Zac Mills is a wildlife photographer and conservationist who works with bears, big cats, and great apes. He founded The Wildlife Collective, where he shares his experiences with these animals along with educational facts. Recently, he had an intense run-in with a silverback gorilla, and it’s genuinely terrifying to watch.
Make sure your sound is on, because you can hear the gorilla vocalizing right before it charges toward the crowd. While Zac stays completely calm, most of us likely would have made the situation far worse by trying to run from this powerful great ape.
Zac shared more about the experience in the video’s caption. “I was charged by a silverback mountain gorilla. That’s me in the green jacket. And yes — I was completely fine.
It was powerful, intense, and absolutely exhilarating. Not aggression… but a clear display of dominance. A reminder of who truly runs the forest.
Moments like this stop time. Your heart races. Your senses sharpen. And you feel nothing but respect for an animal this extraordinary. A moment I will never forget.”
Talk about an amazing experience!
Related: Video of Photographer Encountering Silverback Gorilla Beating on His Chest Goes Viral
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Why It’s Important to Remain Calm Around Silverback Gorillas
Silverbacks are in charge and always watching for any signs of fear or aggression. Mission Africa Safaris advises never making sudden movements around them, including turning your back or running, and to avoid direct eye contact. Either action can make the gorillas feel threatened or uncomfortable and may trigger a charge. Bright colors can also make you stand out, so do not wear them if you’re visiting.
If you are charged, it’s important to remain calm. “Lower yourself down and act submissive because gorillas enjoy feeling superior. Pretend as if nothing is happening and look towards the trees while remaining alert. Remain calm and never attempt to run. A gorilla is faster than most humans and running away will only encourage it to chase after you.
Remaining calm and laying low will calm the primate down and stop seeing you as a threat or challenger. Gorillas never continue an attack if you stay calm and act submissive. Remember not to look directly in the eyes of the gorilla and never attempt to fight a gorilla as others have advised because it will only lead to disaster. A fully grown gorilla is as strong as 4 mature males and has very sharp teeth.”
While it would be fun to get up close to them in the wild, we think we’ll just stick to watching videos of them instead.
This story was originally published by PetHelpful on Dec 29, 2025, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here.