Silverback Gorilla Vs Lion Smack Down: Here's The Winner!

Gorillas fall under the category of herbivorous animals ensconced in tropical forests of equatorial Africa.

But that's something that many already know about gorillas. But who are these silverback gorillas, and can they win a battle against a lion?

Did you know, after chimpanzees and bonobos, gorillas are the closest living beings to humans? A gorilla is said to be an infant only until the age of three-and-a-half years, and by the age of eight, they are considered to be adults.

Mature males, often called silverback gorillas because of the silver hair on their back and hips, are considered fully grown at the age of 12. And, as a result, they earn the name silverback.

Therefore, young gorillas are often called blackbacks. Additionally, gorillas are also the largest living primates, who typically weigh anywhere between 220-594 lbs (100-270 kg).

They generally live in a family group ranging between 6-30 members. But this is not to say that a female gorilla can reproduce so many offspring, when in fact, the number is only three or four over her whole lifespan. This is also why gorillas have been depleting in their habitat range over the past decades.

What animal can beat a silverback gorilla?

To say the least, silverback gorillas are vigorous, fierce, powerful, and physically enduring, just like many of us. But what about other animals? Can silverback gorillas show the same resilience against another animal too? 

Standing up to 4.1-5.9 ft (1.25-1.8m) tall, with their arms spanning 8.5 ft (2.6 m), varying depending on sex and species, gorillas are considered to be colossal beings in the land of the living. This just goes to show us that the physical attributes of gorillas are not to be taken lightly.

They are strong in every sense of the word. Now, let us see which animal can dare to challenge a silverback gorilla.

The food chain, also called the food pyramid, makes it necessary for some animals to kill others to sustain themselves. From this relationship is born the two categories of predator and prey.

Regardless of gorillas being massive and muscle-bound, they still have predators, meaning gorillas are prey to some animals. The habitat of gorillas is also shared by other animals, for instance, the forest buffalo (Syncerus caffer nanus), African gray parrots (Psittacus erithacus), African forest elephants (Loxodonta cyclotis), the Giant Forest Hog (Hylochoerus meinertzhageni), and leopards (Panthera pardus).

The most supreme predator of a silverback gorilla is gauged to be a Leopard. Being carnivorous beings, leopards sustain themselves on meat and kill off other animals.

But, leopards usually avoid fighting silverback gorillas, and instead focus on western lowland gorillas, meaning leopards choose young gorillas or offsprings over silverback gorillas who are stronger. Tigers can also beat gorillas due to their speed and the rate at which they can travel in miles per hour.

Next on the list are crocodiles. Yes, you heard it right! Crocodiles are also a threat to gorillas. Due to their ability to stay motionless in the water, their sudden attack on gorillas can prove to be life-threatening to an unsuspecting gorilla.

However, the likelihood of such an encounter happening often is improbable. Not impossible, but very low. Not to mention the attacks of coalitions of chimpanzees, who also are known to attack silverback gorillas, including their families.

Who is more powerful, the silverback gorilla or a lion?

Gorillas and lions, two of the most iconic living creatures in nature. Both are known for their fierceness and strength.

It can be challening to assume a clear winner and predict the outcome of a fight between a lion vs gorilla, because it is uncertain, considering their strengths and uniqueness. While gorillas weigh somewhere around 500 lbs (227 kg), lions weigh up to 204 kg (450 lbs).

Gorillas are known for lifting up to 1,800 lbs (818 kg) of weight, while African lions can take down prey having a mass of up to 1,000 lbs (454 kg).

The odds are not against any one of these beasts, as they both bring forth a unique intensity of strength. Much of what the outcome would look like will depend on the environment of the fight.

Neither one is stronger than the other because of the simple fact that both exert different kinds of force depending on the animals. Threfore, to say that one is more aggressive than the other would be inaccurate.

A lion is quicker in running and catches up to its victim faster, but a gorilla can lift off and fight at a much heavier weight than a lion. So, a gorilla's best chance at survival is not due to speed and agility, but its power and lifting compared to a lion.

Who is a stronger predator, the silverback gorilla or lion?

As previously stated above, deciding who is the stronger one from among these two beasts - the lion and silverback gorilla - is hard. Continue reading to see what these giants bring to the forefront and come to your own conclusion.

Gorillas have a ferocious caliber of lifting heavyweights. They are 4.1-5.9 ft (1.25-1.8m) tall, with their arms spanning 8.5 ft (2.6 m) and generally weigh around 500 lbs (227 kg).

Because silverback gorillas are adult and muscular males, they lead a group of gorillas numbering anywhere between five to 30.

With the help of their elongated heads that consist of a crest, the strong jaw muscles of a silverback gorilla have much-needed support.

Additionally, because gorillas are inhabitants of mountain terrain, they have a thick coat on their bodies, which proves useful not only in winters, but also during attacks on them by other animals or humans during hunting. Instead of eating flesh, their massive canines are made for intimidation.

As for their jaws, which are stong and rugged enough to break through bark, roots, vines, twigs, and bamboo, they are still lesser in strength in comparison to that of a lion's teeth. A gorilla’s arms are short but impenetrable.

Furthermore, gorillas are about four to nine times stronger than an average human, and if you are unable to imagine that, gorillas can lift to 1,800 lbs (818 kg) of weight and throw an extra 900 lbs (409 kg) of force.

On the other hand, lions are predators and sustain themselves by eating flesh. The African lions are somewhere between 4.5-6.5 ft (1.3-1.9 m) long and their weight ranges up to 450 lbs (204 kg), not too far from a gorilla's weight. Their mane acts as a defense weapon because of its thick fur.

They stay alive by eating animals like wild beasts, zebras, deer, etc., and are strong enough to take down prey of up to 1,000 lbs (454 kg) in weight, mainly with its jaws.

Lions, unlike gorillas, are found in the Savannah region or grassland. With the ability to leap up to 36 ft (10.9 m), lions can run at the speed of 50 mph (80 kph), but they do not have much stamina for a long run.

Thus, the lion’s weakness lies not in its strength or speed, but its lack of stamina.

Who would win in a fight, a silverback or a lion?

After having a good look at the strengths of both the power giants, let us address what we have all been waiting for: which one would be the winner?

Both of these beasts come from varied regions, so the outcome of a gorilla vs lion would depend on the terrain. A gorilla would have an upper hand in mountains.

The gorilla can use the trees and other objects to throw and make up for his lack of speed.

On the other hand, a lion is no less clever, he will make a plan to take down the predator in one strike.

If the lion succeeds in capturing the gorilla's vulnerable throat, the lion can then use his jaw to take care of the rest and win. But this could also backfire on the lion, because once his cove is exposed, the gorilla can use its strength to take down the lion.

Additionally, the lion would be at an advantage if it is dark. Because the range of eyesight of a silverback gorilla is similar to that of a human, if the fight is taking place at night, it is more likely that the lion will win.

All in all, the setting of the fight has a huge factor in determining who wins. Normally, the gorilla would have a better chance at winning, but at night, it can fall prey to the lion's attack. However, even at night, if the gorilla is careful and has a strategy at hand, it can strike harder and win.