzly at Bass Pro shops the other day, unless the Silverback can get into grappling range, the grizz rips 'em to shreds. This particular grizz had dinner plate size paws with at least 2" claws. Plus, I think a mature SB is about 300 pounds, and a fully grown grizz is in the 800-1000 pound range. So, for my money, it’s the grizz. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grizlly-bear-vs-silverback-gorilla/221495/3 "2003-12-29T01:20:58Z")
I guess I don’t have a choice but to back our relative, do I? ---
**Author:** ![DrunkenNinjaMaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@DrunkenNinjaMaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrunkenNinjaMaster)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grizlly-bear-vs-silverback-gorilla/221495/4 "2003-12-29T01:31:50Z")
> [@](#): > > ``` > Totally unedumacated response, but, from viewing the 9 foot grizzly at Bass Pro shops the other day, unless the Silverback can get into grappling range, the grizz rips 'em to shreds. This particular grizz had dinner plate size paws with at least 2" claws. Plus, I think a mature SB is about 300 pounds, and a fully grown grizz is in the 800-1000 pound range. So, for my money, it's the grizz. > > ``` Regarding the size difference, I’ve read that a full grown gorilla would be able to bench press 1600 lbs without thinking twice, and posess the strength to simply rip off limbs. ---
**Author:** ![myrnajean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@myrnajean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/myrnajean)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grizlly-bear-vs-silverback-gorilla/221495/5 "2003-12-29T01:39:54Z")
Is this before or after the tequilla shots? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grizlly-bear-vs-silverback-gorilla/221495/6 "2003-12-29T01:51:33Z")
The grizzly. If he’s prepared. ---
**Author:** ![Shirty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Shirty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirty)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grizlly-bear-vs-silverback-gorilla/221495/7 "2003-12-29T02:00:29Z")
Forget dog fights, this is more like it. Since the big monkey can use tools (generalisation here), can we give him a bowie knife? How about a big club, caveman style? Now THAT’s entertainment. ---
**Author:** ![Vlad\_Dracul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/50afbb/32.png) [@Vlad\_Dracul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vlad_Dracul)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grizlly-bear-vs-silverback-gorilla/221495/8 "2003-12-29T03:39:15Z")
Gorillas are strong, yes, but do we have any figures on the strength of the bear? For all we know, the bear could bench-press 10 tons. I think I saw a grizzly knock over a tree on some nature show. The bear, as has already been mentioned, has claws. Cutting weapons can make a tremendous difference in a fight. All he has to do is start smacking the gorilla in the head, and every swipe will leave deep, bloody gashes. The bear, being taller, has a longer reach. The bear can probably drive his fangs right through the gorilla’s skull. Unless the gorilla learns to use weapons, I’m betting on the bear. ---
**Author:** ![GrizzRich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7ba0ec/32.png) [@GrizzRich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrizzRich)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grizlly-bear-vs-silverback-gorilla/221495/9 "2003-12-29T04:29:24Z")
The Grizzly. definitely. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grizlly-bear-vs-silverback-gorilla/221495/10 "2003-12-29T04:30:36Z")
Grizzly, no doubt. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grizlly-bear-vs-silverback-gorilla/221495/11 "2003-12-29T04:41:50Z")
Weighing 2.5 to perhaps 3 times as much, capable of speeds up to 50 kph, and armed with with fangs and huge claws, the bear seems to have all the advantages here. The gorilla has a plausible edge in intelligence. But there is little evidence that gorillas direct much of their brainpower toward combat, or even that they’d know how to use a weapon if one was at hand. Bears are omnivores, and thus not strangers to violence and killing. I say it’s the bear in a walkover. ---
**Author:** ![Wearia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/13edae/32.png) [@Wearia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wearia)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grizlly-bear-vs-silverback-gorilla/221495/12 "2003-12-29T04:55:16Z")
Bear. Gorillas are strong, but so are bears. Their intelligence is not enough to give them any advantage. Hell, a human is smarter than a gorilla (some at least) and put us in a cage with a bear and our intelligence gets splattered against the bars. Our ape friend may put up a fight and give the bear some bruises but theirs no way that he would be able to take out a bear. ---
**Author:** ![JaxBeachBoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@JaxBeachBoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaxBeachBoy)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grizlly-bear-vs-silverback-gorilla/221495/13 "2003-12-29T05:20:02Z")
this was quite an argument on [tribalwar.com](http://tribalwar.com) earlier this year. ---
**Author:** ![665\_aka\_The\_Semi-Christ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/2bfe46/32.png) [@665\_aka\_The\_Semi-Christ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/665_aka_The_Semi-Christ)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grizlly-bear-vs-silverback-gorilla/221495/14 "2003-12-29T05:55:28Z")
Ya know, the thing we need to do is bring back the whole " **gladiatorial combat thingee**. Why? Well, besides having men kill each other just so others could have fun watching, in between bouts of men killing each other, the Romans would often have bouts of men facing off against various beasts, including tigers, lions, elephants, apes and the like. Also there would be bouts in which various beasts, such as lions, bears, etc, were pitted against each other. I’m sure if we asked really nicely President Shrub would sign a law making such contests not only legal, but mandatory. ---
**Author:** ![Gadfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/aeb1de/32.png) [@Gadfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadfly)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grizlly-bear-vs-silverback-gorilla/221495/15 "2003-12-29T06:15:36Z")
Gorillas might have more raw strength, actually. Monkeys, apes, chimps, and creatures in that general group tend to have very efficient muscle structure. But, yeah, claws. I’d say the grizzly, just. ---
**Author:** ![DreadCthulhu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/db5fbb/32.png) [@DreadCthulhu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DreadCthulhu)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grizlly-bear-vs-silverback-gorilla/221495/16 "2003-12-29T06:31:56Z")
The Gorilla would easily win - with its opposible thumbs, it would have no problem operating a 1920’s style “Death Ray.” ---
**Author:** ![Urban\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Urban\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urban_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grizlly-bear-vs-silverback-gorilla/221495/17 "2003-12-29T07:07:40Z")
No such fight is possible, because they are in entirely different habitats. ---
**Author:** ![Shirty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Shirty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirty)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grizlly-bear-vs-silverback-gorilla/221495/18 "2003-12-29T07:08:35Z")
Or a 1928 style Tommy gun 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Badtz\_Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Badtz\_Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badtz_Maru)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grizlly-bear-vs-silverback-gorilla/221495/19 "2003-12-29T08:36:46Z")
Wild animals, the grizzly wins, every time. Trained and armed animals, the grizzly wins 3/4 of the time. By winning, I meant the gorilla dies first. In most fights, both parties would probably suffer mortal wounds. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grizlly-bear-vs-silverback-gorilla/221495/20 "2003-12-29T09:01:57Z")
You folks are looking at this from a raw power angle, and that isn’t the issue at all. Sheer strength, definitely gorilla. Weaponry? Bear. But the bear would kick the gorilla’s ass in any case. Why? \* the nature of the beasts. \* Bears are killers by nature. Gorillas are peace, love and understanding vegetarians. They hardly ever actually \* act \* on any aggressive impulses. They are almost pure bluff. And while they are pounding their chests in an attempt to get the idiot bear to understand the subtleties of display, the moron bear has reached out and ripped the gorilla wide open. End of debate. And I say this having a vastly greater affection for gorillas. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grizlly-bear-vs-silverback-gorilla/221495.md?page=2)