Gorillas, especially silverbacks, are extraordinarily strong animals. Estimates of how much a gorilla can lift vary, but the consensus is that they can lift weights far beyond human capability.
- A silverback gorilla can lift or throw up to around 815 kilograms (about 1,800 pounds), which is stronger than 20 adult humans combined
- Some sources suggest gorillas can bench press approximately 1,810 kilograms (4,000 pounds), while a well-trained man can bench press around 400 kilograms (885 pounds)
- Other research estimates gorillas can lift about 10 times their body weight, which for a silverback weighing up to 200 kilograms (440 pounds) means lifting roughly 2,000 kilograms (4,400 pounds) theoretically
- More conservative scientific calculations estimate a silverback gorilla can bench press around 419 kilograms (925 pounds), which is still more than twice its body weight and significantly stronger than the average human
- Gorillas have been observed to exert forces sufficient to bend iron bars and break reinforced glass, demonstrating their immense strength beyond just lifting
In summary, a gorilla can lift or bench press roughly between 800 kilograms (1,800 pounds) and up to 4,000 pounds depending on the source and context, with a realistic estimate around 400 to 900 kilograms for bench pressing strength. This makes them 4 to 10 times stronger than the average human, with some claims reaching even higher multiples
