Which animals are most likely to prey on humans?
What comes to your mind when we talk about animals that prey on humans? Your answers would probably be something like tigers, lions, and even crocodiles. And none of them are wrong answers! But what about komodo dragons or bears? Did you know that their attack can be as deadly as a lion or a tiger? Though it’s worrying when such predators go after our livestock, it’s even more frightening when they come after us. Humans have dealt with such predator problems since forever. Even then, hearing news about the encounters of humans with the preying animals keeps reminding us that we aren’t necessarily on the top of nature’s food web.
With that being said, here’s taking a look at the top seven animals that are the most likely to prey on humans. Let’s get right to it!
1. The big cats
Those nasty scratches and bites from your cute little kitty might be stinging. But, the big cats like the tigers, leopards, and cheetahs are like the fearsome man-eaters of the feline world. Several instances of a leopard being taken down after it went on a rampage and mauled a number of people have been sighted from around the world. There is no denying that loss of habitat is one of the prime reasons for these cats to come out of the jungles.
The lion is an equally frightening predator that has several deadly instances of man-eating to its name. The lions tend to make good use of their excellent night vision to attack humans at night, especially on full moon nights.
2. Bears
Instances of hikers being attacked by a grizzly bear in the Yellowstone National Park were last heard in 2011. It was the second bear attack in the park since the first one occurred in 1986. The best thing you can do while going to such a bear country is to figure out more about the kind of species that you might come across. You need to learn more about them and get ready with the right equipment and knowledge to protect yourself if there is an attack.
Most shark attacks are the result of Sharks making sure that their environment is safe.
3. Sharks
While watching all those famous movies about sharks, you must have wondered whether there is a grain of truth in the story being told. Well, it turns out there is! There are dozens of shark attacks every year all over the world, and quite a few of them turn out to be fatal. However, the danger is not as widespread as the hype surrounding it.
The Florida Museum of Natural History advises people not to go in the seas if they are bleeding and not to harass sharks. They are terrifying animals, but they are also very intuitive and smart. So, most shark attacks are the result of Sharks making sure that their environment is safe.
4. Komodo Dragons
The most famous attack by Komodo dragons on humans was when Phil Bronstein lost the big toe to these gigantic lizards in 2001. The carnivorous, giant lizards are the native residents of Indonesia. They have sharp teeth laced with venom to kill big prey, such as water buffalo, deer, and pigs. They bring out bodies from shallow graves and even go after humans.
5. Alligators And Crocodiles
Both alligators and crocodiles are huge reptiles that have pointed teeth that help them to wait for meals in the water and chomp down on them. In the United States of America, people are usually worried about freshwater crocodiles, whereas, in Africa, Asia, and Australia, saltwater crocodiles are the ones humans are worried about.
If you want to avoid the crocs, don’t venture near the waters where they are found, which includes all the shores where crocs lie waiting for the prey.
6. Wolves
The ones living near the territory of wolves are often scared that these huge dogs might attack them or their kids. Though news of wolf attacks are rare in North America and fatal attacks are even rarer, several parts of the world have desperate and fearsome wolves that might attack humans. The Indian state of Uttar Pradesh had reported multiple cases of bear attacks quite a few years back.
7. Hippos
The hippos are basically herbivorous animals, even though that’s a misleading idea. Hippos have enough disdain for humans to simply attack people even though they have not directly attacked the hippos. In Africa, a considerable number of people were killed by hippos.
Hippos have a heavy body, and they can run faster than humans on land. So, if you are traveling through any hippo country, make sure to stay in the car.
Final words
So, that’s all you need to know about animals that might prey on humans. As you can see, it’s not only the lions and tigers of the animal kingdom that can be frightening.
