New research from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig and the University of Turku reveals that female gorillas make strategic decisions about when to take risks and challenge powerful groupmates. The study found that 42 percent of aggressive interactions originated from lower and targeted higher ranks - more than expected. Among females of different reproductive states, pregnant females took the greatest risks by targeting more powerful group members, highlighting a link between energetic needs and risk-taking. Females targeted more powerful groupmates when there were more males in the group, potentially protecting females, but they targeted less powerful groupmates when there were more females in the group, suggesting that females prefer to target weaker opponents when given the option. These findings suggest that animals can adapt their competitive behaviour and risk-aversion according to the social context and their individual needs.