Silverback Gorilla vs Kodiak Bear

Originally posted by The MISTER
I've heard that too. (the thing about the bull) Could a gorilla's skull withstand it? If it can't I can't see how it could win but I don't know how tough it is? Do you think a gorilla would use it's rending abilities to attack? Would it grab an attacking animal like a bear?

From what I've seen on nature programs, apes don't seem to 'rend' -- using just their limbs -- as a general fighting strategy. They pound (with what looks like hammerfists), grab and thrash; and any rending seems to be by grabbing and biting.

Addressing other posts: as far as strength comparisons between apes and humans go: AFAIK, measurements involve upper body / arm / shoulder girdle power, where apes will naturally excel, given they are brachiators by design and life-long practice. For a human and a bear, the hindquarters / lower limbs pack the most power (another reason why I see a bear winning: any direct, head-on clash favors the bear driving its superior mass with those stronger rear limbs, limbs which can allow a bear to temporarily walk upright and support 1200 pounds).

As far as humans go, I think it's a good idea to keep in mind that your average human is not using anywhere near their full strength potential -- certainly not from birth -- the way a wild animal does. It would be interesting, though, to pit, say, a muzzled adult chimp (muzzled, to eliminate the teeth factor, for fairness' sake) against an enraged 200lb powerlifter.

I'd also like to have seen an ape of comparable mass go up against this shotokan master (his name currently escapes me). Supposedly, this guy could strike with the power of a bear.

Originally posted by Robtard
And for all the bear fanboys in here, just look at how the gorilla uses its superior agility and intelligence.

YouTube video

Bear hasn't a chance.

Lol @ the man in the gorilla suit, and the trained bear.

Originally posted by Rogue Jedi
Prediction: Robtard watches Gorilla bestiality porn.

Well no, I've not run into that, at least not yet.

But here's a fun fact: Gorillas have the smallest penis in the primate family for their body size. The average being 2".

fun for you maybe, I doubt they're laughing about it

Bear wins as much as I'd like to say gorilla it gets dominated here.

Originally posted by 753
fun for you maybe, I doubt they're laughing about it

Which is even more proof of how much rage and fury the gorilla will bring to this fight.

Originally posted by Robtard
But here's a fun fact: Gorillas have the smallest penis in the primate family for their body size. The average being 2".

😖hifty:

Originally posted by Mindship
And I believe humans have the largest, the average being about 8".

😖hifty:

Going by the smiley, I think that's a joke.

But it's actually slightly less than 6 inches. (About 15 cm.)

Originally posted by Mindship
I'm really not sure what either animal could withstand, except that they seem to stand up to their own kind fairly well.

From what I've seen on nature programs, apes don't seem to 'rend' -- using just their limbs -- as a general fighting strategy. They pound (with what looks like hammerfists), grab and thrash; and any rending seems to be by grabbing and biting.

Addressing other posts: as far as strength comparisons between apes and humans go: AFAIK, measurements involve upper body / arm / shoulder girdle power, where apes will naturally excel, given they are brachiators by design and life-long practice. For a human and a bear, the hindquarters / lower limbs pack the most power (another reason why I see a bear winning: any direct, head-on clash favors the bear driving its superior mass with those stronger rear limbs, limbs which can allow a bear to temporarily walk upright and support 1200 pounds).

As far as humans go, I think it's a good idea to keep in mind that your average human is not using anywhere near their full strength potential -- certainly not from birth -- the way a wild animal does. It would be interesting, though, to pit, say, a muzzled adult chimp (muzzled, to eliminate the teeth factor, for fairness' sake) against an enraged 200lb powerlifter.

I'd also like to have seen an ape of comparable mass go up against this shotokan master (his name currently escapes me). Supposedly, this guy could strike with the power of a bear.

Originally posted by The MISTER
The mismatched size of the animals might actually be to the gorillas advantage. Shaq vs a 150 pound hyena would end up with Shaq dead if Shaq must attack it with his arms and face. An attacking Kodiak might be making a mistake to attack as normal with biting if the gorilla has the potential ability to rip it's face apart while defending it's life which it would be doing if faced with such an intimidating foe. Most of a gorillas strength is in it's arms and the bears head is it's primary weapon. I'm pretty sure the only way a Kodiak would engage a gorilla is if it deemed the gorilla the only potential food source. How does a bear usually attack large prey? I'd guess that it charges and bites. If a silverback can survive the charge (and there's no reason to think that alone would kill it) then it would probably use it's arms and hands to defend itself from the biting. In that case the bear might end up getting it's jaws ripped apart as a primate defense from bites that even humans resort to when being bitten. No matter how large the animal, if the head receives significant damage it won't survive. Is there any reason to believe that a silverback could not maim the face of the kodiak by prying the biting bears jaws apart, something no other animal could conceivably do?

Sure, the gorilla could do damage, but I don't see it winning, in part because I just don't think gorilla's fight in the way you describe, and also, it would be easier for the bear to swipe and rip open flesh anywhere on the silverback's body, whereas the bear's jaws (should the gorilla takes this route, which, again, I don't think gorilla's normally do) present a much smaller, more specific target.

Needless to say (but heck, I'll say it anyway), I'm no where near an expert on this. Basically, a gorilla could win, but that's not where'd I'd place my money.

Sorry for the double post, but I found these interesting...

How gorillas fight:
(fight starts at around 25 seconds; sorry for any ad which may precede the video)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZItE4FQU784&feature=related

How bears fight:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmLrhvOXylU

Basically, both seem to prefer grappling, the bear especially so. Plus, gorillas seem to use their mouths/teeth mostly to intimidate; bears actually bite.

Admittedly, the bear fight seems much more intense. Still, I think this gives a fairly good idea how the two would approach one another, fighting style-wise.

That's how a gorilla fights another gorilla. They're smart and they wouldn't employ those same tactics against a bear, as it would be a disadvantage considering the bear's massive weight advantage.

In this fight, the gorilla would stay mobile and nimble, using the great reach advantage his gorillie-arms give him to jab and move; jab and move, slowly wearing him down until he makes an error, then the gorilla would move in to grapple and take the bear out via a rear-naked-choke.

There may or may not be an eye-gouging or two, really depends how dastardly the gorilla is.

GSP = Gorilla St. Pierre

Originally posted by Robtard
That's how a gorilla fights another gorilla. They're smart and they wouldn't employ those same tactics against a bear, as it would be a disadvantage considering the bear's massive weight advantage.

In this fight, the gorilla would stay mobile and nimble, using the great reach advantage his gorillie-arms give him to jab and move; jab and move, slowly wearing him down until he makes an error, then the gorilla would move in to grapple and take the bear out via a rear-naked-choke.

There may or may not be an eye-gouging or two, really depends how dastardly the gorilla is.

Originally posted by Mindship
The bear would just get stronger as it got angrier.

Originally posted by Mindship
The bear would just get stronger as it got angrier.

That's actually mostly a myth; then there's the fact that gorilla's often chant while fighting and these chants are known to placate their adversary.

Originally posted by Robtard
That's actually mostly a myth; then there's the fact that gorilla's often chant while fighting and these chants are known to placate their adversary.

'Nam Magilla Renge Kyo'

Of course.

Gorilla St. Pierre = Jigglypuff

Originally posted by Robtard
That's how a gorilla fights another gorilla. They're smart and they wouldn't employ those same tactics against a bear, as it would be a disadvantage considering the bear's massive weight advantage.

In this fight, the gorilla would stay mobile and nimble, using the great reach advantage his gorillie-arms give him to jab and move; jab and move, slowly wearing him down until he makes an error, then the gorilla would move in to grapple and take the bear out via a rear-naked-choke.

There may or may not be an eye-gouging or two, really depends how dastardly the gorilla is.

Originally posted by Mindship
You seem to keep focusing on the gorilla attacking the bear's jaws (which, may I remind you, are not the bear's only weapons: it does use its claws as readily). AFAIK, that's not what gorillas usually do (as outlined in a previous post). The only time I've seen that type of tactical forethought in an ape is from King Kong. And he also boxed and knew judo. And as for Shaq: as big as he is, he will not attack with the utter abandon of a wild animal. That feral ferocity, in and of itself, carries a lot of weight, so to speak.

Sure, the gorilla could do damage, but I don't see it winning, in part because I just don't think gorilla's fight in the way you describe, and also, it would be easier for the bear to swipe and rip open flesh anywhere on the silverback's body, whereas the bear's jaws (should the gorilla takes this route, which, again, I don't think gorilla's normally do) present a much smaller, more specific target.

Needless to say (but heck, I'll say it anyway), I'm no where near an expert on this. Basically, a gorilla could win, but that's not where'd I'd place my money.

The gorilla is the only animal on earth that has the hands capable of prying biting jaws apart as a defense while pinned by a large predator. Also fear is something that makes adrenaline surge and I'm sure a hungry attacking kodiak would get a gorilla fighting much more aggressively than a fight with another gorilla. The gorilla fight in that video was interesting but it seems the intelligence of the gorillas seems to be a factor as they appear to be evaluating the strength of their opponent mentally rather than only relying on physical aggression.