Want to learn why you shouldn’t make eye contact with gorillas? Gorillas are among the most fascinating animals in the African rain-forest, known for their size and powerful appearance.
When visiting them in the wild, there are several rules that help ensure safety, and one of the most important is avoiding direct eye contact with gorillas.
In human culture, making eye contact usually shows confidence, respect, or attention. However, in the gorilla world, it means something completely different. For gorillas, direct eye contact is a sign of dominance and a challenge for power. When another gorilla looks straight into the eyes of a silverback, it signals a confrontation. This often triggers aggression from the silverback as he tries to defend his authority and protect his family.
Looking directly into a gorilla’s eyes is therefore discouraged, as it is seen as a threat. The silverback may respond by charging to show his strength and warn the intruder to back off.
When a gorilla charges, it displays several warning behaviors such as standing upright on two legs, beating its chest, running sideways, tearing vegetation, or making loud grunts and roars. These actions are meant to scare the challenger and avoid a real fight.
A silverback is an adult male gorilla with a silver patch of hair on its back. He is the leader of the group, responsible for making decisions, protecting his family, and mating with the females.
Gorillas rarely attack humans unless they feel threatened. That is why tourists visiting gorillas in their natural habitat are always given a briefing on safety rules before the trek. Some of the key guidelines include:
- Keep a distance of at least 7 meters from the gorillas.
- Do not use flash photography.
- Do not eat or drink in front of the gorillas.
- Do not touch the gorillas.
- Keep your voice low at all times.
Mountain gorillas are our closest relatives, sharing about 98% of human DNA. They live in high-altitude areas within Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Avoiding eye contact with gorillas is a simple but important rule that helps maintain peace, respect, and safety between humans and these gentle giants in their natural world.
