We’ve all experienced that shock of jumping into cold water—your body stiffens, your breath catches, and all you want to do is scramble back to the safety of dry land. It’s a feeling most of us know all too well, and it turns out, we’re not the only ones who feel that way. Even gorillas can be caught off guard by the chill of a river, as one hilarious video recently demonstrated.
Captured by Itombwe-Congo Wildlife Conservation, a group dedicated to protecting the endangered eastern lowland gorillas in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, this amusing clip showcases a gorilla who thought he was ready to take a swim—only to immediately change his mind when he realized the water was much colder than expected.
In the video, the confident gorilla runs excitedly toward the river, his face full of enthusiasm, likely anticipating a refreshing dip to cool off. But as soon as his feet touch the water, the reality of the cold hits him, and his expression changes from excitement to sheer surprise. Without a moment’s hesitation, he turns around and makes a swift, dignified retreat. It’s as if he was thinking, “Nope, nope, nope, that was a bad idea.”
With a slow, almost regal stride, the gorilla walks back to the shore, clearly trying to maintain his composure despite the discomfort he just endured. His retreat is deliberate and measured, as if he’s trying to act as though he meant to do it all along, despite the evident disappointment on his face. The contrast between his initial boldness and his dignified retreat is both funny and incredibly relatable.
The video, with its caption “Gorillas don’t like cold water either… courage at first—a dignified retreat,” quickly became popular. The gorilla’s reaction is so human-like that it’s impossible not to laugh. Haven’t we all been there? Whether it’s jumping into a chilly pool or wading into a cold river, we’ve all been caught off guard by a plunge into icy water, and like this gorilla, sometimes all we can do is turn around and walk away in defeat.
The gorilla in the video most likely resides in the Itombwe Nature Reserve, a protected area in the Itombwe Mountains in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. This reserve is home to roughly 2,000 eastern lowland gorillas, a species critically endangered by poaching, habitat loss, and disease. The conservation efforts by the Congo Wildlife Conservation Project are essential for safeguarding these magnificent creatures and their fragile environment.
As the video humorously demonstrates, gorillas, despite their immense strength and power, aren’t immune to the simple discomforts of nature. Just like us, they have their moments of hesitation and retreat, especially when faced with an unexpected challenge. Perhaps this particular gorilla will try to swim again—maybe when the water is warmer next time. Or perhaps he’ll stick to lounging in the sun, far from the river, where the temperature suits him just fine.
Regardless of what this gorilla decides to do next, we can take comfort in knowing that he is thriving in his natural habitat, surrounded by the beauty of the Itombwe Mountains and the efforts of dedicated conservationists working hard to protect both him and his fellow gorillas. The Itombwe Nature Reserve, while a safe haven for these animals, faces its own challenges, but videos like this remind us of the unique personalities these animals have, making the effort to protect them all the more worthwhile.
In the end, we hope that the gorilla stays healthy, happy, and free to enjoy his natural environment—whether that means swimming when the water’s warmer or just enjoying a peaceful day on dry land.
The reserve is home to about 2,000 eastern lowland gorillas, which are critically endangered due to poaching, habitat loss, and disease. The Congo Wildlife Conservation Project works to conserve these amazing animals and their environment.
Maybe the gorilla will try to swim again when the water is warmer. Or he’ll stick to the land and enjoy the sun. Either way, we hope he’s happy and healthy in his natural habitat.
