Silverback gorillas are extraordinarily strong animals, significantly surpassing human strength in multiple ways:
- A typical silverback weighs around 430 pounds (195 kg) and stands about 5 feet (1.5 m) tall
. Despite this size, their strength far exceeds what their weight alone might suggest.
- They can lift over 815 kilograms (about 1,800 pounds) of dead weight, which is roughly double the maximum lift of a well-trained human (around 400 kg)
- Gorillas are estimated to be about 4 to 10 times stronger than the average human, with some sources suggesting they can be stronger than 20 adult humans combined
- Their arm and upper body strength is particularly notable, allowing them to perform feats such as bending iron bars, uprooting small trees, and delivering powerful blows with forces estimated between 1,300 to 2,700 pounds of force, enough to cause serious injury or even shatter skulls
- Silverbacks also have a bite force of approximately 1,300 pounds per square inch (PSI), which is stronger than that of lions (650 PSI) and great white sharks (625 PSI)
- Their muscular build, longer arms relative to legs, and robust physique contribute to their immense strength and ability to carry and manipulate heavy objects with ease
In summary, silverback gorillas are among the strongest animals relative to their size, with strength estimates ranging from lifting over 800 kg to exerting several thousand pounds of force in physical actions, making them 4 to 10 times stronger than an average human and capable of overpowering multiple humans combined
