Gorilla vs Grizzly Bear: When the heavyweight of the African Jungle faces off with the monster of North America, who will prevail?
Gorilla
Gorillas may appear vicious, but they are actually relatively gentle animals.
That is, however, unless they are surprised or threatened and, in such cases, their ability to inflict damage is frightening.
With the strength to bench press an estimated 4,000 lbs (1,814 kg) – 10 times their own body weight – gorillas are one of the strongest animals in the world.
In addition, a male gorilla’s canine teeth and can grow up to two inches (5 cm) long and they have a bite force of 1,300 psi (pounds per square inch), one of the strongest on the planet.
Their jaws are strong enough to crush bamboo and bones with ease and they can throw a punch with a force of 1,300 – 2,700 lbs (590-1,225 kg).
As nature’s bodybuilder, the gorilla makes for a freakishly powerful and dangerous adversary.
Grizzly Bear
As the second-largest species of bear (the Polar Bear being the largest), the Grizzly Bear is a predatory tank.
A full grown grizzly is said to be as strong as five or six men combined and, at nearly 1,000 psi, its bite force is powerful enough to crush a bowling ball.
Grizzly bears usually fight by biting and by using their powerful bodies to push and overpower their opponents.
In addition, they will use their claws, which are 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) long, to maul prey until it dies.
As the furry Goliath of the wild, the Grizzly Bear is a force of nature on nightmarish levels.
Who would win: Gorilla vs Grizzly Bear
| Stats | Silverback Gorilla | Grizzly Bear |
| Weight | 300-500 lbs (136-227 kg) | 400-790 lbs (181-358 kg) |
| Length | 5.5 ft (1.7m) | 6.5 – 8 ft (2 – 2.5m) |
| Height (Normal) | 4 ft (1.2m) | 5 ft (1.5m) |
| Height (Upright) | 4 – 6 ft (1.2 – 1.8m) | 8 – 9 ft (2.4 – 2.7m) |
| Bite force | 1,300 psi | 975 psi |
While a silverback gorilla is physically stronger and has a more powerful bite force, the grizzly bear outranks it in almost every other aspect.
The grizzly is taller on two legs, taller on four legs, heavier, and has an overall larger frame. It is also much more aggressive than the gorilla.
Some make the argument the gorilla’s superior intelligence will ultimately allow it outsmart the grizzly, however a gorilla will fight with its instincts, not its head.
Also, even if gorillas did use their brains in battle, there’d be no way for them to actually implement cognitive abilities to make any difference.
The fact that the bear can stand as much as 10 feet tall is more than enough to keep its head out of range from the gorilla’s heavy blows.
Conclusion
While the gorilla does have a terrifying amount of strength, the grizzly bear is simply too superior in too many aspects for the gorilla to stand much of a chance.