Animals that pose a danger to humans. The most dangerous animals in the world
Natural world lives by its own laws, the main one of which is “survival of the fittest.” And in a duel with many representatives of the fauna world, a person does not always emerge victorious. Which of them are the most dangerous animals in the world? The answers to this question are in the selection below.
Every year, millions of people die from various animals on the planet. This is more than from car accidents. Therefore, it is worth knowing who is better to avoid.
Elephants
Elephants are among the four smartest and ten most dangerous animals in the world. Some people mistakenly believe that savannah giants are clumsy by nature. In fact, when moving on the plain, they are capable of speeds of about 35 km/h. If the five-ton beast experiences fear and panic, it becomes obsessed with destruction and murder. At these moments, she sweeps away everything in her path, not sparing living beings. About 500 people become victims of the sudden rage of elephants every year.
The Bears
Furry bears only appear “white and fluffy” in appearance. In fact, in a fit of anger, they do not leave a single hope for a person. Enraged animals overtake their prey and kill mercilessly. Brown and polar bears They are omnivores, and therefore in moments of hunger they often consider a person as potential food. It is useless to run away from the shaggy man. In a fit of excitement, he is capable of reaching speeds of up to 60 km/h.
Asian buffalo
Asian buffalos are also distinguished by their ferocious temperament and unpredictable behavior. They are capable of attacking a person even for no apparent reason. The main weapon of the most dangerous animals is two-meter horns. Buffaloes use them to ram their opponents or victims. To do this, they accelerate, and then throw up the victim with their horns, or deliver methodical blows with them. When a buffalo manages to knock down its opponent, it simply begins to literally trample him. Their attacks kill up to 200 people every year.
"Big Cats"
African representatives of the cat family have earned themselves the reputation of the most dangerous animals in the world for the reason that they kill up to 10-15 people every year. In the minds of lions and leopards, humans are easy prey. They can easily knock you down, drag the carcass up a tree, and then enjoy the taste of their prey with pleasure. Smart animals hide the remains of their meal in a fork in the trees away from the voracious jackals. But still, most often, huge dexterous cats attack not careless tourists lost in the night, but large primates, deer, and wild boars who have lost their vigilance.
Among African mammals, famous for their ability to reduce the human population, hippos are also in the lead. They are unpredictable, their mood changes at lightning speed. Just a second ago, thick-skinned, clumsy hippos peacefully grazing or splashing in the water, as if by magic, instantly turn into real monsters that sweep away everything in their path. In moments of danger, they become unusually aggressive and merciless.
Dogs
No matter how paradoxical it may seem, man’s faithful friend, a dog, can suddenly become a generator of horror. Being poorly trained by careless owners, the dog can turn into a deadly weapon. Every year, about 200 people lose their lives from the sharp teeth of Sharikov and Bobikov.
Dangerous aquatic vertebrates
IN underwater world There are also animals that pose a serious threat to humans. Which of them is better to bypass on the tenth road?
Sharks
Legends are made about the atrocities of representatives of the shark family. Since ancient times, people have been afraid of these dangerous animals, terrified of their powerful jaws. But main danger lies in their unpredictability. Even knowing the habits, it is difficult to predict how a predator will behave in a given situation. He sneaks up unnoticed, attacks unexpectedly, he is assertive and swift. Among the 450 species of sharks, the most great danger represent: white, tiger, bluntnose, longtip and mako sharks. Every year from 7 to 10 people die from their teeth.
Piranhas
Piranha fish are also among the most dangerous animals for humans. They prefer to stay in large flocks. A school of these toothy fish can, in a matter of minutes, leave only the remains of a skeleton of a fish or animal that gets into their environment. The powerful jaws of underwater creatures are capable of biting and easily tearing powerful muscular bodies. They rarely attack people. Although there are cases where a piranha has bitten off the finger of an adult. They get the opportunity to feast on human flesh when they meet victims of tragic incidents on the way - drowned people.
Reptiles and cold-blooded
They move with lightning speed and attack without warning. Who are these reptiles, whose bite can cause human death?
Representatives of the crocodile family, which successfully survived the reign of dinosaurs, today occupy leading positions in the ranking of the most dangerous animals in the world that are killers of people. Predators attack unwary prey from an ambush on the shore or in the water. At the moment of attack, they make a lightning-fast sprint jump up to 30 m long. Every year, the appetite of the toothy reptile satisfies from 200 to 1000 people.
Snakes
Snakes, which make frightening hissing sounds and display poisonous teeth, bite humans solely for the sake of protection. The number of “lucky” people who encounter poisonous creatures on their way annually reaches 5 thousand. Snakes mainly hunt small animals. Some of them kill the victim with poison, others strangle them with body rings, and others squeeze them with their jaws and press them to the ground with their bodies.
frogs
It's hard to believe that the cute tiny frogs called cocoi that live in the jungle, whose size does not exceed 20-30 mm, can be dangerous. Their main weapon is the poison secreted on the skin, which is the most powerful among analogues of animal origin. It is noteworthy that if this poison is taken orally, it is absolutely harmless. But if an animal or person who comes into contact with the poison has wounds or cuts, the poison first has a paralytic effect and then kills. There is no antidote to it yet.
Blue dart frog Insects and arachnids
There are a huge number of insects in the world that are much more dangerous than large animals. The bites of some of them lead to serious consequences and even death.
Scorpios
Scorpios, who have received an honorable place in the zodiac list, also pose a threat to humans. They have a poisonous sting on their tail, with which they pierce their victims and poison them with the neurotoxins they secrete. The poison paralyzes the victim's brain and chest muscles, causing death. Over the course of a year, scorpions bite over a million people, of whom just over 3 thousand die.
Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles pose the greatest danger to humans. They feed on human blood, injecting malarial plasmodia into the wound cavities in return. Malaria statistics reach 1 million people. in year. Fortunately, among those infected, only 60-70% of the victims receive a ticket to the next world.
Anopheles anopheles mosquito Ants
Among the numerous subfamilies of ants, the most dangerous are representatives of Ponerinae and Myrmeciinae. Their stings contain poison that causes an allergic reaction. Up to 30 people die every year from the poisonous bites of these insects. Fortunately, you can only find them in equatorial zone. Bullet ants also live there, whose bites, although not fatal, feel like bullet wounds.
Spiders
Many representatives of arachnids are real poison factories. The concentrations of toxins present in the poison have a paralytic and necrotic effect. It is dangerous for both primates and humans, as it causes paralysis of the lungs and nervous system. Among the representatives of this family, a place of honor in the Guinness Book of Records under the heading “the most sinister killer” is occupied by banana spider. He is responsible for hundreds of human lives every year.
Representatives of the planktonic world
Beautiful jellyfish, which are representatives of coelenterates, have formidable weapon- stinging cells. At the moment of contact, stinging long threads with poison are released from these cells, which pierce the body of the victim. Once caught in their arms, a person cannot get out. Wrapped in threads, he experiences hellish pain for several minutes and then dies.
Among the most dangerous jellyfish are two inhabitants of the Australian seas - the irukandji and sea wasp. One dose of each is enough to cause a heart attack in 60 people. Up to one and a half hundred people die every year from the poisonous threads of these families.
List merciless killers human race vast and ominous. But we should not forget that in this world we should be careful not only of predatory animals, but also of the “masters of life” - people.
We will talk about animals that can harm a person by any means, techniques, means - be it weight and aggression, claws, poisons, teeth, stinging, swallowing alive, suffocation. Today we will talk about the most dangerous animals in the world.
By the way, animals include insects, birds, snakes, and fish. Therefore, we will consider all living beings, ALL - in the literal sense. By the end of the article it will become clearer what we are talking about. But in general, the most dangerous animals are not tigers, bears, scorpions, sharks, but... creatures that are much smaller and, at first glance, much more harmless, but let’s talk about everything in order.
Elephant
It is believed that the African elephant is larger, more aggressive than the Indian elephant, and cannot be trained. These are cunning, intelligent and cautious creatures, despite their size - they can move silently; there have been cases when elephants took hunters by surprise, sneaking up from behind unnoticed.
There are cases when elephants in India trampled people for no reason and destroyed their homes. Elephants separated from the pack are especially dangerous (especially in mating season), and if something happened to the baby elephants, aggressive, evil animals - they can kill a person in an instant. An elephant can run quite fast - about 40, sometimes 70 km per hour.
Elephants kill several hundred people every year—about 600.
“This animal is so large that one awkward movement is enough to cause fatal harm to another animal or person. For example, in some countries, elephants have learned to steal beer made from rice. As a result, drunken animals trample from ten to hundreds of people every year.”
Yes, besides being aggressive, elephants are smart:“Elephants are among the four most intelligent animals, which also includes monkeys, dogs and dolphins. Elephants have excellent memory. The elephant remembers the person who treated him badly all his life. When meeting, he may even try to take revenge. He remembers places where he felt bad and tries not to appear there again.”
a lion
The lion is considered the king of beasts, there are legends about his nobility, strength, etc., but the lion is, first of all, a predator, and he can easily attack people and even kill them. It’s only in zoos that lions and lion cubs are cute; if you release them, they will kill a lot of people; it’s not uncommon for lions to harm or kill zookeepers and trainers.
“A lion can kill a person very easily and very quickly. But, as a rule, lions do not hunt people. Although, there are tragic exceptions. For example, the famous man-eating lions from Tsavo, who killed more than a hundred people building a railway in the depths of the African continent. And only nine months later these animals were killed.
In Zambia (in 1991), a lion killed nine people. Known about the whole pride of lions, which lived in the area of Lake Tanganyika and over three generations killed and ate from 1,500 to 2,000 people, so lions are considered one of the most dangerous animals in the world.”
“A hungry lion is very dangerous. IN wildlife lions eat mainly zebras and wildebeest for lunch and dinner. The Majestic King of Beasts Well, if the hunt was unsuccessful for some time, then hungry animals can attack a person. In one sitting, an adult can eat up to 30 kilograms of meat. Lions kill about 250 people every year.”
Centuries-old practice shows: a wounded lion or an old lion almost always becomes a cannibal; he cannot hunt for his usual prey, and the person becomes an easy and almost unprotected bait. Many lions turn to cannibalism (especially females) under threat of starvation due to a number of unsuccessful hunts. However, some, having tasted human blood, hunt people and when there is an abundance of large game.
Approximately 1,200 people are killed annually by these huge cannibal cats. And in total different regions There are at least 100,000 maned “animal kings” living in the world today.
Rhinoceros
“Another very dangerous African animal. The problem is the rhino's weak vision: it attacks any moving target without even determining whether it is dangerous for it. You won’t be able to run away from a rhinoceros: it can move at speeds of more than 40 km/h.”
“The rhinoceros follows a simple tactic: if anything moving gets in its way, it knocks over “it” with the full weight of its two-ton carcass and tramples it into mince with its tumbo-shaped legs. A large animal, a rhinoceros (for example, an African black) mercilessly rips open with its long and sharp horn.
Rhinoceroses are almost blind - they distinguish only general outlines and movements no further than seven meters from themselves. However, these colossi have very sophisticated hearing and sense of smell. Individual specimens of white rhinoceroses (also dangerous to humans) weigh three and a half tons and measure 4 or even more meters from the tip of the tail to the nostrils!”
Rhinoceros kills several dozen people a year.
African bull (African buffalo)
“This massive horned creature, which lives in the African savannas, uses its horns when attacking.
Every year, up to five thousand people die because of the African buffalo. Thus, it is believed that more hunters died from these large bulls than from lions.”
Weighs about 700 kg, 3-4 meters long, 1.8 m tall. Attacks by an entire herd are especially dangerous, then the victim has no chance of surviving.
Crocodile
At least 2 thousand people die every year from crocodile teeth. These creatures live in Africa and off the coast of Australia. They often lurk in bodies of water under the guise of logs and attack suddenly and unexpectedly.
Hippopotamus or hippopotamus.
“This massive animal is one of the most dangerous in Africa. The hippopotamus is very aggressive towards people; it often attacks people, and does this for no apparent reason.
Its slowness is very deceptive: an angry hippopotamus is very fast and can easily catch up with a person. A hippopotamus attack in the water is especially dangerous: they easily overturn boats and chase people.”
“At the zoo, these clumsy and fat animals at first glance seem very funny and amusing when they open their mouths to
so that zoo guests treat them with all sorts of goodies. However, in nature, these animals are far from harmless, as they can develop enormous speed (especially in water).
For example, during mating games these fat men turn into real wild creatures who are capable of killing anyone who interferes with them. Traits that make the hippopotamus considered a very dangerous animal:
— the fangs of the animal, the length of which can reach half a meter, are very dangerous;
- hippos are not afraid to attack those swimming by small boats, and therefore can even turn them over;
“A female hippopotamus, while protecting her baby, can reach speeds of up to 35 kilometers per hour.”
Hippos kill 3,000 people annually. This is one of the most dangerous animals, more dangerous than a crocodile.
Wolves
“For example, in Britain wolves are the main characters fairy tales. However, they really exist and kill people all over the world. Wolves are especially dangerous when young animals are around them, when they are hunting and when their females are pregnant.
The global wolf population numbers at least 100,000 individuals. They kill approximately 400 people every year.
In the Indian state of Ita Pradesh in 2002, a pack of 10 wolves killed 42 local residents, most of whom were women and children. Only when a group of hunters tracked down and killed the leader of the pack did the rest leave for another area. If you are attacked by a wolf, try to use the technique of experienced hunters: stick your hand as deep as possible into the wolf's mouth. Of course, the risk is extremely high, but you can either strangle the aggressor, or the following will happen: the blood flowing down your arm, entering the windpipe of the animal, will cause it to choke. In this way Zayda managed to escape death.”
Polar and brown bears
“The wild polar bear is a powerful and voracious predator, reaching a length of 2.5 meters and a weight of 800 kg. Although there are specimens that reach a length of 3 meters and weigh 1600 kg. It feeds on any type of animal that inhabits the place where it lives: fish, seals, walruses, the remains of dead whales and seals. It won't give him much trouble to catch up with a person. And therefore it is better not to catch the eye of this predator, otherwise there will be practically no chance of salvation.
Thanks to developed vision, hearing and smell, he is able to see or smell a person 100 meters away from himself. And since he is always hungry, he will not mind eating fresh meat and will definitely attack. Statistics say that every year in the polar countries people die from polar bear about 15-17 people.”
The white bear runs fast, and in captivity is not at all cute and cuddly; it overtakes a person and kills him without a chance of life.
The victims of brown bears, including in Russia, are often people who enter the animal’s territory and behave incorrectly or aggressively.
Several dozen people become victims of bears every year.
Monkeys (baboons)
There is no exact data on the victims of these rabid monkeys, but it is reliably known that at least one hundred cases of brutal attacks by these animals on humans are recorded annually, several with fatal results.
“Monkeys often attack children and even adults, taking their food, robbing them, and taking things they like. If there are a lot of them attacking at once, then it is difficult to somehow resist them. They also raid agricultural areas for food and lay waste to them. Among monkeys, the most aggressive species is baboons. They are quite large, reaching a weight of 25 kg. Baboons are not afraid of many predators, with the exception of leopards and lions.
However, there are those brave souls who are ready to fight a leopard and most often win it. Baboons have an insidious, evil, unbridled and hot-tempered character. Sensing danger, they become enraged and attack the enemy. An angry baboon can tear a predator or a person apart. Therefore, if you meet a baboon, it is better not to extend your hand to him, expecting a handshake, because it is difficult to understand what will be in his head at that moment and you can count on anything. It’s better not to take risks.”
Shark and killer whale
Despite the menacing stereotypes about the cruelty of sharks and their aggressiveness towards people, no more than 20 people officially become victims of sharks every year.
The killer whale, although the most ferocious ocean predator (there are versions that it is the largest and most ferocious in general), usually does not attack people. Officially, over a couple of decades, only a few cases of killer whale attacks on humans have been recorded.
By the way, in Russia alone, people die from tick bites 5 times every year. more people.
Scorpion
Scorpio is the most dangerous spider, about 5,000 people die from its bites every year.
“Scorpions of the genus Androctonus are considered very dangerous animals, which kill several human lives. The name of this scorpion comes from its large tail, on which there is a powerful sting for injecting poison into the victim.
One of the reasons why this scorpion is considered dangerous is its proximity to human habitats. Unfortunately, these representatives often hide in the cracks of stone or brick walls. If you are a fan of studying scorpions, then you can find it in many countries in Asia and North Africa, including Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Sudan, India, Israel, Saudi Arabia and Yemen."
Poisonous frogs
“These poisonous creatures mainly live in the South and Central America, as well as on the island of Madagascar. These deadly animals are distinguished by the fact that they have poisonous glands on their backs that produce deadly toxins.
For example, a poisonous substance of one golden frog, which lives on the island of Madagascar, can kill 10 people. The most poisonous frog is the terrible frog. So, just one gram of venom from this extremely dangerous creature can lead to several thousand deaths.”
There is no data on the number of victims.
Poisonous jellyfish
“The box jellyfish has won the honorary title of “the most poisonous creature in the ocean.” While not quite a jellyfish, it possesses a series of long tentacles that can reach three meters in length, adorned with microscopic stings that can cause unbearable pain or rapid death in an unlucky victim.
It is believed that the venom of this animal is enough to kill 60 people. And while not many people have suffered an untimely death from box jellyfish tentacles, contact with this venomous specimen can cause death before you even reach shore.”
The venom of a box jellyfish is considered the most deadly in the world, but, fortunately, encounters with this creature are rare. About 100 people die from box jellyfish venom every year.
The number of jellyfish is constantly increasing, experts attribute this to global warming.
Dangerous fish. Piranhas
“The razor-sharp teeth of these bloodthirsty fish kill more than 300 people every year. Aggressive piranhas attack any living thing that accidentally enters their abode.”
Ticks
“From tick bites, more precisely from infection various diseases Not many people die from tick-borne diseases. According to statistics (approximate) from CCHF, Encephalitis, Q fever, etc. In Russia, about 50-100 people die every year. The data is not mine."
Snakes
According to official reports - From the bites of the most poisonous snakes (taipan, cruel snake, epha, cobra) 50 thousand people die a year.
Mosquitoes, mosquitoes
According to official statistics— Every year, mosquitoes infect about 700 million people with various ailments, causing 2 to 3 million people to die per year.
From Wikipedia: “Various species of mosquitoes are assessed in transmission various types diseases in more than 700 million people a year, in Africa, South America, Central America, Mexico, Russia and much of Asia, with millions deaths“At least two million people die every year from these diseases, and the incidence rate is many times higher than officially recorded.”
According to Wikipedia, it turns out that even our Russian mosquitoes are not as harmless as we thought. Do you believe it? I have not yet heard of cases of someone contracting, for example, malaria from a Siberian mosquito.
In the wilderness, among swampy areas, it is perhaps possible for the existence of huge mosquitoes that can cause some kind of disease. But by and large, local mosquito bites cause maximum swelling at the site of the bite, but not dengue fever. However, statistics are stubborn things...
Important points: aggression of dangerous animals is often provoked by the person himself, and not only by momentary behavior.
Elephants in search of food, since people have cut down forests, go to populated areas, go hungry or during the mating season. Forests are cut down because there is not enough space for everyone due to the growth of cities and the need for wood materials.
Bears go looking for food settlements, since people also massively destroy the flora and territory of bears, causing them to starve and maladapt.
Global warming, which occurs mainly due to the destruction of human natural reserves, makes many animals, including dangerous ones, inadequate and they more actively attack people.
The National Geographer's film "Ruthlessness of the Wild" shows the harsh, cruel laws of this very nature: the hungry and strong eat those who are weaker in this moment. Hippopotamuses, which kill several thousand people a year, are very gentle towards their cubs and they themselves often need to defend themselves from cruel predators, and a newly born buffalo calf (buffaloes kill about 2 thousand people a year), losing its balance, hurries after its mother, and rhinoceroses get stuck in a swamp... And another predator invades this territory - man. To film dying animals, to catch dying species for a trophy, is extremely rare in order to help.
Let's compare the statistics - who kills whom more often: animals, people, or people, animals. For example, for rhinoceroses:“More than 1,004 rhinos were killed by hunters in 2013, an increase from 668 rhinos killed in 2012. These data were officially published…”, while rhinoceroses kill several dozen times less people per year.
The black rhinoceros is officially declared extinct.
Sharks:“It is estimated that the chance of a person being attacked by a shark (for those who go to the beaches) is 1 in 11.5 million, and the chance of dying from such an attack is 1 in 264.1 million. The average annual number of drownings in the United States is 3,306 people, and deaths from sharks - 1. For comparison, people kill 100 million sharks every year.”
As a result, the smallest creatures at first glance - mosquitoes - take revenge on everyone for their larger brothers...
Bottom line: the most dangerous animal is, of course, man.
In one of the New York zoos there is a cage with the inscription “The most dangerous animal in the world.” When the visitor timidly looked there - he discovered himself, he saw his reflection in the back wall of the cage, which was mirrored...
It turns out that the most dangerous and deadly animal in the world is not a human or even a shark.
In fact, most animal deaths often have little to do with the animals themselves. Rather, with the diseases they carry.
Certainly, quantitative estimates, presented below, can sometimes differ significantly from the real state of affairs, but accurate statistics of human deaths caused by animals are not yet available to anyone.
Sharks - 6 deaths per year
Attacks on humans are quite rare. In 2014, only three deaths were recorded, and in 2015, six.
Wolves - 10 deaths per year
Attacks by wolves on humans are quite rare in the parts of the world where they live. Studies have shown that over the past 50 years there have been only a few deaths in Europe and North America. However, in some regions of India, wolves killed an average of 10 people per year.
Lions - 22 deaths or more per year
This figure changes from year to year. A 2005 study found that lions have killed 563 people in Tanzania since 1990, an average of 22 deaths per year. Of course, deaths from lion attacks also occur outside of Tanzania, but the exact number is unknown.
Elephants - 500 deaths per year
Elephants are also responsible for annual deaths—a 2005 National Geographic article states that 500 people a year are killed in elephant attacks. However, many more elephants were killed by humans.
Hippos - 500 deaths per year
For a long time, hippos were considered the most deadly animals in Africa. They are known to be aggressive towards people and regularly capsize boats.
Tapeworms, or tapeworms, 700 deaths per year
Crocodiles - 1000 deaths per year
Crocodiles are now considered to be the large animal responsible for the largest number of human deaths in Africa, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, although exact figures are unknown.
Roundworms - 4,500 deaths per year
According to a 2013 study, roundworms cause a disease called ascoriasis, which kills approximately 4,500 people annually. WHO notes that infection occurs in the small intestine of people and the disease affects children more than adults.
Tsetse flies - 10 thousand deaths per year
Predators - 12 thousand deaths
The predators, also called “kissing bugs,” carry Chagas disease, which kills on average about 12,000 people a year. The pathogen enters the skin wound through insect feces.
Freshwater snails - 20 thousand deaths per year
Dogs - 35 thousand deaths per year
Dogs infected with the rabies virus are one of the deadliest animals in the world, although the virus is preventable with vaccines. About 35 thousand deaths a year can be attributed to rabies, and 99% of these cases, according to WHO, are caused by dogs.
Snakes - 100 thousand deaths per year
As of 2015, more than 100 thousand people die from snake bites. Moreover, there is a worldwide shortage of antivenom.
People - 437 thousand deaths per year
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, there were approximately 437,000 homicides worldwide in 2012, making humans the second deadliest animal to humans. We are not yet our own worst enemy, but we are very close to it.
Mosquitoes - 750 thousand deaths per year
Pesky and annoying insects that drink our blood and thereby transmit viruses from person to person are responsible for the largest number of deaths associated with animals. Malaria alone kills 350,000 people, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa, although the disease is on the decline. Dengue fever, another mosquito-borne disease, has become a leading cause of hospitalization and death for many children in some countries in Asia and Latin America.
The king of all life on earth is, of course, man. But this does not mean that we are not exposed to danger from the world of animals and insects. A one-on-one meeting with many representatives of an animal and insect species may not turn out well. A real threat to human life comes not only from huge and ferocious wild animals; sometimes the smallest, seemingly harmless mollusk or frog with a bright, captivating color can cause damage to health much faster and more seriously.
It would be wrong to compile a list of the most dangerous animals based on the number dead people from one or another representative of the fauna. On all continents of the earth, on each landmass, a different number of people live. For example, in some provinces of India, a large number of peasants died from poisonous snake bites. But it is also known that snakes in this region are not the most dangerous, it’s just that farmers have to work in the habitats of the crawling reptile. To be fair, the list of the most dangerous should include precisely those creatures that, under the same conditions and with the same number of people, will cause more harm.
The most large reptile, reaching seven meters. The crocodile's habitat is quite extensive, ranging from eastern India to northern Australia. The second name for the giant predator is the cannibal crocodile. A natural hunter and killer, the Australian crocodile can kill a full-grown buffalo. After waiting motionless for hours for its prey, the reptile attacks with great speed, leaving it no chance. There have been many cases in nature when crocodiles attacked an entire group of tourists. Once the killer manages to get someone in his grip, there is no way to escape. Such a death machine is capable of attacking 2-3 people at the same time.
They inhabit almost all of Africa, sometimes found in India. An unpredictable animal with powerful paws and huge fangs, it is used to staying away from people, but just like all other predatory cats, when danger arises, it does not pay attention to the number of enemies. There have been cases when lions, having attacked a person at least once, became cannibals, preferring exclusively human meat. It is possible to cope with an angry, hungry predator only with three or four people.
According to the Guinness Book of Records, it is the most dangerous and poisonous shellfish in the world. Fortunately, over the past 50 years there have been no reports of a person dying from a collision with a cone. Molluscs that live in warm climates sea waters, if possible, hide in coral reefs. With the help of a sharp spike located in the proboscis, the mollusk not only obtains food for itself, having previously killed it, but also protects itself from external threats. The person who took it lethal weapon in your hands, nothing will save you. The toxicity of the poison is so great that one “bite” from a poisonous thorn is enough to paralyze and stop the heart of 2-3 adults at once.
This large fish reaches 6 m in length, and its weight can fluctuate around 1.5–2 tons. The most dangerous, cruel and bloodthirsty sea predator called "white death". It is impossible for a person to escape from this monster. A shark does not bite easily - it snacks. It is not uncommon to feel hungry White shark, swam close to the shore and attacked people. There is evidence that tells about the same predator, which attacked in different places during the day, dragging several people with it. A meeting with such a fish is especially dangerous because it is certainly impossible to swim away from it, so some powerlessness shown by a person under water gives the toothy shark great advantages.
At first glance, this is a huge lazy animal, calmly and measuredly splashing around in the water. But if you give the slightest hint that someone is encroaching on his territory, beware. The life of hippos is spent in constant battles with their relatives, trying to show their superiority over others. One can hardly blame the animal for its speed and aggression. A rather frisky, three-toned carcass with huge fangs and powerful paws can cause a lot of trouble in moments of rage. There have been cases when a hippopotamus bit a large crocodile. A huge mouth, opening to the full vertical, is capable of taking the lives of 3-4 adults at once, and if we take into account the partial clouding of the mind when feeling danger, the female hippopotamus is ready to destroy and kill until there is no one left around.
African snake, about which many have developed terrible legends. « Black Death" reaches a length of three meters in length, but even larger individuals are found. It hunts both during the day and at night, so the probability of meeting a mamba is very high. Known for its vindictiveness, it can pursue a victim for several hours, while developing a speed of open space up to 20 km. One of the most poisonous snakes, the mamba, when meeting a person, prefers not to hide; it does not try to hiss and show its hostility, but simply attacks, lightning fast and mercilessly. A small amount of poison is enough to kill an elephant. With one bite, the snake injects 50–100 grams. poison, leaving a liquid reserve for another 3-4 bites, while the lethal dose for a person is 30 grams. Consequently, a black mamba is capable of killing from 3 to 5 people.
The Komodo devil reaches 3.5–4 m in length and weighs more than 100 kg. Predators feed mainly on small animals and rodents, but if hunger makes itself felt strongly, they attack a horse, cow or buffalo. Meeting with herself big lizard can turn out quite sadly even for large representatives of the animal world. A quick swipe from the tail will easily break limbs. Seeing that the victim is slightly defeated, the monitor lizard begins a series of deadly bites. In addition to sharp, cutting teeth, its saliva contains a small amount of poison. Fortunately, there are almost no people on the islands where they live. Varan will never be the first to attack a person, but if he senses obvious danger, he will go from defense to attack. If you drive a monitor lizard into a corner, in complete desperation it will be able to cope with 5-6 people.
Fierce predators, reaching 3 m in length and weighing 1200–1500 kg. Thanks to their special sense of smell and vision, they can see their prey from many kilometers away. The fearless, curious thug is very resilient and fast. A well-fed polar bear will never attack a person, but given that this animal is almost always hungry, there have been many cases of unfortunate attacks. It is difficult to deal with the bear, even if you have a gun with you, since an angry, wounded bear will fight until its last breath. There is a case in history when a shot down polar bear tore to pieces three polar explorers, and four more barely managed to escape. It’s scary to think, but to cope with such a death machine you need a lot of strong hands.
Typically, these living “armored vehicles” lead a cautious lifestyle, attacking anyone extremely rarely, trying to avoid conflict by fleeing. But you shouldn’t provoke the rhinoceros too much. There is a rule among hunters that if the first shot did not kill a rhinoceros, but only wounded it, the second one is no longer important. The wounded animal turns into an uncontrollable, angry death machine. Stop a rushing one and a half ton rhinoceros at a speed of 30 km/h. It's simply impossible.
The jellyfish is in the shape of a round cube, which is why it received the second name “box jellyfish”. With a small body size of 4–5 cm, the jellyfish has long tentacles about 50 cm in length. It is in them that dangerous poison is found, several times greater than the toxicity of the most poisonous snakes. The main danger also lies in the fact that it is almost impossible to see it, since it is absolutely transparent. Unfortunately, due to the widespread habitat of jellyfish in the coastal regions of northern Australia and southeast Asia, the number of human deaths is quite high. A person stung by a jellyfish wasp experiences severe burns and unbearable pain throughout the body, which subsequently provokes cardiac arrest. How more jellyfish, the faster death occurs. One such individual is capable of stinging up to 5–6 times, causing a corresponding number of victims.
Lives in the waters Pacific Ocean. A small creature with a beautiful bright color, has deadly weapon mass destruction. The main problem is that an octopus bite is completely painless and a person does not even suspect that after some 5-10 minutes his body will be completely paralyzed and lead to respiratory failure. Through experiments on rabbits, scientists have discovered that the venom of one blue-ringed octopus is enough to kill 10 adults at once. Unfortunately, there is still no antidote to this terrible and painful death.
The best and most courageous hunter on the entire “dark continent” is considered to be the person who was able to kill not a lion, or even an elephant, but a ferocious and powerful African buffalo. This animal is absolutely not amenable to any training or domestication; it sweeps away everything in its path. Possessing enormous strength and the will to win, the African buffalo uses all methods of defense and attack in battle - horns, hooves, teeth. The buffalo is used to fighting to the last. Until he drops dead, he will pursue the offender. On the continent they have heard about the cunning of the beast; when leaving a hunter with a gun, he makes a loop and strikes from the rear. The height of a buffalo reaches 2 m with a body length of 3–4 m, and the weight of individual individuals reaches up to a ton. An angry buffalo terrifies even hungry lions. If he finds himself among a crowd of people, a huge number of victims cannot be avoided.
One of the smartest mammals on the planet. Huge, heavy and strong animals are more likely to cause positive feelings. Many representatives of this species are actually kind and obedient, and are easy to train. But there have been cases when the five-ton giant begins to show unjustified aggression. It is extremely dangerous to be nearby at such a moment. In addition to the inexplicable behavior of enraged elephants, eyewitnesses accompanying hunters from Africa often mention cases when the elephants themselves hunted people, silently (!) sneaking up from behind and delivering a fatal blow with their trunk. If you multiply the cunning, intelligence and strength of an elephant, angry and uncontrollable, rushing towards a crowd of people, you can only imagine how many victims there will be.
Leader in danger and lethality. The venom of this creature, consisting of more than a hundred different substances, is 20 times more toxic than other poisonous frogs. An adult frog contains enough poison to kill 1,500 people (!). Just touching a dangerous creature can cause painful spasms, convulsions and complete cessation of breathing. The situation is complicated by the fact that the world has not yet developed an antidote. Small, brightly colored frogs, only 3–5 cm in size, can be found on trees, shrubs, shallow ponds and swamps in Brazil.
Views of residents and hunters from different continents The ranking of the most dangerous animals will always be controversial. The above described are precisely those individuals that inflict obvious mortal wounds on humans. The statement that malaria mosquitoes or tsetse flies are leaders is fundamentally incorrect, since a bitten person has the opportunity to contact special authorities in a timely manner, where he will receive the necessary medical care. After an encounter with, say, a hungry bear, the help of a doctor will no longer be useful.
2016.04.16 byThe animal world is rich and diverse, and each species strives to survive in it. Not many animals pose a great danger to humans, and most of these species live far from people. However, there are animals that are not so scary at first glance, but actually hide within themselves mortal danger. This ranking of the most dangerous animals on the planet includes both fairly small poisonous animals and large and strong animals.
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The list opens with an animal that lives almost as close to humans as cats, but is less friendly and more dangerous. The rat is a genus of rodents in the mouse family. There are about 70 species in the genus. Two synanthropic species are widespread: gray and black rats. The body length of rats is from 8 to 30 centimeters, the length of the tail is equal to the length of the body or even longer, the weight is from 37 to 420. The body color is dominated by dark gray or gray-brown tones, but yellow, red and orange shades are also found. The toes are movable - this compensates for the insufficient development of calluses necessary for climbing.
Rats are a natural reservoir of many zoonotic and anthropozoonotic infections. They carry pathogens of plague, tularemia, rabies, typhoid, toxoplasmosis, leptospirosis, rickettsiosis, sodoku and other diseases. In the United States, at least 14,000 people are bitten by rats each year. According to the City Disinfection Center, 506 people were bitten by rats in Moscow in 2008, so these babies are quite dangerous animals for humans. Rats also cause great economic damage by eating and spoiling food and non-food products, and sometimes damaging electrical networks, which can lead to fires. Also, some types of rats cause damage agriculture, eating crops.
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The Komodo dragon is a species of lizard from the monitor lizard family. largest representative lizards Komodo dragons live on several islands of Indonesia, located in the Lesser Sunda Islands group. Wild adult Komodo dragons weigh about 70 kilograms, but in captivity reach up to large sizes. The length of the tail is about half of the total body length. The color of adult monitor lizards is dark brown, usually with small yellowish spots and specks; on their backs there are rows of reddish-orange and yellowish eye-shaped spots, merging into stripes on the neck and tail. The teeth of the Komodo dragon are compressed laterally and have serrated cutting edges. Such teeth are well suited for tearing the meat of large prey into pieces.
Animals of this species reach sexual maturity approximately in the tenth year of life, to which only a small part of the born monitor lizards survive. Monitor lizards feed on a wide variety of animals - both vertebrates and invertebrates. Cannibalism is also common among them, especially in years of famine. It has been proven that Komodo dragons have poisonous bite, they have two poison glands in the lower jaw. The functions of the venom include inhibiting blood clotting, reducing blood pressure, muscle paralysis and the development of hypothermia, leading to shock and loss of consciousness in the bitten victim.
Komodo dragons are one of the planet's potentially dangerous animals to humans, although they do not pose a direct danger to adults. After being bitten, you should consult a doctor immediately. The number of deaths due to untimely provision of medical care reaches 99%. Children are especially vulnerable. Monitor lizards may well kill a child under 10 years of age or cause serious injury. Cases of monitor lizards digging up human corpses from shallow graves are well known. Monitor lizards can locate the source of the smell of blood at a distance of up to 5 km. Monitor lizards are endangered and it is illegal to kill them.
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Dart frogs are frogs from the family of tailless amphibians that secrete strong poison. This family unites about 130 species of frogs of four genera, living in South and Central America. These frogs have no teeth and no swimming membranes on their limbs. The terminal phalanges of the fingers are expanded into suction cups. These discs allow dart frogs to easily move along branches and leaves. The sizes of poison dart frogs range from 18 millimeters to 4 centimeters, only some species reach 7 centimeters. The coloring of poison dart frogs is very bright and contrasting, the most diverse in color range among amphibians. Dart frogs are painted in red, blue, yellow, green, orange, and the overall tone can have a pattern of various stripes and spots. This type of frog may be an unexpected answer to the question of which animals are dangerous to humans.
Dart frog venom is cardiotoxic and causes cardiac arrest. The poison is contained in the skin secretions of dart frogs, thus protecting them from predators. Many native tribes South America They used this poison to lubricate hunting arrows. Most representatives of this family are arboreal, but there are also terrestrial species that live mainly along the banks of water bodies. Dart frogs feed on small creatures. All dart frogs are diurnal and therefore convenient for observation.
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The wolf is a predatory mammal of the canine family, which is the direct ancestor of domestic dog. The wolf is the largest and most dangerous animal in its family: its body length (without tail) can reach 160 centimeters, tail up to 52 centimeters, height at the withers up to 90 centimeters; body weight up to 86 kilograms. In total, there are approximately 32 subspecies of wolves, differing in size and shades of fur. Previously, the wolf was much more widespread in Eurasia and North America. In modern times, the total number of animals has decreased markedly, mainly due to urbanization and mass extermination.
The basis of wolves' diet is ungulates, and the behavior of these wild animals has not changed for hundreds of years. Wolves also attack domestic animals, gophers, foxes, mouse-like rodents, and do not miss the opportunity to eat a clutch of eggs, chicks or. They are active mainly at night. Of the external senses, the wolf has the best developed hearing, slightly worse - the sense of smell; vision is much weaker. Well-developed nervous activity in wolves is combined with strength, agility, speed and other physical characteristics. If necessary, the wolf reaches speeds of up to 60 km/h and is capable of traveling up to 80 kilometers per night.
When attacking a herd, wolves often kill several animals, tearing out their throats or ripping open their bellies. Wolves keep uneaten meat in reserve. There have been cases of wolf attacks on humans. Mentally, the wolf is highly developed. This is expressed in the ability to navigate the environment and avoid danger, as well as in hunting methods. There are known cases when a pack of wolves was divided, and one part remained in ambush, while the other caught prey. In a pack chasing an elk or deer, often some wolves run on the heels of the prey, while others run across them or run slowly and, having rested, replace the leaders until they starve out the prey.
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Hippopotamus or hippopotamus is a mammal from the order Artiodactyla, suborder Porciniformes, family Hippopotamus. One of the largest living land animals, sometimes weighing more than 4 tons. Currently, the hippopotamus lives only in Africa - about 140 thousand individuals. Previously, pigs were considered the closest relatives of hippopotamuses, but now scientists consider them to be whales. Characteristic feature The hippopotamus has a semi-aquatic lifestyle - it spends most of its time in the water, coming onto land only at night for a few hours to feed.
Despite the wide popularity of the hippopotamus, in many respects this animal has not been studied enough. This applies to a number of features of his lifestyle and behavior, as well as genetic connections with other animals, physiology and much more. The behavior of these wild animals is characterized by pronounced aggressiveness. Fights between male hippos often result in the death of one of the participants. Cases of hippopotamus attacks on humans are also very common. The hippopotamus, according to some data, is the most dangerous beast Africa - significantly more people die from its attacks than from attacks by lions, buffalos or leopards.
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Rhinoceroses are a family of equid mammals containing five species distributed in Africa and Asia. Main hallmark Rhinoceroses have horns on their noses, the largest of which was 158 centimeters long. Rhinoceroses have a massive body and short, thick limbs. Each of them has three fingers, ending in wide hooves. Rhinoceroses have poor eyesight, but this deficiency is compensated by a sophisticated sense of smell and excellent hearing. Rhinoceroses live alone, but in savannas they can also unite in small groups.
Rhinoceroses sleep during the day; they can be found active at dusk and at night. These are very timid and cautious animals, avoiding closeness to humans. However, if they feel threatened, they attack. And although these attacks are due to low vision poorly aimed, they can lead to severe injuries due to their enormous strength and sharp horn. Having accelerated, a rhinoceros can reach a speed of 45 km/h. Adult rhinoceroses have no enemies other than humans.
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The African elephant is the largest land animal on the planet, a genus of African mammals of the proboscis order. Includes two modern looking: savanna elephant and forest elephant. Latest Research suggest that these two species formed 1.9 and 7.1 million years ago. The average weight of males is 5 tons, females - 2.5-3 tons, but among them there are also real giants up to 4 meters high and weighing 12 tons. The thickness of their skin reaches 2-4 cm. According to recent estimates, there are about 500-600 thousand African elephants left in the wild. All species of the genus are listed in the Red Book. Of the predators, only humans hunt adult elephants, mainly for their tusks. Of the elephant's sense organs, smell and hearing are the most developed.
Apart from humans, the elephant has practically no enemies. At the moment of danger, the elephant represents a very formidable force. When attacking, he presses his ears to his neck, hides his trunk behind his tusks, which he brings forward with a sharp movement. At the same time, it makes a piercing, shrill sound, reminiscent of a hoarse bugle. Both males and females of the African elephant are armed with tusks. But females have small tusks. But the tusks of old males sometimes reached a length of 3-3.5 meters with a mass of about 100 kg each. An elephant reaches sexual maturity by 12-20 years, and old age and death by 60-70 years. These animals also have excellent memory. They perfectly remember all members of their family, offenders and those who do good for them. They can take revenge on the offender many years later, if they meet again, of course.
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The polar bear is the largest land mammal of the carnivorous order. close relative brown bear. Lives in the polar regions in the northern hemisphere of the Earth. Its length reaches 3 meters, weight up to 1 ton. Typically, males weigh 400-450 kilograms, body length 200-250 centimeters, height at the withers up to 150 cm. Females are noticeably smaller - 200-300 kilograms. The polar bear is distinguished from other bears Long neck and a flat head. His skin is black. The soles of the feet are lined with wool to prevent slipping on ice and freezing. There is a swimming membrane between the toes, and the front part of the paws is lined with stiff bristles. Large claws can hold even strong prey.
This is very dangerous wild animals animals, since the animal runs very fast, and one blow of a powerful paw can kill anyone. It is strictly forbidden to even walk away with your back turned when meeting a polar bear. In a critical situation, experienced people always go towards the beast, showing with all their appearance that they are not afraid of it. At the same time, they make loud pinching sounds, which in bear language means a threat. Man, due to his structure, is of no interest to a powerful predator. Therefore, the bear never hunts two-legged animals, but prefers to leave if it sees them dangerously close. Cases of polar bear attacks on humans are the exception rather than the rule.
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The African buffalo is a species of bull widely distributed in Africa. This is the largest of the bulls. The weight of adult males sometimes exceeds 1000 kilograms, and specimens weighing 900 kg are not uncommon. The height at the withers in adult males is up to 1.8 meters with a body length of about 3 meters. The buffalo population in Africa has survived quite well compared to the population of other large animals on the continent, although it is under strong pressure from humans. The African buffalo is a herd animal. Usually there are groups of 20-30 animals that gather in herds during the dry season, but then the herds can number many hundreds of animals.
Buffaloes have few enemies in nature, since due to their large size and enormous strength, an adult buffalo is an unbearable prey for most predators. Cows and calves, however, often become prey to lions, who inflict significant damage on buffalo herds by attacking entire prides. When defending themselves from enemies, these wild animals of Africa usually show mutual assistance and act in friendly groups. Many cases have been described in which buffaloes not only drove lions away from the herd, but even killed them. It is curious that buffaloes have a sense of mutual assistance, which is clearly noticeable when enemies attack.
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The top three most dangerous animals in the world are revealed by the saltwater crocodile, a reptile of the family of true crocodiles. This is the largest species widely distributed among crocodiles. It is most often found on the coast of northern Australia on the islands of Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. Even though crocodiles carry out most time in water, we added them to the list of land animals, not to the list. The ability to make long voyages in the open sea explains the wide distribution of this species. Males can reach a length of 7 meters, and females 3 meters. Adult males weigh up to 1000 kilograms. This crocodile received the name “combed” for a pair of powerful ridges running from the eyes almost to the front third of the muzzle.
The saltwater crocodile is an active predator. The main food of crocodiles are insects, amphibians, fish, and birds. Adults attack large animals: turtles, monkeys, wild boars, deer, etc. Meetings with other wild animals often occur at a watering hole, where the crocodile is looking for a victim. When hunting, the crocodile behaves quite cunningly. First, it tracks its prey while completely in the water. Only the nostrils, eyes and part of the back are visible on the surface. When the victim is nearby, the crocodile suddenly rushes, grabs it and drags it to the bottom. Crocodiles are also cannibals, but they rarely attack on land. Only when the person himself loses his vigilance. If a crocodile attacks a person, then the rest can only watch as the predator drags its victim to the bottom. There is nothing that can be done in this situation.
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Taipan is a genus of very poisonous snakes of the asp family. Large Australian snakes, whose bite is considered the most dangerous among modern snakes of the wild animal world, before the development of an antidote to it, died from a taipan bite in more than 90% of cases. According to various estimates, it is the third most poisonous snake in the world and the largest poisonous snake in Australia, up to 3.3 meters long. Due to its aggressive nature, large size and speed, the taipan is considered the most dangerous of all venomous snakes on the planet. It lives on the coast of Northern and Northeastern Australia and in the southeast of New Guinea. Leads predominantly daytime look life. Feeds on frogs and small mammals, including mice and rats.
Poisonous teeth up to 13 mm in length. The taipan's venom glands contain up to 400 milligrams of poison, which it injects through its 12 mm teeth. Taipan venom primarily blocks muscle contractions, which causes paralysis of the respiratory muscles and disrupts blood clotting. The taipan is very aggressive and fast: when it sees danger, it raises its head, shaking it, then strikes the enemy several times in a row with lightning speed. A taipan bite can lead to death in 4-12 hours, while a bite from other poisonous snakes a person lives for about a day. In Queensland, where taipans are most common, every second person bitten dies.
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So we come to the first place in our ranking of the most dangerous animals in the world, on which sits the king of beasts - African lion. This animal is a representative of the species carnivorous mammals, one of four representatives of the panther genus, belonging to the subfamily big cats as part of the cat family. It is the second largest living cat after the tiger. Previously lived throughout Africa, now only in sub-Saharan Africa and a small population in the Indian state of Gujarat. Who would have thought that the most terrible and dangerous animals in the world are big cats.
The appearance of a lion is very characteristic. This is one of the few predators with pronounced sexual dimorphism. Males are not only much larger than females, but have a mane, which in some subspecies reaches great development and covers the shoulders, part of the back and chest. The lion is the heaviest after the tiger; the weight of adult lions can reach 250 kilograms for males and 182 for females. Lions have powerful legs, strong jaws, and canines that are 8 cm long, so these predators are capable of killing quite large animals. The lion's body length reaches 250 centimeters in males and 175 in females. The height at the shoulders is about 123 centimeters for males and 107 for females.
Unlike other cats, they do not live alone, but in special family groups - prides. Lions hunt in coordinated groups and stalk their chosen prey. However, they are less resilient than, for example, hyenas, which means lions can only run quickly over short distances and must be close to their prey during an attack. Lions sneak up on a herd of ungulates until the distance is reduced to 30 meters or less.
In most cases, several lionesses surround him from different sides. As soon as the herd is surrounded, they pounce on the nearest animal. Then comes a fast and powerful attack. Predators try to catch their prey with a quick jump. An encounter with such wild animals usually ends in death. An animal pursued by lions usually dies from strangulation or suffocation. Small animals can be killed by a blow from a paw. Females do the bulk of the hunting. Males, as a rule, do not participate in it, except in cases where the victim is a large animal - for example, a giraffe or buffalo. In nature, lions live from ten to fourteen years; in captivity they can live longer than twenty years.
