A gorilla is the biggest of all living primates, native to the tropical forests of Africa. The grizzly bear is a subspecies of brown bear native to North America. Nowadays, it is a common debate about who is more powerful, a gorilla or a grizzly. In a fight of gorilla versus grizzly bear who would win? Here, we have gathered information about a gorilla versus a grizzly bear. But it is necessary to mention that their confrontation would be only hypothetical because both animals inhabit different continents and there are no chances of their natural confrontation.
Gorilla Versus Grizzly Bear
Both a gorilla and a grizzly bear are powerful animals. They are completely different from each other; living in a different habitat, consuming a different diet, and having a different body structure, build, and size.
Let’s compare some features of an adult male gorilla (silverback) with an adult male grizzly bear:
| Characteristic | Adult Male Gorilla | Adult Male Grizzly Bear |
| Standing Height | 6 feet | 8 feet |
| Weight | 485 lbs | 800 lbs |
| Arm Span | 2.3 to 2.6 meters | Unknown |
| Speed | 20 mph | 35 mph |
| Temperament | Mostly docile, usually avoid humans | Aggressive |
| Habitat | Mountain forests in West and East Central Africa | Forests, woodlands, prairies, and alpine meadows in North America |
| Life Span | 35 to 40 years in the wild | 20 to 25 years in the wild |
Gorilla Versus Grizzly Bear: Size
Adult male gorillas (also known as silverbacks) measure 1.4 to 1.8 meters (4 feet 7 inches to 5 feet 11 inches) tall on average and weigh 136 to 227 kg (300 to 500 lbs).
Adult male grizzly bears stand around 3 meters (10 feet) tall and weigh 389 kg (858 lbs).
When standing on their hind feet, an adult male grizzly bear is about 4 feet taller than an adult male gorilla.
Gorilla Versus Grizzly Bear: Bite Force
If we compare the bite force of a gorilla with a grizzly bear, gorillas will take advantage. The bite force of a gorilla is 1,300 PSI, which is even stronger than the bite force of well-known big cats like lions (650 PSI) and tigers (1,000 PSI). Gorillas also have strong jaw muscles and bones and are well-adapted for cutting and chewing vegetation.
On the other hand, grizzly bears have a bite force of 1,160 PSI. It is also stronger than the bite forces of lions and tigers but not as strong as that of gorillas.
Gorilla Versus Grizzly Bear: Punch
The force a gorilla and a grizzly could deliver with their punch is not measured exactly. However, it is estimated that an adult male gorilla can slam with a force of 1,300 to 2,700 pounds. This force is enough to shatter a human skull. Gorillas have strong and well-developed arms and a wider arm span from 2.3 to 2.5 meters, which contribute to the strength of their slam.
An adult grizzly bear can diver around 6,000 lbs of force with a single swipe of its paw. Grizzlies have larger size and weight than gorillas which add to the strength of their arms. So, they can deliver about double the force with their swipe compared to gorillas. Grizzlies also have several inches long claws, which can cause additional stabbing damage to the opposite.
Gorilla Versus Grizzly Bear: Bench Press
An adult male gorilla can lift 815 kg (1,796 lbs) weight. It is four times heavier than their body weight.
Grizzly bears can lift 500 kg (1,102 lbs), about 1.3 times of their body weight. However, these estimations are rough and there are no exact measurements of how much they can lift. Both, a gorilla and a grizzly bear are wild animals and could lift much more weight than the above estimations.
Gorilla Versus Grizzly Bear: Strength
It is not easy to estimate the exact strength of gorillas and grizzly bears. Both are wild animals and could be stronger than human estimations.
Gorillas have the well-built and muscular bodies of all primates. They have long arms that can span from 2.3 to 2.6 meters. Their bones are three times more calcified, thicker, and heavier than human bones. Their muscles are four times heavier and dense as compared to human muscles. Estimates show that a gorilla can lift a dead weight of 815 kg (1,796 lbs), four times heavier than their body weight. The slam of a gorilla can deliver a force of 1,300 to 2,700 pounds. The bite force of a gorilla is 1,300 PSI, which is stronger than the bite force of some well-known big cats (tigers and lions).
Grizzly bears are also stronger animals. It has been estimated that they can lift a dead weight of 500 kg (1,102 lbs) which is about 1.3 times of their body weight. They can deliver a force of about 6,000 lbs with their paw swipe. Grizzly bears also have strong muscles that do not considerably weaken when they hibernate. Their bite force is 1,160 PSI, which is also stronger than the bite force of lions and tigers.
Would A Gorilla Beat A Grizzly Bear?
To answer this question, let’s assume a hypothetical one-on-one fight between a gorilla and a grizzly bear. If both animals try to damage one another with bites, the grizzly would face heavy blows from the gorilla, and the gorilla would have to face several inches-long claws of the grizzly. The gorilla would likely take the risk to go for a bite, because the fat content, muscles, tough skin, and fur of the grizzly will be able to tolerate the physical force of the gorilla’s blow. On the other hand, the gorilla would not tolerate the stab and slash wounds caused by the swipe of the grizzly.
It is also notable that a grizzly bear is an expert hunter while a gorilla is a herbivore. So a grizzly would have much experience in deadly combat as compared to a gorilla. But the fight would also not be easy for a grizzly because gorillas have long and muscular arms. Long arms may enable a gorilla to keep its body away from the grizzly while throwing a punch.
The biggest weapon of the gorilla will be its maneuvering abilities and quick movements while that of the grizzly will be its claws. A grizzly is bigger but a gorilla is muscular and stronger.
So their fight would not be easy and it would be difficult to say who would win the combat. However, if we look at the above statistics, it all goes in the favor of the grizzly. But it may also be possible for a gorilla to beat a grizzly.
Is A Grizzly Bear More Aggressive Than A Gorilla?
Gorillas are peaceful and docile creatures and usually do not attack humans until they feel threatened. While grizzly bears are quite aggressive as compared to gorillas.
