Do Gorillas Frequently Fight?
Because of their sharp canines and great strength, gorilla males are very
dangerous opponents when they are in a fighting mood. Therefore, most
differences of opinion are not resolved by fighting, but by displaying
and other threat behaviour patterns, without anyone getting injured. Gorillas
are famous for their display behaviour culminating in the chest beating
and loud hooting. The chestbeat sounds especially impressive in silverback
males.
Severe aggression is very rare in stable gorilla groups, but when two
groups meet, the leading silverbacks can sometimes engage in a fight to
the death, mainly using their sharp canines to cause deep, gaping injuries.
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Silverback male with a severely injured hand as a
result from a fight
Photo:
Jörg Hess |