World’s Most Dangerous Animals

Introduction

Humans share the earth with billions of other species. Some of the species we interact with are harmless, but others are considered to be quite dangerous to the well-being of humans. When we think of dangerous animals, we often think of ones with claws like razor blades or rows of terrifying teeth, and while dome of the world’s most dangerous animals do have those characteristics, several of them appear to be quite harmless, making them dangerous all the more.

Mosquitoes

Countless people would agree that mosquitoes are a huge annoyance. Though they may not come to mind when thinking of the most dangerous animals in the world, the mosquito is often ranked as the most dangerous of all the rest. Mosquitoes are the cause of approximately two and a half million human deaths per year worldwide (Khan). The insects come from a family of small flies and there are a few species that are actually harmless and even useful.  However, most of them are a nuisance due to the fact that their food source is blood of vertebrates like humans. Female mosquitoes are the annoying pests with tube-like mouths for sucking up blood. Almost all species of mosquitoes, more than three thousand, can be carriers of diseases like malaria, Dengue fever, elephantiasis, West Nile virus, and yellow fever (Khan). They are found in abundance in tropical areas but are also able to survive much lower temperatures, such as those found in Canada.

Box Jellyfish

Box jellyfish are undoubtedly one of the most dangerous animals on land or sea. Regardless of the species, the box jellyfish is always dangerous. While the delicate-looking, translucent animals may look harmless, they are the most venomous animals on the Earth (“Box Jellyfish”). Responsible for more than one hundred human deaths per year, the box jellyfish is most commonly found along the Australian coastline and are especially prevalent in the summer months. The box jellyfish is cube-like in shape and its sting can be fatal. Faster than other species of jellyfish, they can move at speeds up to six meters per minute (“Top 10 Most Dangerous Animals In The World”). They are equipped with better vision than other jellyfish and have a more complex nervous system, enabling them to have more guided actions. These advantages allow them to actively hunt for prey instead of lying in wait for their prey to happen by. Any contact with a box jellyfish’s tentacles results in a probably deadly shock (Lucas). While the vast majority of living things stung by a box jellyfish will die, those who are fortunate enough to survive will be in excruciating pain for some time after the encounter. Humans who are stung by these fish suffer the collapse of their cardiovascular system. The University of Hawaii found that the venom “[punches] holes in red blood cells and [causes] potassium to leak out of them.” (Rosenbrock). Sting victims typically die within two to five minutes.

Boomslang

The boomslang is a very deadly snake that is found in the southern part of Africa’s Saharan desert. Their small heads and large eyes look almost cute, but they are equally if not more deadly than a King Cobra (Rosenbrock). They can grow up to about five feet long and can range from light green to blue to brown. The boomslang has three fangs that are half a millimeter in diameter and grow from three to five millimeters long (Lucas). They only bite when they feel threatened. Their venom’s negative effects take a while to show themselves, leaving most victims feel like they will be safe from the snake’s poison. Even small amounts of boomslang venom can cause fatal hemorrhaging and the blood will not stop pouring from their wounds. There is an anti-venom that can help victims of boomslang bites and some treatment requires blood transfusions.

Hippopotamus

The hippopotamus lives in the southern Sahara desert and is responsible for the deaths of five hundred human beings per year, more than any other large animal. They are monstrously large, weighing up almost thirty five hundred pounds. While the hippopotamus has short legs, they are incredibly fast, able to run up to almost twenty miles per hour (Lukas). These animals are very unpredictable and extremely aggressive, making them very dangerous creatures. They are vegetarians, but have been known to attack and kill humans unexpectedly and without provocation. There are a number of reasons that hippopotamuses may attack a human. Males will attack a human if they feel that their territory, which runs alone the bank of the river or lake in which they reside, is being threatened, while a female hippopotamus will attack and become aggressive if they feel they need to defend their offspring (Khan).

Cape Buffalo

Cape buffalo are native to the African grasslands and well-known in the area for being incredibly dangerous and aggressive. These huge animals can grow to almost two meters tall and up to three and a half meters long and can weigh up to two tons (Lucas). Cape buffalo are known to attack without being provoked and kill more than two hundred people every year. The Cape buffalo will charge at speeds of up to forty miles per hour and kill by trampling their victims and ramming them with their thick horns (“Top 10 Most Dangerous Animals in the World”). The creatures have thick skin that makes them very difficult to take down without the use of a very powerful rifle. In some incidences, Cape buffalo have been shot in the chest and continued charging. They will not hesitate to charge moving vehicles and have even been known to charge lions and other predators. Even once they are attacked, Cape buffalo will often circle around and attempt to ambush their attacker from behind (Khan).  These massive beasts make it very prominently known that they are a force to be reckoned with.

Sharks

Sharks are found in every sea and ocean in the world. There are over five hundred species of sharks and only about a dozen of them are considered dangerous to humans, but the three most dangerous are Great White sharks, tiger sharks, and bull sharks (Handwerk). There are almost seventy confirmed shark attacks and up to fifteen deaths as a result of shark attacks around the world each year. The Great White shark is reported to be involved in more attacks on humans than any other species. Fossils have suggested that these fish have been around for more than fifty million years (“Five Most Dangerous Sharks to Humans”). They can reach up to fourteen feet long and it is said that they most often attack humans when they mistake them for their food source or if they are curious, which would explain their reputation for hit-and-run attacks along beaches. Often, though, Great White sharks attack with a powerful surprise attack from below with terrifying speeds. Their cousins, tiger sharks, are also particularly dangerous to humans. These animals can grow up to twenty five feet long and weigh up to nineteen hundred pounds (“Tiger Sharks”). While Great Whites often bite humans once and then leave them alone, tiger sharks have a much less picky palate and will continue their attack. Tiger sharks have been known to eat everything from turtles to sea snakes to car tires (“Tiger Sharks”). They are found in tropical waters and are listed as ‘threatened’ on the endangered species list. The bull shark is perhaps the most dangerous shark to human safety. There have been over seventy recorded unprovoked attacks on humans by bull sharks. Bull sharks can grow up to twelve feet long and grow to weigh up to five hundred pounds (“Bull Sharks”). Bull sharks are known for their short, blunt snouts that they use to bump their prey before attacking. They prefer warm, shallow waters and can be found in every ocean. Bull sharks are very fast and agile. Like the tiger shark, they are not very picky eaters and will eat fish, dolphins, and even other sharks (“Bull Sharks”). What makes bull sharks so dangerous is the fact that they are able to swim in fresh water as well as salt water. Bull sharks have been known to swim through channels and make their way up fresh water rivers. The most famous of incidences occurred in 1916 when a bull shark killed four people over two weeks; three of the attacks occurred in a tidal river named Matawan Creek (“5 Most Dangerous Sharks to Humans”). They're intelligent creatures, and while they do not consider humans to be a source of food, they often attack humans for two reasons; confusion or curiosity.

Conclusion

Animals come in all shapes and sizes, as well as all varying degrees of danger. Some animals, like powerful sharks or snakes with great gangs, are obviously dangerous to humans. But others are threatening in a way that is much more obvious and unassuming; a characteristic that only makes them even more dangerous. From mighty and ferocious animals like hippopotamuses to tiny creatures reduced to pests, they all pack a powerful punch and deserve our respect.

Works Cited

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“Bull Sharks”. National Geographic. National Geographic Society. 2016. Web. 15 Jun. 2016. <http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish/bull-shark

Lucas. “Top 10 Dangerous Animals”. EnkiVillage. enkivillage.com, n.d. Web. 15 Jun. 2016. <http://www.enkivillage.com/top-10-most-dangerous-animals.html

Khan, Ejaz. “Top 10 Deadliest Animals Around the World.” Wonderlist. Wonderlist, n.d. Web. 15 Jun. 2016. <http://www.wonderslist.com/top-10-deadliest-animals-around-the-world

Rosenbrock, Katie. “The Most Dangerous Animals in the World.” The Active Times. The Active Times, 9 Sept. 2015. Web. 15 Jun. 2016. <http://www.theactivetimes.com/most- dangerous-animals-in-world

“Tiger Sharks” National Geographic. National Geographic Society, 2016. Web. 15 Jun. 2016. <http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish/tiger-shark

“Top 10 Most Dangerous Animals In The World.” Conservation Institute. Conservation Institute, 2016. Web. 15 Jun. 2016. <http://www.conservationinstitute.org/top-10-dangerous- animals-in-the-world