We scoured the animal kingdom to find the most dangerous animal in the world, and some of our findings surprised even us!
Nature is many things. It is beautiful, it is cruel, it is fascinating, and it is scary.
Regardless of where in the world you happen to be, you will encounter all manner of animals and insects of all shapes and sizes. While a large percentage of these creatures are harmless and are more scared of you than you are of them, there are some out there that are incredibly dangerous.
When we think of dangerous animals, we think of animals such as sharks, whales, tigers, lions, hippos, snakes, spiders, and so on. While the aforementioned creatures are indeed dangerous, can they claim to be the world’s most dangerous animals, and if not, what can?
So, in no particular order, except number 1, here’s a look at 5 of the most dangerous animals in the world.
So, Just What is the Most Dangerous Animal in the World?
1. Saw Scaled Viper
If you’re not a fan of snakes, to begin with, now you have yet another reason to avoid them.
The saw-scaled viper is considered to be one of the most dangerous animals in the world.
According to info released by the World Health Organization (WHO) each year, an average of 4.5 million and 5.4 million people are bitten by snakes. Of these, between 1.8 million and 2.7 million people go on to develop severe clinical illness as a result of their bites. 81,000 to 138,000 people die from their injuries.
There are plenty of venomous snakes out there, but the saw-scaled viper is responsible for more deaths each year than any other snake, making it the world’s most dangerous snake.
2. Dogs
This may be surprising to some of you, as dogs are indeed man’s best friend, but we also know that dogs can be dangerous. While there are many different breeds a German Shepherd wolf mix would be considerably more dangerous than a dachshund for example.
Not only can dogs viciously attack people, but they can also carry serious illnesses and diseases such as rabies. Each year, tens of thousands of people die from rabies, and of these, 90% of those infected get their infection from dog bites.
3. Assassin Bug
With a name like ‘Assassin Bug,’ you just know that this next insect isn’t going to be particularly friendly or nice to be around.
The Assassin Bug carries a disease known as Chagas Disease. This disease infects around 7 million people each year, and claims around 10,000 lives. Interestingly, however, only 30% of people that die actually display symptoms. Usually, however, the symptoms are serious and can include heart attacks and strokes.
4. Tsetse Fly
Flies are not nice things to be around. They can make life miserable in the summer, and they are renowned for carrying a whole host of diseases and being riddled with harmful bacteria.
There are many species of fly, yet it is the Tsetse Fly that is considered the most dangerous. This is because it carries a disease known as Trypanosomiasis, which is endemic in many parts of Africa. If infected with this disease, if immediate treatment isn’t sought out, the disease is nearly always fatal.
5. Mosquitoes
And finally, coming in at number one and being considered the most dangerous animal in the world (humans aren’t included on this list) is the mosquito.
Mosquitoes may be incredibly small, but don’t let this fool you, because they are lethal. They carry all manner of diseases, including malaria, which kills close to half a million people every single year. They also carry Zika virus, Yellow Fever, and Dengue Fever, and more besides.
In total, the WHO estimates that mosquitoes kill over 700,000 people every single year.
