Which animal is the most dangerous for humans? The most dangerous animals What animals are dangerous

Our world is far from safe. Indeed, according to statistics from the World Health Organization, more than 15 million people in the world die or are injured by animals and plants every year. We have prepared a list of the most dangerous animals on planet Earth.

An encounter with an animal can often be fatal for a person. Who should we be most afraid of?

1st place: Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes topped the list of deadly creatures.
Mosquitoes (lat. Phlebotominae) are a subfamily of long-whiskered dipterous insects of the vile complex. Distributed mainly in the tropics and subtropics. Includes several genera, notably Phlebotomus and Sergentomyia in the Old World and Lutzomyia in the New World, which include a total of more than 500 species. Representatives of these genera are important as carriers of human and animal diseases, in particular leishmaniasis, bartonellosis and pappataci fever (mosquito fever).

Two million people die every year from diseases carried by these insects.

2nd place: Indian cobra (Naja naja)

Every year, 50,000 fatal venomous snake bites occur worldwide. Asian cobras are responsible for the largest portion of them. As a rule, snakes do not attack people first and bite when disturbed. There are 10 species of poisonous snakes living in our country. The most dangerous bites of the Central Asian cobra, viper and efa.

In India, the spectacled snake is an object of reverent veneration and even almost superstitious fear. They worship her and appease her in every possible way. She even became one of the heroines in religious legends: “When Buddha once wandered the earth and fell asleep under the rays midday sun, the cobra appeared, expanded its shield and shaded the face of the god from the sun. Pleased with this, the god promised her extreme mercy, but forgot about his promise, and the snake was forced to remind him of this, since the vultures were causing terrible devastation among them at that time. In defense against these birds of prey Buddha gave the cobra glasses, which kites are still afraid of.” If a resident of Malabar finds in his house poisonous snake , he asks her to leave in the most friendly way. If this does not help at all, then he holds food in front of her to lure her out. And if she doesn’t leave even then, then he calls on the servants of the deity, who, of course, for an appropriate reward, make touching admonitions to the snake and charm the snake. This veneration is no coincidence. Not even because Hindus consider the snake to be a deity. The Indian cobra (also known as the spectacled snake and naga) is very dangerous, and in no case should it be angered, otherwise the snake becomes very aggressive and uncontrollable. Indian cobra is 1.4-1.81 m long, fiery yellow in color, with an ash-blue sheen in certain lighting. On the back of the head there is a clearly visible pattern that resembles glasses - a clear light pattern on the back of the neck, which becomes clearly visible when the snake is defending itself. The significance of the bright pattern on the dorsal side of the snake is very great - it deters a predator from attacking, even if it managed to run towards the snake from the rear. The ventral side is gray and often has broad black stripes on the front of the body. The rounded and slightly blunted head smoothly merges into the body. The head is covered with large scutes, the upper jaw is armed with paired poisonous fangs, followed by 1-3 more small teeth. The spectacled snake is distributed throughout India, the southern part of China, Burma, Siam, in the west in Afghanistan, the northeastern parts of Persia and the southern regions Turkmenistan to the Caspian Sea. In the Himalayas, it is found up to an altitude of 2,500 m. The spectacled snake chooses a place it likes and, if nothing forces it to leave there, lives there throughout its life. Her favorite home consists of abandoned termite mounds, ruins, heaps of stones and wood, and holey clay walls. As long as it is not disturbed, the snake lazily lies in front of the entrance to its home, usually basks in the sun, and when a person appears, as a rule, it quickly hides. Only when brought to the extreme does she rush at the attacker. The snake begins to hunt only in the late afternoon hours and often continues to crawl late at night. Therefore, it can rightfully be called a nocturnal reptile. The cobra's food consists exclusively of small animals, mainly reptiles and amphibians: lizards, frogs and toads. She hunts mice, rats, insects. It often robs bird's nests. The spectacled cobra should not be considered slow and clumsy. She may be more clumsy than some of her brothers, but she still climbs trees well and swims well, and can even dive. The spectacled snake has quite a few enemies, among which the first place belongs to the mongoose. This small predator fearlessly attacks snakes of any size. But for humans, the Indian snake is extremely dangerous. Even with a broken tooth, a snake can cause injury, and in place of broken teeth, no less poisonous replacement teeth will soon grow. Cobra venom has neurotoxic effects. A minute later, complete paralysis sets in. I spectacled cobra so toxic that a chicken dies from its bite in 4 minutes, and a laboratory mouse dies in 2 minutes. But the cobra never bites a person unless absolutely necessary, and even if it makes a throw towards the enemy, it often does not open its mouth (a fake throw). Never anger a cobra. Even if it is nearby, you should not hit the snake with a stick or throw any objects at it. This will only anger the reptile, and it will attack in self-defense.

The upper jaw is armed with paired poisonous fangs, followed by 1-3 more small teeth. For humans, the Indian snake is extremely dangerous.

3rd place: Australian Jellyfish (Sea Wasp)

Sea wasp ( Chironex fleckeri) The coast of Northern Australia is famous for its gorgeous beaches and proximity to magnificent coral reefs. Hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world come here. But this is where one of the most dangerous animals for humans lives. True, it looks completely harmless: a small jellyfish with elongated tentacles. It is not for nothing that it is also called the sea wasp, the ocean stinger or the phantom killer. The sea wasp appears off the northern coast of Australia between October and March in calm weather at high tide. She swims here in search of food, for example, shrimp, which she loves very much. The sea wasp is almost invisible in the water, as it stays in shaded areas coastal strip, and therefore it is difficult to protect yourself from colliding with it. About 20 people die from its poison every year. The poison is so toxic that one dose can kill 60 people at once. A study conducted on laboratory animals showed that even small doses killed a guinea pig in 3 seconds. The bell of the Australian jellyfish has a round, cubic shape. Four outgrowths resembling “arms” extend from the lower corners. Each hand is divided into several fingers, from which up to sixty tentacles hang. Basically, the sea wasp is a small jellyfish (compared to other deep-dwelling jellyfish). The largest representative of this family is the size of a basketball, and the tentacles can grow up to 1.5 meters. The Australian jellyfish began to be studied relatively recently - only a century ago. The sea wasp is considered a rather mysterious animal. For example, one of the mysteries that zoologists from all over the world are struggling with is the presence of eyes in the sea wasp. Everything would be fine, but it is absolutely unclear where visual signals go in the absence of a brain in this creature... The Australian jellyfish does not specifically attack its prey. She stands still, waiting for the fish or crab to swim up to her. The victim stumbles upon one of the tentacles, and the jellyfish immediately delivers fatal blows with the sting of its tentacles. The jellyfish is not aggressive towards people, but any careless touch can cause trouble for humans. This is especially dangerous when jellyfish hide in shallow water. If snakes and spiders bite their prey once and only in one place, then the sea wasp stings its prey several times. This leads to extensive poisoning. The person’s skin turns red, the bite site swells at lightning speed. The body temperature rises sharply, and after just a couple of minutes the thermometer goes off scale, as in the case of the most severe poisoning. A victim of sea wasp venom experiences excruciating pain, accompanied by loss of consciousness. A person may die from respiratory paralysis. Sometimes death does not occur immediately. The terrible pain can last 10-12 hours and is accompanied by heart failure. In 2002, two scuba divers swam in the waters Pacific Ocean. Having met an Australian jellyfish, they decided to play with it, not knowing about its poisonous properties. These games, of course, did not end well. One died less than thirty seconds after being stung by a sea wasp. The second one received a smaller dose of poison and even managed to swim to shore. But an hour later he died too. Sometimes an encounter with a sea wasp cannot be avoided, even without swimming to depth. An eleven-year-old girl, wandering in the water 10 meters from the shore, was stung in the leg and died a minute later. The fact is that on a calm, cloudless day, the tide often carries sea wasps into shallow water or even onto the sand; experienced people don't swim these days. According to statistics, the sea wasp is the most dangerous inhabitant seas, ahead of even the shark. After all, after shark attacks, there were cases when people survived. But after the injection poisonous thorn No one managed to survive the Australian jellyfish. Medicine today is powerless against sea wasp venom.

The poison is so toxic that one dose can kill 60 people at once. The sea wasp stings its prey in several places at once, which leads to extensive infestation. Medicine today is powerless against sea wasp venom.

4th place: Great White Shark

Ever since man decided to explore the vastness of the ocean, he has considered the shark to be enemy number one. Real stories about these monsters are closely intertwined with fantasy, surrounding the sharks with an aura of ominous mystery. Merciless and dangerous killers- this is the reputation that has stuck with the entire shark family. There are about 350 species of sharks, but less than half of them are involved in crimes against people. In third place in the list of man-eating sharks is the hammerhead shark, in second place is the tiger shark, and the leader is the great shark. white shark. This “queen of the oceans” has no equal in strength and bloodthirstiness. It is found in moderate warm waters the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean, in the northern part of the Pacific Ocean, as well as off the coast of Argentina, the Falkland Islands, South Africa, South Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, Chile, Peru and Ecuador. They are usually found near the surface of the sea only in spring and summer, i.e., when the water is richest in planktonic food. The white shark's body is cigar-shaped. The large, symmetrical caudal fin consists of a greatly enlarged upper lobe and a small lower one. Pectoral fins large, they serve to support the front part of the body, which, in their absence, would inevitably fall down when swimming. How often do they attack people? Optimists argue that the likelihood of being killed by lightning or run over by a car is much higher than the likelihood of being hit in the mouth of a shark. However, despite this, dozens of people die every year from shark teeth. Official statistics claim that from 30 to 200 people die from this predator every year. What about unofficially? How many people, considered missing after shipwrecks, end up in the mouths of sharks? Not only in the ocean do sharks attack people, but also close to the shore, in shallow water. They attack their prey regardless of the weather. They can attack in calm weather and in a storm, in clear sun or in pouring rain. If the shark's constant food - fish or lobsters - disappears for some reason, then the shark, blinded by hunger, attacks anyone, be it a person or even a sperm whale. In principle, the shark eats relatively little, but its indiscriminate eating habits are simply amazing. They found a lot of things in shark stomachs: tin cans, boots, hand grenades, horseshoes. And one day a native drum weighing about 7 kg was found in the belly of a shark. Nature has provided sharks with the perfect killing tool. The jaws, lined with pointed teeth along the edges, have enormous strength. There are up to hundreds of teeth in the mouth, arranged in several rows. As soon as the front teeth fall out, they are immediately replaced by the back ones. Biologists were able to measure the force with which the shark squeezes its jaws: this is no less than hundreds of kilograms! She can easily tear off a person’s leg, or even bite a person’s body in half. When attacking, the shark first pierces its lower teeth, impaling its victim as if on a fork. The upper jaws begin to shred the body at this time. That's why there are so many deaths when people meet a shark. It is also difficult to hide from a shark because it has an excellent sense of its prey, recognizing odors from a great distance. An important role in hunting and vision. True, sharks are quite shortsighted. However, the closer to the victim, the more the importance of this sense organ grows. Beyond 3-4 meters, it is the eyes that guide the shark’s further actions. Much about shark behavior remains unclear. Either she can swim past a bloody man, or she rushes to attack an armed scuba diver. It seems that sometimes sharks go into some kind of feeding frenzy and attack in a blind rage any object that gets in its way. But in general, the shark is very cautious. Having encountered an unfamiliar object, she will first circle nearby for a long time, finding out whether it is dangerous or not. The shark may stab its prey with its nose, checking once again whether it is edible. Only after these precautions does she rush to prey. The pectoral fins droop, the nose rises slightly, and the back hunches. A jerk - and the victim is already in the teeth of the shark. Complex scientific research showed that people abusing fishing themselves lead to a decrease in the amount of food for sharks, and the lack of food is main reason their aggressive behavior towards swimmers and surfers. The number of collisions is increasing due to the fact that everyone more people go out into the open sea, ignoring the warnings of the authorities, and enter shark habitats, which leads to skirmishes and collisions with animals. Data shows that 6 out of 10 attacks are caused by humans. For example, emboldened scuba divers are increasingly trying to touch a shark. Very often there are attacks on fishermen who are trying to pull out a shark they have caught. Well, how do you get out of a fight with a shark alive? Here are some real life examples. Richard Whatley, who was swimming, was attacked by a shark in mid-June 2005 in Alabama. He was almost 100 meters from the shore when he felt a strong push in his thigh. He realized it was a shark and tried to escape. A second later, the shark received a powerful punch to the nose - all that Richard was capable of, he put into this blow. Having knocked down the predator, Richard rushed with all his might to the saving shore. But the shark quickly recovered and continued to attack. However, each of her attempts to attack ended in failure: blows to the nose followed one after another, until Richard finally crawled ashore safe and sound. By the way, this was the first recorded shark attack on a person in Alabama in 25 years. So what? Powerful right hook to the shark's nose - effective remedy protection? In this case, the person, of course, survived, but in most cases, such blows will only irritate the shark, so if you see a shark, then you better freeze and wait for help. Yes, so far the shark is the number one enemy in the water for humans. But I would like to hope that in the near future people will invent some kind of remedy against the attacks of these bloodthirsty predators. Then, perhaps, a person’s fear of this fish will dissipate and he will appreciate these formidable hunters of our planet.

Aggressive. They attack both in deep and shallow water. They have powerful jaws with sharp teeth. Not picky about food.

5th place: African lion

There is a lot of debate about whether it can be said that the lion is the king of beasts, because the lion is not the largest representative of the cat family (the largest cat is the tiger). But still, when you meet him in nature, you feel a certain awe. A truly powerful beast: powerful body, wide head, muscular legs. A lion grows up to 2.5 m, and its tail is a meter long. Males are 1.5 times larger than females. In addition, the pride of males is a beautiful and thick mane. The color ranges from light yellow to dark brown. The lion is armed with claws that can be almost 10 cm each. Lions live in Africa, in southern region Sahara, in North-West India. They used to be common in Asia, but now there are very few lions left there. They live in savannas, mountainous semi-deserts, riverine forests and deserts. One day, a ranger at a nature reserve in Kenya observed how only two lions were hunting a rhinoceros, and yet the rhinoceros is considered one of the most formidable animals in Africa. Few predators dare to mess with him, but those lions killed the rhinoceros in just 20 minutes. At one time, a lion can eat up to 18 kg. This is not so much, considering that a lion can go without eating for a very long time - a whole week. At the same time, he loses absolutely no strength. But if there is an opportunity, then he eats to his fill. These formidable animals hunt, mainly in a whole group, together. This is done like this: the females hide in the grass not far from the grazing antelopes or zebras, and at this time the males slowly creep up to the herd. As the lions get closer, the herd begins to retreat. But this is exactly what the lions need. It just seems like nothing will work out for the lions. Don't forget that there are lionesses hiding in the bushes. Males perform only the role of beaters, taking their victims to the bushes, where they are already waiting for them. Lionesses rush at their prey, trying to immediately bite the throat. Lions usually kill their prey quickly. This is not at all due to humanitarian considerations. It’s just that whoever kills quickly has less risk of being wounded in a fight. So, the main role in obtaining food belongs to lionesses. However, despite this, only the lion has the right to be the first to taste the food. The best pieces go to him. Everything that remains after is eaten by the remaining members of this large family. It’s just that the male has a great responsibility: it is the lion who protects the pride. By giving him the best pieces, the others seem to be grateful for it. After all, nothing is more important for a family than vast territories with rich hunting grounds, sufficient water and convenient shelter. What is the danger to humans? Like many predators, the lion almost never attacks humans on purpose. You just need to be careful and not catch his eye. This is a predator! Don’t think that in circuses and zoos lions become tame cats. In Sergiev Posad, near Moscow, on the morning of Sunday, May 3, 2003, while feeding, a lion and lioness managed to escape from a cage in a circus tent. Two trainers tried to drive them back into the cage, but the lions attacked one of them and mauled him to death. Man-eating lions are very scary for humans. True, there are much fewer cases of their cannibalism than, for example, among tigers. Over the past hundred years, tigers have killed 580 people, and lions - 210. The most famous case occurred during the construction of the railway connecting Mombasa and Nairobi: this construction was paralyzed for a long time because of a pair of lions. Every night they raided the camp. In total they killed 28 people. As a rule, old lions who are expelled from the pride by stronger males become cannibals. It is difficult for them to hunt herbivores, but humans are the easiest prey for them. From then on, the lion began to terrify the surrounding residents. In the fight against man-eating lions, there is only one way - to destroy them. Having tasted human flesh once, the lion understands that man is not so terrible and is very vulnerable. So “either he us or we him.” But hunting for everyone should not be encouraged just because of fear of the animal. Remember, the main thing: be careful, do not provoke the predator, then the lion will not attack you.

Armed with claws that can be 10 cm each. Aggressive. Cases of cannibalism have been recorded.

6th place: Crocodile

Saltwater crocodile; Australian Saltwater crocodile (saltwater crocodile); Indo-Pacific crocodile; seaworthy crocodile; underwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) - Australian Saltwater Crocodile…

The saltwater crocodile is called the king of reptiles and the terror of all living things. He was feared and worshiped at all times. What is the greatness of this reptile, and why does a person, even today, in the age of new technologies, never cease to experience panic when meeting this animal? The saltwater crocodile is found in the tropical regions of Asia and in the waters of the Pacific Ocean (from India to Australia). The most favorite place saltwater crocodiles - Palau archipelago. Here their number is almost 2000 individuals. Large territory distribution is explained by the fact that saltwater crocodiles can move long distances in the open sea. The mouth, equipped with 54 to 68 small but very sharp teeth, closes with great speed and force. They are very aggressive and often attack people.

7th place: Elephant

An angry elephant tramples the enemy, grabs it with its trunk and throws it, sweeping away everything in its path

8th place: Polar bears

The polar bear is the largest terrestrial representative of mammals of the order of carnivores. Its length reaches 3 m, weight up to 800 kg. Males usually weigh 400-500 kg; body length 200-250 cm, height at the withers up to 160 cm. Females are noticeably smaller (200-300 kg). The smallest bears are found in Spitsbergen, the largest in the Bering Sea. The polar bear is distinguished from other bears long neck and a flat head. His skin is black. The color of the fur coat varies from white to yellowish; in summer the fur may turn yellow due to constant exposure sunlight. The polar bear's fur is devoid of pigment color, and the hairs are hollow. There is a hypothesis that they act as light guides, absorbing ultraviolet rays; at least with ultraviolet photography polar bear seems dark. Due to the structure of the hairs, a polar bear can sometimes turn green. This happens in hot climates (in zoos), when microscopic algae grow inside the hairs.

On polar bears, occupying 8th place in the ranking "The most dangerous animals", it is also better to admire from the side. These predators are ready to tear to pieces anyone who approaches their cubs.

All senses are very developed, especially vision and smell. A bear can see its prey from many kilometers away. The bear is very curious. He is attracted to everything new, the taste of which he certainly tests.

9th place: African buffalo

The African buffalo kills more people in Africa every year than any other predator.

10th place: Dart frogs and leaf frogs (Dendrobatidae and Phyllobates trinitatis)

It is impossible not to notice dart frogs and leaf frogs in nature, as they are the most brightly colored amphibians on our earth. They live in the forests of South and Central America. Representatives of the poison dart frog family live along the banks of rivers and streams, in the rain forests of mountains and lowlands. Some spend most of their lives in trees. There are also those who live in open dry spaces, content with the moisture of shaded areas of soil under low growing plants. Unlike other amphibians, dart frogs are active only during the day and sleep at night. As you know, dangerous poisonous animals have bright skins, thereby providing safety from predators and warning to strangers. Dart frogs and leaf frogs are very brightly colored. These frogs are very poisonous. They have the most deadly poison. The Terrible Leaf Climber (Phyllobates terribilis) from Venezuela is especially dangerous. This inhabitant rain forests reaches a length of 25 mm and is colored in gray-olive or brownish tones with dark spots. The abdomen of females is golden yellow. This leaf climber is active during the day and hunts small insects, spiders and worms. The family of dart frogs (Dendrobatidae) includes about 130 species, but among them there is not a single non-poisonous frog. Darter frogs' skin is riddled with glands that secrete microscopic amounts of poison, which are enough to kill a jaguar. This poison consists of approximately one hundred different substances. This is one of the strongest poisons non-protein nature. It is so dangerous that scientists have to wear thick gloves to handle it, as the poison can penetrate through any cut or even scratch. The poison has a terrible nerve-paralytic effect. As a result, cardiac arrhythmia occurs, leading to cardiac arrest. For the poison to work, it only needs to enter the bloodstream through the mucous membrane or cracks in the skin. That is why no one risks touching these frogs, except for the Indians, who smear hunting arrows with frog poison. A vaccine against poison dart frogs has not been invented. There is hardly any possibility of staying alive after this poison enters the body. Each frog produces enough toxin, and one dose can kill at least 10 people. In fact, dart frogs are a rare exception in nature. Basically, the venom of living creatures that protect themselves from predators is quite weak - most often it comes down to “chemical defense” (like that of a forest bug). The situation is different with animals that hunt large prey. They wait a long time and then rush at the victim. They often have only one chance to take prey, so the poison must be very strong and act instantly. Dart frogs do not hunt large animals. Their main food is small insects, spiders and worms. Why they need such strong poison is still unknown. Another interesting fact associated with these amphibians is that dart frogs themselves are not sensitive to their poison. The origin of their toxin is also unclear. There are cases where dart frogs bred in captivity have lost their toxicity. Apparently, they need some kind of special diet to maintain the toxin in the body. So, finally, let us repeat once again: dart frogs and leaf frogs are extremely dangerous to humans. But these frogs themselves do not attack people, so there is no chance of being poisoned by their poison, unless, of course, you touch their skin. Therefore the most main way The protection is very simple - don't touch these frogs!

Very poisonous and dangerous, the skin is riddled with glands that secrete microscopic amounts of poison, which are enough to kill an adult jaguar. No vaccine has been invented against poison dart frogs.

A list of the most dangerous animals in the world is expected to have something to do with blood and poison, but the biggest and most dangerous does not always have to be menacing in appearance. Here is a list of these 12 dangerous animals:

12.Elephant

Although these huge animals may seem gentle and cute, they are deadly. The elephant is the largest animal on this list and deserves a spot on it due to its temperament and territoriality.

According to a 2005 National Geographic article, elephants kill 500 people every year

11.Hippopotamus

If the lion is a majestic ruler, then the hippopotamus is a warrior from whom it is better to run. Until recently, hippos were considered the most dangerous animals in Africa.

Every year, hippos kill around 500 people - for example, by capsizing and destroying a boat with their huge jaws, which have a force of 826 kg, making them the fifth most powerful bite.

10. Worms

They lay eggs, and when they are in humans or other living organisms, the carrier falls on cysticercosis, which kills 700 people every year.

9.Crocodile

As we already mentioned, the hippopotamus is no longer the most dangerous animal in Africa because the crocodile has taken its place.

There are no exact figures, but the Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that about 1,000 people die as a result of crocodile attacks.

8. Roundworms

Porcine glaucoma is the main cause of helminthic infection. In 85% of cases, the disease has no symptoms, although it may be difficult to catch your breath and you may have a fever.

7.Fly

Especially in sub-Saharan Africa, there is a threat of death due to African coma. But the disease does not come out of nowhere. It is carried by tse-te-flies that suck blood from people.

The fly's bite can transmit the disease, and 10,000 people die every year from African coma, the symptoms of which include headaches and joint pain, itching and fever, the BBC reports.

6. Triatomine bugs

Number 6 in the list also carries fatal diseases.

These beetles have strong piercings and sucking organs with which they suck blood from people and can infect them with Chagas disease, which causes 12,000 deaths each year.

5.Horny snail

It is estimated that more than 200 million people worldwide suffer from schistosomiasis, and 20,000 people die due to it - a figure that could be as high as 200,000, according to the WHO, due to a lack of sufficient data from poorer countries.

4.Dogs

Yes, man's best friend is also one of the most dangerous. Surprised? We were too.

However we're talking about not about dog attacks on owners, but about rabies.

The disease can be transmitted to people if they come into contact with the saliva of an infected dog, for example by biting.

According to the WHO, 99%, about 35,000 deaths caused by rabies are caused by dogs.

3.Snake

Snakes, as a group, are among the most dangerous animals in the world, and the WHO estimates that they are responsible for around 100,000 deaths each year.

2.Man

In second place on the list of the most dangerous animals for people are people themselves. According to statistics from the United Nations Agency on Drugs and Crime, there were 437,000 murders in 2012. This makes us almost our own worst enemies.

1.Mosquito

However, mosquitoes are the most dangerous and dangerous enemy. The small insect carries a variety of diseases, including malaria, which kills more than half of the 750,000 deaths caused by mosquitoes.

One more fatal disease- dengue fever, which mainly affects children in Asia and Latin America.

Being in nature, you cannot help but meet its inhabitants on your way - animals and birds, or at least traces of their recent presence here. Not only a hunter, but also any tourist and traveler needs to learn to distinguish the tracks of various animals. This skill can save your life twice. In the first case, if due to a lack of food you have to hunt. In the second, the ability to recognize tracks and knowledge of the habits of animals can warn against encountering them. The owners of the forest - wild animals - may not be at all happy with uninvited guests. But not all animals are harmless...

Wild animals: who is better not to meet?

It should be noted that not all animals can be hunted unless you have at least some kind of firearm. Such large animals and predators like wolf , bear , elk , wolverine , boar are out of your reach without weapons. Well, unless you come across an old and sick animal, and you finish it off with a knife.

To avoid such an unpleasant encounter with strong and healthy representatives of the fauna, you should know a few things about their habits and the traces that certain wild animals leave.

First of all, you should pay attention to the so-called trails - the trajectory of the constant movement of animals. This is due to the fact that, in part, each individual, flock or herd lives on certain territory, carefully guards it and moves along a known route for hunting. Therefore, you should stay away from these paths.

Wolf

The movement interval for each animal is individual. Wolves, for example, are very active and often run along their path. More active in the dark. During the warm period they lead sedentary image living in a den, wandering in winter. The den is made in cozy dry places in ditches, under tree roots, and less often in burrows. Wolf tracks resemble those of dogs, but differ in shape - they are longer, narrower, and also larger in size, the imprints of the claws and pads of the middle fingers extended forward appear more clearly. The tracks of the front legs are larger than the hind ones. When trotting, they often step “footprint into footprint,” that is, the footprint of the left hind paw steps exactly into the footprint of the right front paw. Because of this, the tracks appear to be located on the same line. By the way, foxes do the same thing, only their tracks are slightly smaller.

Boar

Wild boars move along the trails mainly at night. You can recognize their presence by characteristic fang marks on tree trunks, by long and stiff hair stuck in the bark, and by “plowed” soil, especially near puddles and ponds. The tracks of a wild boar are very similar to those of an ordinary pig - slightly oblong, oval hooves, blunted in the front. The size of the hoof depends on the size of the animal. These animals are very fast, cunning and ferocious - both males and females. If a boar kills its prey powerful fangs, then females can simply knock down a person, bite and trample him to death. Also an incredibly ferocious wounded boar. Even wolves and bears do not dare to attack these animals. Plus, wild boars can swim. So if you still couldn’t avoid meeting them, it’s better to immediately climb a tree, because they also run quite fast (up to 50 km/h).

Elk

Moose trails can be seen mainly near bodies of water. These animals sleep little, for several hours - early in the morning and in the afternoon. And although they are quite peaceful and clumsy, you should stay away from them in October-November, when the mating season. Traces of presence are teeth marks on the bark in the form of oblong stripes. The hoof marks are quite large and are unlikely to be confused with other forest ungulates. They are narrow, pointed, but at the same time quite wide. There are often extensions at the back that leave imprints a couple of centimeters behind the hoof print.

Bear

And if you can escape from the animals listed above by climbing a tree, then this will not work with a bear and wolverine. poses a great danger, especially if at the moment It's spring and the beast is hungry. These animals are very cunning and agile, active regardless of the time of day, but if the bear is well-fed, it is quite good-natured and may not pay any attention to you. Otherwise, it is unlikely that you will be able to hide... The tracks of a bear in winter resemble the tracks of a man in felt boots. In the front part you can see marks from 5 claws, and the placement of the paw - with the toes inward - immediately reveals the owner of the marks. In summer, 5 toe marks are clearly visible on soft ground. In general, the width of the paw is about 20 centimeters (in females it is slightly narrower) and resembles the footprint of a flat-footed person.

Wolverine

Wolverine is a fairly small animal that sleeps during daylight hours. However, do not underestimate this predator. Despite its small size, the wolverine is very cunning and strong, just like a bear, it can climb trees. There are known cases when a wolverine attacked people by jumping from a tree. Oddly enough, wolverine tracks are similar to bear tracks - in size and shape, although these animals have different weight categories. Also, traces of the presence of the bear and wolverine are long claw marks on the tree trunks.

The dwellings of bears and wolverines are dens under the roots of trees or in ravines, the “roof” of which is insulated with branches, moss and grass. Wolverines can go without a home for a long time and sleep in the snow or roost in the grass.

We will tell you how to recognize traces of small animals and hunt them in.

Man is always attracted by the unknown and mysterious. Wildlife and the animal world are interesting, but also incredibly dangerous. Predators are always on the alert, they are ready to start a fight with any living creature on Earth.

Snakes and insects, seemingly harmless, are sometimes very bloodthirsty, but the inhabitants of the sea are not always friendly either.

Wild nature lives by its own laws. According to them, the one who is stronger survives. And a person does not always emerge victorious from fights. So which animals are best not to meet? Below are the most dangerous animals on the planet. To check whether this is really not worth it, it is better to read and accept.

Poisonous frogs

This is a cocoi frog, at least that's what the Indians call it. It is very small - its length is only 2-3 centimeters. However, individuals are the most dangerous animals in the world. They live in South and Central America, as well as Madagascar.

It is very difficult for South American Indians to catch this frog. And each one is worth its weight in gold. It turns out that the value of these animals is that under the influence high temperatures(Indians cook them over a fire) frogs secrete strong poison. It instantly affects all living things and is much more dangerous than the tetrodotoxin of puffer fish, potassium cyanide and the venom of the Central Asian cobra. However, there is one consolation: toxins poison frog produces gradually and slowly.

Hippopotamus

Don’t be surprised, but these cute-looking creatures pose a remarkable danger to humans. Hippos seem to be slow, but in the water they can give even Olympic swimming champions a run for their money. In this video you can see a hippopotamus chasing a motorboat.

Hippopotamus chasing a motorboat

In 2014, a hippopotamus capsized a boat carrying schoolchildren in Nigeria, killing 12 children.

Hippos are especially dangerous when their small children are nearby. Anyone who disturbs the peace of the family will be dragged to the bottom and trampled by the adults.

But sometimes hippos are no strangers to mercy. One naturalist witnessed a battle between a crocodile and an antelope. The mammal almost gave up when a hippopotamus ran up to them, drove the crocodile away, and sat with the antelope for another half hour, scaring off the vultures.

African buffalo or Kaffir buffalo

This is the thunderstorm of Savannah and the mightiest of the wild bulls. Indian and African buffalos are extremely dangerous animals. He is not afraid of animals or people. The male reaches a height of up to 2 meters at the withers, and his weight can exceed 900 kilograms. Moreover, he has menacingly scary horns.

They bend upward or diverge widely to the sides, while forming a gentle arc. The horns can reach 195 centimeters. The buffalo senses strangers on its territory and is able to attack first.

Buffaloes who protect their calves are extremely dangerous. The buffalo grabs its prey with its horns and throws it onto its back. The enemy has almost no chance of leaving the battle alive. Especially if a herd of angry bulls is running towards him.

Polar bear

It is in the zoo that the bears appear “white and fluffy.” But when a bear runs towards a tourist in Spitsbergen, the person doesn’t have a chance. The animal immediately catches up, attacks and kills. The polar bear population in the Arctic began to be protected almost half a century ago.

Since then, the number has fully recovered and, moreover, has become above acceptable limits. The beast has become the rightful owner wherever it lives. But on his own territory, he does not feel fear and behaves quite aggressively with strangers.

In addition, the polar bear often appears near human settlements. But if you accidentally get between a mother bear and her cub, you definitely won’t escape alive. They are agile and fast and swim well in cold water. The beast has acute hearing, vision and smell, and it also has enormous strength. One blow from a powerful paw is enough to lose your head.

Bear-rod

Brown bears are serious predators, no less dangerous than their brothers from the North Pole. Meeting them does not bode well. The danger increases if there is a predator in front of you that could not go into hibernation or woke up at the wrong time. A hungry and angry connecting rod bear almost always attacks, even its own brothers.

The only chance to escape alive after such a meeting is to shoot the bear. There is no way to escape from him. Despite the fact that bears seem clumsy, they easily pick up speeds of up to 40-60 km per hour. The connecting rod perceives a running person as prey that needs to be caught up.

African and Indian elephant

The elephant is an intelligent animal with a good memory. Fairytale image a kind, wise and sweet giant is far from reality. These animals are responsible for killing at least 500 people a year. The elephant is the largest on earth, and therefore it is the most dangerous animal in the world. It is better not to enter his territory, otherwise the meeting may end in tears.

The beast has a huge body mass and can easily trample a person. By the way, elephants are very fast. In a critical situation, they can run at speeds of up to 40 kilometers per hour. The so-called wandering elephant, that is, expelled from the herd during the mating season, is especially dangerous. He can rush at anything that moves.

In terms of bloodthirstiness, the crocodile has long been ahead of the elephant. He is responsible for about 2 thousand human deaths per year.

The crocodile is a first-class hunter. An animal hiding in the water can be confused with a log. After all, camouflage is the main strength of a predator. He can just lie there and wait for his prey. And when she appears, she will instantly jump out, attack, drag her into the water, drown her and dismember her.

Crocodiles are considered the most dangerous animals in Australia and some African countries. In the north of Australia, for example, about one hundred thousand reptiles live. And all of them are under state protection.

At the same time, for recent years Australian crocodiles have eaten more than one victim. The largest representative of crocodiles is the saltwater or combed one. Males can reach 7 meters. The reptile is also found off the coast of Australia and is deadly to humans.

African lion

A hungry lion is very dangerous. IN wildlife The kings of beasts eat mainly zebras and wildebeest for lunch and dinner.

If the hunt has been unsuccessful for some time, then hungry animals can attack humans. In one sitting, an adult lion can eat up to 30 kilograms of meat. According to statistics, these animals kill about 250 people every year.

Lions are the highest cat race

White shark

The white shark is also listed as the most dangerous animal. An incredible feeling of hunger in these animals can occur due to blood in the water. Then he will definitely use all his 3 thousand sharp teeth.

The white shark lives in warm waters in absolutely all oceans, and also in the Japanese and Mediterranean seas. All individuals are quite large, they grow up to 7-8 meters, but there are also absolute giants - up to 12 meters in length. It is the white shark that is considered the most ferocious, strong and dangerous of all sharks.

All about white sharks

Light color helps individuals in hunting. They go unnoticed against the backdrop of underwater rocks. Sharks eat mainly seals and whales, but they do not disdain divers who have swam far away. Often a predator mistakes a person for a seal. But when he feels a bone on his teeth, he lets the victim go. True, this does not help a person much. White sharks are responsible for between 30 and 100 human deaths. These creatures took out a variety of objects: coins, documents, remains of people and turtles.

Monkey

Suddenly, a monkey appears on the list of the most dangerous animals. In some tropical countries, individuals have settled near city dumps and look for food there.

They often attack people, children and even adults, take away food, and also steal food supplies from peasants and empty their refrigerators. Aggressive large apes such as gorillas can be deadly to humans in certain circumstances.

Poisonous jellyfish

Particularly dangerous Australian jellyfish Chironex fleckeri. They are known as sea ​​wasps. Such individuals reach the size of a salad bowl and have up to 60 tentacles, each of which is four meters long.

They, as a rule, do not attack people first and bite only when disturbed. There are about 10 species of poisonous snakes in Russia. And the most dangerous of them are the Central Asian cobras, efas and vipers.

Mosquitoes

Well, the most dangerous creature, oddly enough, is the mosquito. The reason is that it carries malaria.

Small pests kill up to three million people a year. Almost all cases occur in areas of Africa. And almost all victims of these dangerous insects are children under the age of 5 years. The editors of the site would like to note that in Russia mosquitoes do not carry malaria.
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In the list of the greatest killers of the human race on the planet, the timid child hiding in the soul of every adult includes creatures with strong fangs and claws, impressive muscles and body size. Lions, white sharks, crocodiles, bears and wolves... probably most of you, guests of the Swagor blog, consider these creatures to be the most monstrous - but figurines! Faceless statistics will help you recognize the twenty most dangerous creatures on Earth. Let's go!

20th place. The heroine of the film epic “Jaws” is a white shark – and all her smaller brothers from the shark family. In the oceans, seas, lakes and rivers (I was not mistaken, freshwater sharks exist) on our planet, about 7-10 people die every year from shark teeth. Without a doubt, humanity is protected from sharks by its land-based lifestyle. And of particular food interest, contrary to the announcements of the yellow media, these predatory fish They don’t show it to people.

19th place. Leopards, they are also leopards, they are also panthers. A greatly enlarged version of the domestic Barsik in ordinary life is not interested in human prey, preferring monkeys and antelopes. But if the leopard receives a non-fatal, but crippling injury - for example, suffers from porcupine quills - then the spotted cat has few options for food. According to Indian authorities, such maimed leopards kill more than 10-15 people every year - easy prey in the minds of big cats.

18th place. The brain refuses to perceive horses as an instrument of human death. How many cartoons, how many movies about kind, hard-working and loyal horses have been crammed into our heads by the television zombie slayer! Although a person diligently finds a reason to “accept death from his horse” and close his eyes forever - at least 20 “cow boys” die under the hooves of enraged stallions with twisted balls (how do you think this happens?) at a rodeo in the southern states of the USA. (cowboys).

17th place. It is occupied by representatives of the animal world that have firmly entered human life - cows. The durable, horned cow skull is a powerful butting weapon that some members of the cow family use very successfully, sending 20 farmers to their forefathers every year in the United States alone. Still consider a cow to be five hundred kilograms of harmless goulash?

16th place. Ant colonies are distributed across all continents of the Earth; they are capable of migrating using human transport and postal services. Representatives of two subfamilies of ants - Myrmeciinae and Ponerinae - are deadly poisonous, and the stings of fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) contain poison that causes severe allergic reaction. Fortunately, poisonous ants inhabit areas near the equator and have a negative attitude towards the Russian winter. One way or another, every year from poisonous bites More than 30 people die from ants.

15th place. Hard-working bees are doing their part to thin out the human population. Bee venom - apitoxin - is not inherently lethal, but causes a severe allergic reaction. If a bee stings in the oral mucosa, then swelling occurs and, as a result, asphyxia - it is impossible to breathe, because. the throat is blocked by swelling. However, bees attack only when they are sure that a person wants to harm them - do not bother with bees in vain, otherwise you will be among the 53 “lucky” people who die every year from bee venom.

14th place. The maned king of beasts - African lion– occupies this line. Finally the usual scary beast, isn't it? Considering the limited habitat - African savannahs and enclosures of various zoos with circuses, the lion has little opportunity to eat human flesh. And yet at least 70 people end up on the menu of the king of beasts every year.

13th place. It is rightfully occupied by the descendants of Mowgli’s main opponent, the tiger Shere Khan. Hefty tabby cats, ideally hiding in the jungle thickets and Far Eastern taiga, are not particularly picky in choosing the object of hunting, especially in winter months. Tigers kill hundreds of unwary people year after year, surpassing lions in the ability to attack from an ambush and excellent camouflage in wooded areas.

12th place. Deer live here - yes, those same ones, equipped with antlers and the charming eyes of Disney's Bambi. Does your imagination picture a deer with its head bowed low, piercing a man with its antlers? Everything is much more prosaic. A night highway, restless glare of headlights on the asphalt and suddenly a quick shadow from the side of the road, a sharp blow to the bumper, an eighty-kilogram carcass on takeoff breaks through the windshield like a ram and flies into the cabin through the driver’s fragile body. This kind of encounter with a deer is fatal for 120 people every year.

11th place. Anyone who intends to swim to their heart's content in the warm sea needs to worry about two things - the ability to swim and the absence of nearby... Who do you think - sharks? Never mind, the most dangerous creatures in sea water are jellyfish! Considering that jellyfish do not have the opportunity to pursue nimble prey - fish - they have developed in the process of evolution powerful weapons for passive hunting, called stinging cells.

Any object that finds itself in the deployment zone of jellyfish tentacles immediately receives a lethal charge of poison and... that's it. The deadliest jellyfish is Chironex fleckeri, which lives in northern waters Australia. Collectively, the jellyfish family kills more than 150 people every year.

10th place. The family's cute pet, the tailed and devoted dog, suddenly becomes a generator of horror and a creator of chaos in a single family. Or on a street platform. Or in the park. Or God knows where else. Being poorly trained by their owners, dogs become biting and deadly weapons - about 190 people lose their lives with the direct participation of various Rex, Mars and Bobikov. The last sensation of the victims is the fangs of the recognized “friend of man” closing on the throat.

9th place. Associating African buffalo with a domesticated cow (let me remind you, cows are also in this top), tourists throw away all caution and... personally experience the hospitality of strong buffalo horns. One and a half tons of muscles and bones rush towards the target of attack with the inexorability of an electric train - only “bang” and “kirdyk”. Male buffaloes attack without hesitation if they see a person as a danger to the herd. On average, buffalo kill 200 people from the human population every year.

8th place. The long-eared animal seems to be slow in the zoo enclosure, but becomes very fast (running at a speed of 35 km/h) in African savannah or in the Indian jungle. In attacks aimed at protecting the herd, five-ton elephants do not use tusks and trunks - they knock the object of attack to the ground and trample it until it is completely flattened. There are 500 elephants a year.

7th place. Representatives of this family have successfully survived several million years of the reign of dinosaurs and are no less successful in hunting people carelessly walking near bodies of water inhabited by them. Crocodiles will ambush any idiot who comes into their sight. By the way, the toothy “suitcases” and “handbags” (a fashionista’s dream!) run great, making a sprint of about thirty meters after their prey. The crocodile appetite is satisfied annually by 1,500 to 2,500 people.

6th place. Thick-skinned and thick-assed river horses, peacefully grazing in African reservoirs, suddenly jump out of there and, opening their drop-dead hefty mouth wide, pierce the troublemaker with two long fangs. Hippos, also known as hippopotamuses, are the leaders among African mammals by its talent to reduce the human population - 3000 people per year. It is dangerous to underestimate the power of thick-assed and thick-skinned people...

5th place. Among all the diversity of insects, only one family has earned a place in the zodiac list - scorpions. And not for nothing - people traditionally fear scorpion venom no less than snake venom. To all November Scorpios - you are known to be feared and respected! But back to the topic - only 25 scorpion species are deadly poisonous, however, their small numbers do not prevent them from sending 5,000 people to a “better world” at the end of any year. It is easy to recognize a deadly poisonous scorpion - its tail with a sting is significantly large sizes, than grasping claws.

4th place. They fear us more than we fear them. And they kill solely for the sake of self-defense. Snakes, damn self-propelled laces with their signature and well-known poisonous teeth, silent and hissing - sssssss... Scary? 50,000 “lucky” people who met on their life path this year, a poisonous snake will never be afraid again.

2nd place. Well, get up, look in the mirror and be disappointed - you belong to the dominant species of the animal world on Earth, but you did not get first place in the top of creatures dangerous to humans! Bummer? However, people always have a chance to become leaders in destroying their own kind (should we be happy about this?). While you are reading this material, somewhere and right now a person is killing another person - maybe it’s a robber or a redneck alcoholic, or a soldier active army, or another James Bond with a license to kill. Or... it doesn’t matter, the main thing is that homo is kind of like sapiens (which is very doubtful). Be proud, if you want - 475,000 people of any gender and age are erased from life and remain only in someone's memories thanks to their fellow biological species.

TOP 20 best killers of the human race is a nightmare no matter how you look at it. However, dear readers, most of the creatures on the list are not a threat to you - they live in the equatorial tropics. Be careful only with cows and dogs, as well as with the “masters of life” - people. Live happily ever after!

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