Gorillas can run at speeds of about 20 to 25 miles per hour (32 to 40 km/h) over short distances. This is quite fast considering their large size and weight, with males (silverbacks) weighing between 300 to 485 pounds. They achieve this speed using a unique form of locomotion called knuckle-walking, which provides balance and stability in their forest habitats. However, gorillas are sprinters rather than endurance runners and can only maintain these speeds briefly

. For comparison, the fastest human sprinter, Usain Bolt, has reached about 27.8 mph (44.7 km/h), slightly faster than a gorilla but only over very short distances. Most humans run slower than gorillas in short bursts. Other primates like chimpanzees can match gorilla speeds, while orangutans are much slower on land

. In their natural environment, gorillas' speed helps them escape threats or assert dominance, but their main natural predator, the leopard, can run faster at about 36 mph (58 km/h)

. Overall, gorillas are impressively fast for their size, capable of quick bursts up to 25 mph