Who would win in a battle of 100 men vs one gorilla? This question has taken the internet by storm since April when it emerged on TikTok.
When thinking about the answer, it’s important to remember that a gorilla has extreme physical advantages over a human. Gorillas bite force is 1.300 PSI (pounds per sq. inch), which is double the bite force of a lion. Humans, however, could be strategic with their attack. Possible circumstances have also been presented in this debate: whether the humans go all at once, whether it takes place in an enclosed area, or who the humans are.
The debate became a viral internet discussion, with differing opinions being shared across social media. Forbes, ESPN hosts, Fox40, UFC fighters, and even animal experts weighed in. Tara Stoinski, president and CEO and chief scientific officer for the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, told NBC news that she would be on the side of the humans despite the incredible strength of gorillas.
The popularization of this debate started on TikTok and began reaching other social media platforms, with Youtube videos being made on the topic. The differing opinions online sparked discourse among students. Junior Kai Schmelzer joined in on the debate, saying that the humans would win. “100 humans is way too much for a single gorilla to defeat, especially if the humans go all at once and coordinate well,” Schmelzer said.
However, gorillas are strong animals, being the largest primates and having the ability to lift over 800 kg of dead weight, which makes students think the gorilla would win. Junior Josh Reid said, “Lets be for real, no unarmed human is doing any significant damage to a gorilla. Gorillas are way too strong and big,” Reid said.
Stoinski said she believes the gorilla would take out a number of humans, even if defeated. Shmelzer agrees, and said, “At least 20 men would definitely be taken out by the gorilla, that’s why the humans would have to be fearless and continue to put up a fight. With fear I don’t think the humans would win.”.
This debate has sparked wildlife conservationists to step in, as gorillas are an endangered species. The gorilla population has decreased from habitat loss and poaching over the past decades. Stoinski told Yahoo News that she thinks one of the factors that is missed is that gorillas are more often than not, gentle animals. Conservationist Robert Irwin responded to the question on TikTok saying it could go either way, but rather proposing the idea of how many people it takes to save gorillas.
Students agree that this debate could be turned a different way, “I think the more significant topic that should be talked about is saving gorillas instead of pinning humans against them, which is what has happened in the past with gorillas becoming an endangered species,” junior Charlie Rollins said.
