The Bespoke African Safari Co. guide and clients are trekking gorillas in the Volcanoes National Park Rwanda

Why do gorillas beat their chests?
Much like fighting cocks or even adrenalinefilled human males who puff their chests to try to show dominance, the male gorilla also has a multifaceted purpose for beating his chest. But what's his purpose?

No doubt you've seen this posturing and behavior — a male gorilla standing on two feet and using his cupped hands — not fists — in an alternating pattern beating his pecs. Scientists believe gorillas use these chest beats as a nonvocal communication to both attract females and intimidate potential rivals.

With both acoustic and visual elements, this longdistance signal is most commonly performed by adult males (silverbacks) and can be heard more than 0.62 miles (1 kilometer) away. However, younger subordinate males may also chest beat to practice and gain social feedback. It's also been observed in infants as young as 1yearold during social play.

Researchers came to this conclusion while using a technique called photogrammetry, which allowed them to measure body size of adult male wild mountain gorillas monitored by the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda in a noninvasive way.

Learn More about the silverback gorillas.
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