100 Men vs One Gorilla? While the internet debates, the real fight is happening in DR Congo

Extract from our Autumn newsletter – Digit News

Recently, a bizarre question took hold of social media: Could 100 men take on a gorilla in a fight?

What started as a throwaway online debate quickly became a viral sensation. Theories were shared, memes created, and stories shared with hypothetical battle plan. Wildlife expert and Gorilla Organization trustee Giles Clarke was asked the question by JOE. His answer was simple: “The gorilla would absolutely wreck one hundred men.”

He’s not wrong. An adult male gorilla can weigh more than 180 kilograms and lift close to a tonne. They are astonishingly strong, but also intelligent, emotionally complex, and most of the time, peaceful. Contrary to what you might assume, gorillas are typically quiet, shy and unaggressive, unless provoked.

But while the internet argues over imaginary fights, real gorillas in the wild are facing real threats. And they are losing.

Right now, in the forests of eastern Congo, the situation is urgent. Armed conflict in the region is putting both endangered gorillas and the rangers who protect them in serious danger. This part of the world is home to some of the last mountain and Grauer’s gorillas, a critically endangered subspecies that depend on a fine balance of forest, safety, and stability to survive.

As violence spreads, rangers are being forced to suspend patrols and abandon conservation camps. These are not just jobs, they are lifelines. Without protection, gorilla families are at risk from poaching, habitat destruction, and the chaos that conflict brings to already fragile ecosystems.

Gorillas are not just strong. They are one of our closest living relatives, sharing around 98 percent of our DNA. They live in tight-knit families, communicate through gestures and vocalisations, and care deeply for their young. They are far more than the internet’s punchline.

At The Gorilla Organization, we have spent decades working with local communities across central and eastern Africa to support gorilla conservation. It is not just about keeping animals alive. It is about ensuring forests thrive, people have alternatives to destructive industries, and rangers can do their work without risking their lives.

So while 100 Men vs One Gorilla grabs attention online, the real story is this: gorillas are in danger, and they need our help.

We have launched an emergency appeal to support rangers during the crisis in Congo and keep vital conservation work going. If you want to do something meaningful for gorillas, now is the time.

Please donate today. Help us protect them before it’s too late.

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