Who’d actually win in a fight between 100 men and a gorilla? We got an expert’s answer

Another viral debate has the universe online in a gorilla grip chokehold – if you pardon the pun. All your socials, if they’re as chaotic as mine, are likely filled with memes debating the age old question: Who would win in a fight, 100 people or one gorilla? Whilst at first the sheer mass of it all makes you feel like the 10o men are taking it no question, that doesn’t quite factor in the fact that one gorilla is really bloody strong. But who would actually win? No one can come to a conclusion that we all accept willingly, but we did ask an expert for her verdict to settle the 100 men versus a gorilla debate once and for all.

‘The men wouldn’t stand a chance’

I reached out to Dr Galdys Kalema-Zikusoka – who is the CEO and founder of CTPH in Uganda and works tirelessly in maintaining coexistence and conservation of gorillas alongside humans – for her expert opinion on this bizarre debate.

Dr Gladys explained to me: “As bizarre as this conversation is, it’s getting more people to think about the gorillas and hopefully want to protect them. Gorillas are five times as strong as a man. While they are not naturally aggressive, they will attack when provoked, especially when angry, and you definitely would not want to be anywhere near them. All animals have a natural fight or flight instinct. Therefore if you meet wild gorillas that have not been habituated to human presence, they will be particularly aggressive.

Most Read

Paul is apparently dating someone after MAFS Australia and erm, you might recognise her

A deep dive into Carina Mirabile’s many, many attempts at fame before MAFS Australia

The creepy real reason Netflix removed this Black Mirror episode over the weekend

“A severe injury from a Gorilla can be life threatening. Not to forget, gorillas have the advantage of being able to climb trees and could even attack from above. And if it’s a captive gorilla in a zoo, that interaction with humans would never be allowed on ethical grounds. So I would say that 100 men do not stand a chance.”

Dr Gladys added: “But instead of 100 men trying to compete with one gentle, majestic giant, why not make friends with the mighty silverback gorilla and become conservation heroes, protecting our cousins with whom we share 98.4 percent of our genetic material.”

You can support the work the CTPH do here.

Someone made a digital scenario

someone simulated 100 men vs 1 gorilla 😭 pic.twitter.com/9F2hTldLDt

— juju 💰 (@ayeejuju) April 28, 2025

On the less academic and much more ridiculous side of things, someone created a viral simulation of 100 men versus a gorilla, and the results prove that the men do not stand a chance – actually. Without any grace or nuance or any behaviour of how human beings might actually behave in this scenario, this video shows the men eventually wiped out by the gorilla.

Err, ChatGPT is less convinced

For another perspective, I wondered what AI might make of the viral 100 men versus a gorilla debate. The AI declared a polar opposite view, really.

“In a fight between a gorilla and 100 unarmed men, the men would almost certainly win, but not without significant cost. A silverback gorilla is immensely strong—capable of lifting over 1,800 pounds—with a bite force stronger than a lion’s and the agility to overpower multiple adult men in close combat. One-on-one, or even against small groups, the gorilla would dominate due to its raw power and speed. However, 100 men is an overwhelming number.

“If they were even somewhat coordinated, they could eventually subdue the gorilla through sheer numbers, likely by swarming it from all sides. That said, the first wave of attackers would almost certainly suffer serious injuries or death, as the gorilla would fight ferociously before being overcome. So while the men would win in the end, it would be a brutal and costly victory.”

I’m binning the AI off and trusting Dr Gladys, personally.

For more like this and for the latest memes, quizzes, updates – like The Tab on Facebook

Gorilla photo by Laura Seaman on Unsplash