10 Most Dangerous Animals In The World - 10 Most Today 10 Most Dangerous Animals In The World 4 Comments 1. Mosquito – Mosquitoes themselves aren’t very dangerous, but they act as a vector for many disease-causing viruses and parasites such as yellow fever, dengue fever, Chikungunya, malaria, Tularemia and more. Mosquitoes are estimated to transmit various types of disease to more than 700 million people annually with at least two millions of resultant deaths. Thus becoming the deadliest animal to humans Mosquitos – at least two millions death annualy 2. Snake – Though not all snakes are dangerous, many of them are. More than 450 species are venomous, and 250 are capable of killing a person. The Echis (a genus of venomous vipers) causes most of the snakebite deaths worldwide. Its poison can keep the victim’s blood from coagulating, and the person can bleed to death snakes – 250 species are capable of killing a person 3. Scorpion – All known scorpion species possess venom, but only 25 have venom that is deadly to humans.

However, all scorpions are able to penetrate human skin and deliver sharp, unpleasant stings, most of which usually leave redness around the stung area Scorpions – all scorpions are able to penetrate human skin 4. Hippopotamus – Hippos are very aggressive towards humans, whom they commonly attack whether in boats or on land with no apparent provocation. They are widely considered to be one of the most dangerous large animals in Africa Hippos – will attack humans with no apparent provocation 5. Crocodile – The larger species of crocodiles are very dangerous to humans, mainly because of their ability to strike before the person can react. The saltwater crocodile and Nile crocodile are the most dangerous, killing hundreds of people each year in parts of Southeast Asia and Africa. The mugger crocodile, American crocodile, American alligator and black caiman are also dangerous to humans 10 Most Dangerous Animals In The World: Crocodiles 6. Great White Shark – More than any documented attack, Peter Benchley’s best-selling novel Jaws and the subsequent 1975 film adaptation directed by Steven Spielberg provided the great white shark with the image of being a “man eater”.

The great white shark is one of only four kinds of sharks that have been involved in a significant number of fatal unprovoked attacks on humans and since 1990, there have been a total of 139 unprovoked great white shark attacks, 29 fatal The Great White Shark – starred in the movie “Jaws” 7. Grizzly Bear – Unlike the smaller black bears, adult grizzlies are too large to escape danger by climbing trees, so they respond to danger by standing their ground and warding off their attackers. Grizzly bears normally avoid contact with people. Most grizzly bear attacks result from a bear that has been surprised at very close range, especially if it has a supply of food to protect, or female grizzlies protecting their offspring. In such situations, property may be damaged and the bear may physically harm the person Grizzly Bear – will attack to defend its cubs 8.

African Lion – While lions do not usually hunt people, some (usually males) seem to seek out human prey; well-publicised cases include the Tsavo maneaters, where 28 officially recorded railway workers were taken by lions over nine months in Kenya in 1898, and the 1991 Mfuwe man-eater, which killed six people in Zambia. The “All-Africa” record of man-eating is considered to be incidents in the early 1930s through the late 1940s in what was then Tanganyika (now Tanzania). George Rushby, game warden and professional hunter, eventually dispatched the pride, which over three generations is thought to have killed and eaten 1,500 to 2,000 people African Lion – some have been recorded as man-eaters 9. Elephant – Elephants can exhibit aggressive behaviour and engage in destructive actions against humans. In India, male elephants regularly enter villages at night, destroying homes and killing people.

Elephants killed around 300 people between 2000 and 2004 in Jharkhand, India, while in Assam, India 239 people were reportedly killed between 2001 and 2006 10 Most Dangerous Animals In The World: Elephants 10. Box Jellyfish – A few species in the class of Box Jellyfish have been confirmed to be involved in human deaths. Research show that the venom of a specific specie can cause a human to collapse and die as quickly as within 2 to 5 minutes. The specie C. fleckeri has caused at least 64 deaths since the first report in 1883.

In parts of the Malay Archipelago, the number of lethal cases is far higher (in the Philippines alone, an estimated 20-40 die annually from Chirodropid stings), likely due to limited access to medical facilities and antivenom, and the fact that many Australian beaches are enclosed in nets and have vinegar placed in prominent positions allowing for rapid first aid 10 Most Dangerous Animals In The World: Box Jellyfish Warning signs in Queensland, Australia Tour of Gondwana - Scaly Gondwana Scaly Gondwana Reptiles and amphibians, the original Gondwanans R eptiles, and their cousins, the amphibians, were the primary land-dwelling animals during the age when the Gondwanan fragments were still joined. That fact alone made them of interest to me. Additionally, like other classes that evolved early, before Gondwana had even separated from Pangea, the various orders within the larger class are present on all of the modern land masses, making observations fairly frequent and easy.

While most people would not list reptiles as their favorite type of animal, and though fictionally exaggerated versions have been made into the villains of numerous bad movies, there are many exceptionally beautiful species within the class, especially along the Tour's route, where there were many more than I had anticipated. Here is a selection of the most interesting and impressive examples I saw throughout the Tour. Unchanged For Millions of Years The order Crocodilia contains perhaps the most imposing reptiles living today, thanks to their often-large size and predatory nature. Today, with the exceptions of the American Alligator, found in the extreme southeastern USA, and a portion of the range of the American Crocodile, which reaches into Central America, as well as that of that Saltwater Crocodile, which includes Southeast Asia, the members of the order live entirely on Gondwanan fragments. This implies that their evolutionary origins took place on the supercontinent, which are believed to have begun during the Triassic era. After an early start, however, evolution of the line, at least in terms of body form, slowed during the Cretaceous period, and the modern examples are not significantly different than those living at that time.

This is generally believed to signify the attainment of a very successful physical form, which has allowed the Crocodiles to survive many subsequent changes in global climatic conditions. I was actually a little surprised at how many examples of the order I saw during the Tour, however, most of those occurred in protected areas and not in the types of places frequented by touring cyclists. Perhaps that was a good thing. The most numerous sightings were the Jacare Caimans in the Pantanal of Brazil. When I visited there, during the dry season, their numbers lying about around the rapidly-shrinking ponds of that great wetland were very impressive. That may have caused a little anxiety, were it not for their generally overfed nature, caused by the buffet of distressed fish that had been presented to them. One species that I didn't see was Africa's Nile Crocodile, and given their famous proficiency at hunting big game, that may have been a good thing too.

Saltwater Crocodiles in Australia's Kakadu National Park Mugger Crocodile in Nepal's Royal Chitwan National Park Broad-Snouted Caiman in Brazil's Lago Miriam Wildlide Refuge, and Argentina's Parque Nacional Iguazu Jacare Caimen in Brazil's Pantanal American Crocodiles in Costa Rica's Rio Tarcoles Legless Wonders Snakes are another type of reptile that elicits squeamish behavior from many people. However, as with the other reptiles, there are many beautiful examples of snakes, and they should primarily be appreciated, as the threat they pose is most often greatly exaggerated. Most snakes are far too small to hunt anything even approaching the size of an adult human, and we, as we are often reminded, are more of a threat to a snake than the snake is to us. Indeed, being stepped on by a 90-kg human, such as me, would certainly be bad news for most snakes. One common activity where I might have accidentally done that during the Tour was walking through the bush in the evening searching for a campsite.

When doing so, I paid particular attention to my footfalls, and always tried to push the front wheel of the bike a meter ahead of my feet to provide ample warning, or at least an alternative target, for any lurking snakes. That must have worked, since I never saw a single snake under those circumstances. In fact, I saw disappointingly few snakes in any case during the Tour. Those that I did see were most often risking their own lives by crossing a busy highway. A few harmless snakes seen in (Top Down): Australia; Madagascar; Peru A large Boa Constrictor in the Peruvian Amazon A venomous Yellow-Faced Whip Snake in Australia Of course, mine would not have been a typical visit to India had I not seen one of their famous "snake charmers." However, like most such forms of "entertainment" the show is more of act than any sort of actual charming of the snake, which seems to derive little benefit from its participation. Though, I suppose, as far as animal acts go, the snakes are relatively well treated.

A Snake Charmer in Agra, India, with a Python and Cobras Creaking Amphibians Though they don't possess true scales, amphibians, nonetheless, share many features with reptiles. However, their partially aquatic life makes them a little more difficult to observe, especially when on a bike tour. Indeed, Frogs are more often heard than seen, and salamanders, toads, and the very bizarre caecilians usually require quite an effort to observe. Add to that the saddening, and still poorly understood, declines in worldwide amphibian populations linked to environmental changes, and I was lucky to see many at all. The three frogs shown below are all species found in rainforests, where seeing interesting examples is a little easier. Frogs seen in (Top Down): Madagascar; Peru; Peru The Sturdy Ones Tortoises and Turtles are a family of reptiles that I find quite appealing. With their characteristic shells, few types of animals can compare. However, their rather inconspicuous appearances, along with their legendary slowness, make them easy to miss, especially when cycling. On the other hand, once they are spotted, those same factors allow one to easily approach and get a really close look.

Therefore, most of my sightings during the Tour were of small Tortoises along the roadside, including the Madagascar Radiated Tortoise and Argentine Tortoise, shown below, with much fewer observations of the more difficult-to-see riparian-zone Turtles. Tortoises in the road in: Madagascar (Top); Argentina (Bottom) One type of place where it is possible to see the most impressive examples of the family is on islands, where gigantism has evolved on more than one occasion. While large, slow Tortoises may have difficulty surviving on continental landmasses, where they are vulnerable to many other types of creatures, especially those that would eat or damage their eggs, on islands, where such factors may be absent, they have better chances and may grow to tremendous sizes. I saw that for myself when I visited the renowned Islas Galapagos, famous for their Giant Tortoises, as well as other endemic creatures. While there are different species for many of the different islands of the archipelago, I only saw them in the wild on Isla Santa Cruz.

However, while many people only observe them at the breeding centers, or on private ranches, I was quite pleased that I also saw them independently, while cycling through the island's Giant Tortoise Reserve. Juvenile Tortoises at the Isabela Breeding Center, Islas Galapagos (Top); An Espanola Giant Tortoise at the Charles Darwin Breeding Center, Puerto Ayora (Bottom) Wild Tortoises in the Santa Cruz Tortoise Reserve; Islas Galapagos Masterworks of Evolution Certainly the most distinctive, and possibly my favorite, reptiles are the Chameleons. Half of their species are endemic to Madagascar and most of the rest live nearby in Africa, though there are some species in other parts of the world. My encounters have mostly come on the big island, with one or two on the African mainland. Without a doubt, most Chameleons are perfectly adapted to a life in the trees. Their prehensile tail, independently movable eyes, swaying gait, flattened torso, greatly extendable tongues, and their famous chromatomorphic skin all help them hunt for insects among the branches. However, not all are tree dwellers.

The smallest family, the Brooksian Chameleons, live mainly on the forest floor, where their small size and brown, textured body help them blend into the leaf litter. I would never have seen any of these when I was in the rainforests of eastern Madagascar were it not for the expert eyes of my local park guides, which made me glad that their services were required. A Small Brooksian Chameleon (Top, Middle) and a Chameleon mimicing a branch (Bottom) It is a modern legend that Chameleons instantly change color to match the appearance of the surfaces on which they stand. While they certainly can change their appearance for camouflage, as seen in the top panel below, most of their colorations are used for communications, or to convey simple emotions. This is verified by the two lower images below, where two Chameleons have made no attempts to match the appearnce of the dusty roads surface over which they were slowly walking.

A few colorful Chameleons seen in (Top Down): Eastern Madagascar; Tanzania; Western Madagascar Lizards, Skinks & Geckos The most frequently seen reptiles along my tour route were the common members of the suborder Lacertilia, of the order Squamata, the Lizards, Skinks, and Geckos. Of those, by far the most numerous were any of the numerous basic grey or grey-brown lizards, as seen below. While they are usually fleet of foot, and a little nervous, I was often able to observe them closely without too much difficulty. By doing so, I cannot say that I found any major differences among the types I saw in various parts of the world, as should be apparent in the images below. However, that is not the whole story for this order. Plain Lizards & Skink seen in (Top Down): Brazil; Madagascar; Rwanda Plain Lizards seen in (Top Down): Australia; Australia; Madagascar; Rwanda Occasionally one comes across an example that takes distinctiveness to a new level. One such case would be the Thorny Devil Lizard of west-central Australia.

These fearsome-looking, but small and timid residents of the Outback are only very distantly related to the American Horned Lizards. The prehistoric appearance of the one I saw certainly provided a bit of variety to an otherwise tedious day on the lonely highways of Western Australia. Another lizard that was far from plain and grey, was the little creature seen in the lower panel below, whose body camouflage allowed it to blend in perfectly with the leaf litter on the floor of the Peruvian Amazon basin. A Horned Lizard in Western Australia (Top, Middle); and a leaf-mimicing lizard in the Peruvian Amazon (Bottom) On the Islas Galapagos, a small lizard, the Lava Lizard inhabits most of the major islands of the archipelago. There are now a few distinct species existing on some of the more isolated island, however, the lizards found on the major islands are considered to be a single species. Differences in coloration can be seen in the images below, and it may be that evolution is already causing divergence into new species for the different islands.

Lava Lizards of the Islas Galapagos seen on (Top Down): Isla Bartolome; Isla Santa Fe; Isla Santa Cruz; Isla San Cristobal The Color Blue I had been familiar with grey lizards, as well as green lizards, before the Tour, and though I knew that there would be more variation in colors seen in other parts of the world, I had certainly not expected to see the color blue so well represented among the species I saw. Some had only a little blue, like the tongue of the Blue-Tongued Skink, shown in the top panel and inset of the image below, which I saw in the Northern Territory of Australia. Blue heads and tails were also seen more often than I would have expected, and can be assumed to play a role in courtship behaviors. That aspect was most strikingly seen in the male Agama Lizard seen in Serengeti National Park, in Tanzania. The females of the species living amongst the rocky outcrops above the plains were much more plainly colored and were being courted by their bright pink and blue suitor. Interestingly, the male lizard is only colored in such a way during the day, at night he turns dark brown.

Skink & Lizards with Blue coloration seen in (Top Down): Northern Australia; Lesotho; Peru Lizards with Blue coloration seen in: Peru (Top-Left); Malawi (Top-Right); South Africa (Middle);Tanzania (Bottom) The Complete Spectrum Occasionally, colors are taken even further. The examples below show some of the variety that exists in the Reptile line. The culmination may be the Day Geckos of the genus Phelsuma found mainly in Madagascar and the islands of the Indian Ocean. Like most Geckos, they walk up and down walls and across ceilings, and in so doing make themselves excellent photography subjects. Colorful Lizards in: Rwanda | Madagascar Row 1 Peru | Argentina Row 2 Gecko in: Madagascar | Madagascar Row 4 Madagascar Row 5 Modern Day Dragons Certainly the reptiles of the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods can claim the prize as the largest such creatures of all time. However, today there are still some examples that grow to at least a mildly fearsome size. The Iguanas of tropical South and Central America can grow to a somewhat impressive size, though their rather clumsy, dim-witted nature does little to create anxiety.

A few other lizards I saw, including the Tegus of South America, were rather hefty creatures, but also less than intimidating. Perhaps fortunately, I did not get close enough to the Indonesian island of Komodo to attempt to visit its shores and see the giant, and deadly, Komodo Dragons that inhabit that small island. Instead the largest lizard I saw, shown in the bottom panel, was the two-and-a-half-meter long Water Monitor Lizard that sauntered across my path in Sri Lanka. All Monitors are carnivorous, but the Water Monitor, unlike its larger relative on Komodo, does not feed on humans. It was the closest thing I saw to a dragon during the Tour, however. I don't know if I am disappointed about that, or not. Iguanas seen in (Top Down): Peruvian Amazon; Isla Isabela (Galapagos); Isla Santa Cruz (Galapagos); Isla Santa Fe(Galapagos) Home | Corbett Hospitality Corbett Hospitality Welcome to Corbett Hospitality!

Jim Corbett National Park, situated in the foothills of the great Himalaya's, is the oldest national park in India and was established in 1936 as Hailey National Park to protect the endangered Bengal tiger. It is located in Nainital district of Uttarakhand and was named after Jim Corbett who played a key role in its establishment. The Reserve is spread in 1308 square kilometres, of which 520 square kilometres is the core area and 798 square kilometres is of buffer area. Corbett National Park comprises of hills, riverine belts, marshy depressions, grasslands and a large lake. Corbett National Park is one of India's most beautiful wildlife areas. Thick jungle, the Ramganga river, and plentiful prey make this reserve an ideal habitat for Bengal tigers. There are more then 200 tigers in the park, which is probably the world's second largest population. In addition to tigers, Corbett also hoses Leopards, which are found in hilly areas but may also venture into the low land jungles. Small cats like jungle cat, fishing cat and leopard cat can also be spotted.

Other mammals include barking deer, sambar deer, hog deer and chital, Sloth and Himalayan black bears, Indian grey mongoose, otters, yellow-throated martens, Himalayan goral, Indian pangolins, and langur and Rhesus macaques. Owls and Nightjars can be heard during the night. Several endangered species such as mugger, ghariyal, leopard cat, goral, mahasheer, serows, etc. have a presence in this area. Nearly 600 of Asian elephants also wander at this place as this park is adjacent to Rajaji National Park. The Indian python found in the reserve is a dangerous species which is capable of killing a chital deer Local crocodiles and gharials were saved from extinction by captive breeding programs that subsequently released crocodiles into the Ramganga River. More than 586 species of resident and migratory birds (nearly 6% of total species of world) have been spotted here, including the crested serpent eagle, blossom-headed parakeet and the red junglefowl - ancestor of all domestic fowl.

33 species of reptiles, seven species of amphibians, seven species of fish and 36 species of dragonflies have also been seen here. Corbett National Park also contains 488 different species of plants and a diverse variety of fauna. Several identified and unidentified creature of biodiversity such as grasses, mosses, lichens, fungi, insects, butterfly, etc. are also found in this region. Corbett Hospitality organizes different activities at Corbett as Gypsy Safari, Elephant Safari, Adventure Sports (Land, Water and Sky), Educational School Tours, package Tours, Nature Walk, Museum Visit, Hotel/ Resort Reservation, etc. We also specialize in families and school groups. Corbett Hospitality strives to provide you with an ultimate jungle experience at Corbett - a rendezvous amidst nature. We offer best tour packages of wildlife safaris to Corbett. Corbett Hospitality takes care of every minute Detail to make your tour most memorable and most comfortable. Read More Luxury, Semi Luxury & Budget Resorts Huts & Tents Accommodation AC Rooms & Multi cuisine restaurant Regular & Special Packages Waxpol Tiger Facts Scientific name of the Tiger: panthera tigiris.

Tigers are the biggest cats in the world, weighing up to 500 pounds and 6 feet in length, not including a 3 foot tail. Tigers have been classified into 5 subspecies. These are the Royal Bengal, Siberian, Indo-Chinese, South-china and the Sumatran tiger. The Bali Tiger is now extinct. Loss of habitat was the main cause of this subspecies extinction. There are a total of 29 Tiger Reserves in India. They cover approximately 1.17% of the total geographical area. Just like the human fingerprint, the stripes on the tiger are unique to that individual. In fact people who thoroughly observe the tiger population of an area can distinguish between them. Tigers have enhanced vision as compared to humans. They see 6 times better! A tiger can eat 80 pounds of meat in one sitting. A tiger makes a successful kill once in every twenty attempts. They are ambush predators and must rely on their stealth and not speed. They hunt mainly at dawn and dusk. India has the largest population of wild tigers in the world. The most recent tiger count yielded a truly disturbing figure. Only 1400 individuals are left.

A captive tiger has never been successfully reintroduced into the wild because a human surrogate mother cannot teach the cubs the skills they would have learnt in the forest as cubs. The life expectancy of the tiger is between 10 – 15 Years in the wild, and 15 – 20 in captivity. Last but not the least Tigers are on the list of endangered species. Radical conservation steps need to be taken to save this beautiful cat. Estuarine Crocodile Facts The estuarine crocodile is commonly called as saltwater crocodile as this is one species that can tolerate salt water concentration as found in the oceans. However they are also found in inland water bodies. Found: Southeast Asian coastlines of different countries and Northern Australian shores and estuaries. The scientific name is Crocodylus porosus, where porosus means the bumpy nature of adult's snout. They are the longest crocodilian species on the earth (of the living reptilian species). They can hit a length of about 6 meters (20 feet). They are brightly coloured with intriguing patterns of yellow or lime green. Youngsters are very colourful and have glowing eyes.

They prey on varieties of animals starting from fish, crabs, young turtles, insects, rats, mice, frogs, toads, birds, young and small mammals. They are aggressive and can bring down even grown up antelopes and buffaloes. They hunt in packs too, if required, though most of their lives they are solitary hunters. They tolerate other adults in the vicinity, except during mating times. The fourth teeth in its lower jaw will be protruding outside like a very long dagger even after the jaws are closed shut. The teeth are replaced at regular intervals. The fights between males to win a mate lead to fatal injuries or at times death itself. They mate under water. The males are larger than females. Females are almost half the male's length in comparison. Gender is decided by the temperature of incubation. Normally eggs incubated above 35°C and below 30°C are females. The eggs incubated in that 5°C range are males. Mother has to break open the nest mound and carry her new-borns to the water. The young ones readily take care of themselves and become efficient hunters once the nutrients in the yolk sac attached to them are used up.

They are known to attack humans, as they are strong and huge. However, one can escape from these dangerous jaws with a few safety measures when encountering one. Sambar Deer Facts The scientific name of Sambar Deer is Cervus unicolor. The Sambar deer averages between 6 and 8 feet in length. The weight of an adult sambar deer ranges between 240 and 570 pounds. They generally have a life span ranging from 16 to 20 years. It is found is a variety of habitats including swamps, forests, open scrublands and farm fields. Sambar deer are found throughout India, southern China, Taiwan, Malaysia, and the Philippines. They have also been introduced into Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. Unlike most animals, the sambar deer does not have a well-defined breeding season. These animals are typically nocturnal and solitary; however, during certain times of the year it is common to see a group of six or seven animals. The senses of sambar deer are highly developed, which helps them in detecting their predators easily. Whenever they perceive danger, they start giving a repetitive honking alarm call. The sambar is a very good swimmer.

Wild Dogs Facts The dhole or Indian Wild Dog (Cuon alpinus) is a species of canid native to South and Southeast Asia. The dholes are classed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (due to on-going habitat loss, depletion of its prey base, competition from other predators, persecution and possibly diseases from domestic and feral dogs. The dhole is a highly social animal, living in large clans which occasionally split up into small packs to hunt. It primarily preys on medium-sized ungulates, which it hunts by tiring them out in long chases, and kills by disembowelling them. Unlike most social canids (but similar to African wild dogs), dholes let their pups eat first at a kill. Though fearful of humans, dhole packs are bold enough to attack large and dangerous animals such as wild boar, water buffalo, and even tigers. The dhole has some extraordinary vocal calls - it can whistle, scream, mew, and even cluck like a chicken. It can urinate while doing a handstand on its front two legs. It exploits a variety of habitats from tropical rain forest and dry-deciduous jungle, to cold alpine forest and open plains.

It has amazing jumping powers and can reach a vertical height of at least 2.3 metres (7.5 ft). Its dental formula is unique among the dog family. It is a capable swimmer and often drives its prey into water. Blue Bull Facts The nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus), an antelope, and is one of the most commonly seen wild animals of central and northern India and eastern Pakistan; The mature males appear ox-like and are also known as blue bulls. The nilgai is the biggest Asian antelope. Nilgai is a sociable creature, usually found in single-sex or mixed-sex herds. Nilgai is a diurnal creature, found inhabiting Indian grasslands and woodlands. It avoids dense forest and has preference for plains and low hills with shrubs. Blue bulls of India are herbivorous creatures, surviving primarily on grasses, leaves, buds, and fruits. Male Blue bulls, after they reach old age, may be found leading a solitary life.

Male Blue Bull weight around 240 kilograms compared with the adult female weight of around 110 kilograms Spotted Deer Facts The chital or cheetal (Axis axis), also known as chital deer, spotted deer or axis deer is a deer which commonly inhabits wooded regions of Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and in small numbers in Pakistan. The spotted deer is found in large numbers in dense deciduous or semi-evergreen forests and open grasslands. Chital prefer to be near water and will drink mornings and evenings in hot weather. Chital also eat their shed antlers as a source of nutrients and will use mineral licks. An interesting relationship has been observed between herds of axis deer and troops of the Northern Plains Gray Langur (Presbytis entellus). Axis deer apparently benefit from the langurs' good eyesight and ability to post a lookout in a treetop, helping to raise the alarm when a predator approaches. Predators of the chital include tigers, Asiatic lions (in Gir Forest only), leopards, dholes and mugger crocodiles. Red foxes also sometimes prey on chital fawns.

10 Most Dangerous Animals in Asia | Planet Deadly UK 4 January 3, 2014 For those of you who’ve seen the Jungle Book then you’re halfway there on this one. We’ve got snakes, bears and even tigers, but there’s also a few even nastier deadly animals to be found across the vast continent of Asia. Stretching from the deserts of the Middle East to the steamy jungles of South East Asia and reaching northwards to the Arctic Circle, there’s dangerous animals for all tastes. When dealing with the developing world it’s nearly impossible to get anything approaching reliable statistics on animal attacks on deaths. If there were then we’d probably be writing about mosquitos (yawn!). Instead I’m going to concentrate on the meanest, scariest and most notorious of Asian animals. The one’s on this list are capable of dealing out some of the most unpleasant deaths known. 10. Komodo Dragon Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis) Komodo dragons are the biggest lizards in the world. The largest specimens measure over 10 feet (3m) in length and weigh around 350lbs (160kg).

They are resident to several islands of the Indonesian archipelago where they are a protected species. Their diet basically consists of anything on the island. Having no natural predators is probably what has allowed them to evolve into the giants they are. Armed with strong claws, powerful jaws, razor sharp serrated teeth and armoured scales these are formidable beasts. I used to quite like Komodo dragons but that was before I learnt about how they hunt. The Komodo will take prey as large as water buffalo, but they don’t use their size and power to do this. Instead they employ their secret weapon, a mouth full of bacteria. The lizard only needs to bite its prey once, after which it can retreat to a safe distance and wait. This can go on for days with the Komodo following the infected, slowly dying animal like the shadow of death itself. Komodo dragons have a host of other unsavoury habits including digging up human graves to eat the corpses. Over the years there have been a number of attacks on people, often with deadly consequences. 9. Fattail Scorpion Fattail Scorpion (Androctonus sp.) The fattail scorpion can be found in the hot, dry regions across Northern Africa, the Middle East and India.

The name come from, well, its fat tail?! Despite being modest in size (around 4ins / 10cm) they pack a lethal sting. They are widely considered to be the most dangerous species of scorpion and occasionally referred to as the man-killer. The venom of the fattail is a powerful neurotoxin which is particularly fast acting. Death can occur in as little as an hour after being stung with respiratory paralysis being the cause. The only good news is there is an effective anti-venom. 8. Indian Rhinoceros Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) Rhinos are the tanks of the animal world. Big, heavy, powerful armor-plated and capable of inflicting big time damage. The Indian rhinoceros is no exception and is ranked as the 5th largest land animal on earth, just behind the various elephant species. A big male rhino can weigh in excess of 4 tons and measure over 6 feet (2 metres) at the shoulder. They aren’t slow either with a top speed of 35 mph (nearly 60km/h) and are surprisingly agile for such a big animal.

It is often said that rhinos are bad tempered and to some extent this is true. Having poor eyesight makes these animals more likely to charge first and ask questions later. Being hit by an Indian rhino would be like being hit by a truck, with a horn on the front! There is virtually nothing a rhino won’t have a go at; tigers, elephants and even trucks. Sadly for the rhinos it is them who are in danger from humans. Their horn is considered valuable in the Chinese medicine trade where it is believed to help rheumatism. As a result they are now an endangered species with their numbers down to a few thousand individuals in northern India. 7. Sharks Bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas) All of the “big three” deadly shark species can be found in the waters of Asia; the great white, tiger shark and bull shark can all be found here. Despite this the number of attacks is relatively low with the official shark attack figures recording only 51 deaths since records began over 400 years ago. It is likely that the actual number of deaths is massively under-reported as there are many populated coastal areas where sharks are common.

Hong Kong tops the list and most of these attacks happened during a 4 year period in the early 1990s. Ten deaths were attributed to one or more tiger sharks in the waters of Sai Kung on the island’s east coast. Another spot that has a surprisingly high number of shark attacks is Iran – it is the shark attack capital of the Middle East. This is likely due to the prevalence of bull sharks that can be found in the Tigris river and estuary – remember, these sharks can tolerate freshwater too. The Philippines are home to all the world’s deadliest sharks. Tigers, bull sharks, makos and even great whites can all be found here. However, it was oceanic whitetips that were responsible for the greatest death toll from a shark attack in history. In 1945, the cruiser USS Indianapolis was torpedoed between Guam and the Philippines. The ship sank quickly but the vast majority of the crew survived and were left floating in the sea wearing life-jackets. At dawn the following morning the shark attacks began. By the time they were rescued 5 days later only 300 out of the original 900 survivors were alive. Most had been killed by sharks. 6.

Asian Elephant Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) On size alone the Asian elephant wins hands down. Standing nearly 10 feet (3m) tall and weighing up to nearly 8 tons these are the second biggest animal on land. But hey, these are just big cuddly elephants that are our friends. Well yes, most of the time. Despite their enormous size elephants are generally shy and retiring by nature and will avoid confrontation with humans. There are however, two situations in which elephants are best left well alone; musth and when with their young. In their prime, male elephants experience a seasonal hormonal change known as musth. When in musth a male elephant may have testosterone levels 60 times higher than normal. During this time the bull elephant can become highly aggressive towards everything from other elephants to inanimate objects, and humans. Female elephants can also be highly dangerous when they feel their young are threatened. In such situations they will not hesitate in bringing their formidable size to bear and destroying whatever threatens it. When attacking an Indian elephant will curl up its trunk and trample its victim using either its feet or knees (of which it has four!). Male elephants will also gore adversaries with their tusks. There is another cause of elephant attacks – rogue elephants.

These legendary beasts are relatively rare but very real. One such elephant was named Osama bin Laden by local villagers after it had killed 27 people during a six month killing spree in the Indian state of Assam. That elephant was eventually shot as was another elephant responsible for an even more macabre spate of deaths. This elephant is reported to have killed 14 people from a single village but the truly horrific thing is that analysis showed it had human flesh in its stomach. That’s right, a man-eating elephant. It is suggested that the animal had gone insane after the killing of its calf and this was a psychotic episode. 5. Crocodiles Mugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris) Asia is home to a variety of crocodiles from the improbable looking gharial up to the deadliest of all, the saltwater or estuarine crocodile. Just looking at the fellow above should leave you with no doubt that these are not an animal you want to mess with. These are the biggest reptiles on earth and haven’t had to change much since prehistoric times. Armour plated, surprisingly fast both in and out of water, and equipped with the most powerful bite of any living creature.

Crocodiles have a recorded bite force ten times that of the great white shark. Crocs aren’t fussy eaters either they are opportunistic feeders meaning they will eat almost anything that comes their way. The crocodile mode of hunting generally involves ambushing prey by waiting just below the surface or even out of the water. From here they strike with lightning speed clamping their jaws shut and dragging the victim into the water to drown. As the crocodiles teeth are designed for gripping, not slicing flesh, they have two methods of turning their prey into bite-size chunks. One is to hide the carcass and let it rot, the other is the infamous death roll where the croc rolls over and over with the prey, ripping chunks off. In terms of which is the most dangerous the main contenders are the mugger crocodiles and the saltwater crocodile. The huge salty wins hands down in most respects and has even been known to take victims in the open ocean, hundreds of miles from land. Mugger crocodiles probably kill as many people though as they are found throughout India and Pakistan where they come into closer contact with humans. 4.

Asian Giant Hornet Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) Photo: Yasunori Koide / License Also known as ‘yak killer’ hornets these super-sized wasps can measure over 2 inches (5 cm) in length and have a 1/4 inch (6mm) long sting. But it isn’t just their size that makes them dangerous. The venom of Asian giant hornet is also particularly potent containing a combination of cytotoxins and neurotoxins. The first of these will cause tissue damage and pain with one researcher describing the sensation as “like a hot nail being driven into my leg”. The other toxin (mandaratoxin) can be lethal in high enough doses, and that’s not just if you’re allergic to wasp stings. In Japan alone 30 to 40 people a year are killed by giant hornet stings. That makes them Japan’s deadliest animal by a long way. In China the story is similar with over 40 deaths in Shaanxi province in just three months. The official line here is if you get stung 10 or more times, seek medical help.

If you get stung more than 30 times, you’re in big trouble. 3. Sloth Bear Sloth bear (Ursus ursinus) Despite having a slightly comical appearance, ungainly walk and a diet consisting largely of insects, the sloth bear is in fact one of the most feared animals in Asia. Many tigers will give them a wide berth, whilst elephants and rhinos actually actively dislike them and will charge them on sight. Standing at around 6ft (2m) tall when upright, Sloth bears can weigh in at up to 420lbs (200kg) for a big male. They are armed with very long powerful, sickle shaped claws which they use for digging termite mounds up. It is these claws that make them the Freddy Krueger of the animal world. With many animals there is a degree of predictability in their behavior and often some advice on what to do if confronted by one – not so for the sloth bear. These animals are as likely to attack as to run away. For some reason these animals seem to have a particular dislike of humans and it is reckoned that there is about one attack per week in India.

It’s almost as if they hold a grudge for all the mistreatment such as being hunted and trained as dancing bears or even pets. Of all the animals to be attacked by the sloth bear really is the last you want it to be. They are seriously vicious and can make a real mess with those scythe like claws and teeth. And the worst thing is they go for the face. It is no exaggeration to say sloth bears rip their victims faces off. So far I’ve only talked about regular sloth bears. What about when sloth bears go psycho?! Well this is what apparently happened in Mysore, India in the 1940s. The Sloth bear of Mysore allegedly went on a murderous rampage killing at least 12 people and maiming dozens more. All the victims had their faces ripped apart with survivors losing lips, noses and / or eyes. 2. Bengal Tiger Tiger (Panthera tigris) Photo: Claudio Gennari / License The tiger has long been revered as the ultimate man-eater. Stories from the days of Colonial India abound with villagers being slaughtered wholesale until a brave white hunter stepped in to shoot the beast.

But how much truth is there in these tales and just how dangerous is the tiger? Well, it seems that there is plenty of truth in the dangerous bit. The Bengal tiger is the biggest of the bunch weighing in at up to a massive 860 lb (390kg) and around 12 feet (3.9m) in length. And as you can see above, those teeth are pretty formidable, along with the matching set of claws. The usual hunting method of the tiger is to bring its victim down whilst latched onto the throat and thereby suffocate it. Prey can range in size from wild pigs right up to 1 ton buffalo. There are reports of tigers taking on several of the animals on this list, although they never seem to better elephants. Obviously a human is no match for the true king of the jungle but as a rule tigers don’t think we’re worth the bother. Despite that tigers still hold the record for having killed more humans than any other wild mammal. During the 1900s it is estimated that tigers killed a thousand people a year in India alone. One individual tiger (the Tigress of Champawat) is said to have killed 430 people.

Whilst these numbers are much reduced in modern times there are still cases of man-eaters out there. The Sundarban mangroves between Bangladesh and Bengal are home to around 600 tigers. Around three deaths a year are still attributed to Bengal tigers here. 1. Snakes King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) Photo: Dr. Anand Titus and Geeta N Pereira / License Whilst Australia may be home to the most venomous snakes on earth there are only a handful of fatalities every year. The story is very different in Asia with estimates ranging between 15,000 and 60,000 deaths every year as a direct result of snakebites. Most of these deaths occur in India although Sri Lanka seems to be disproportionately effected by snake bite deaths. The main culprits in India and South Asia are collectively known as the “Big Four”; Russell’s viper, saw-scaled viper, Indian cobra and the common krait. The cobras are the most common of these snakes and as a result responsible for the most deaths. The common cobra (Naja naja) has a highly potent neurotoxin which can cause death by tissue damage.

The much larger King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) is widespread throughout South East Asia and is in fact the biggest venomous snake in the world. Despite reaching nearly 18 ft (5.5m) and having a bite capable of killing an elephant the King cobra is not aggressive and will avoid humans. Of all the cobras the Egyptian cobra (Naja haje) is the most dangerous, being more aggressive and having a stronger venom. In Thailand the majority of snakebite deaths are caused by the monocled cobra (Naja kaouthia). The kraits are only found in Asia. They are nocturnal and not aggressive, however they have incredibly potent neurotoxic venom which can kill within 4 hours. Most encounters with humans are accidental with kraits seeking shelter in boots, tents or even getting into sleeping bags with people. The largest group of dangerous snakes in Asia are the pit vipers – so called because of the heat sensitive pits between their eyes and nose. These are responsible for the majority of deaths in South Asia and Japan alike. Most notorious of all these is Russell’s viper which is responsible for more snakebite fatalities than any other snake.

It is large, common, aggressive and packs a lethal does of haemotoxic venom. This may cause internal bleeding, necrosis, kidney failure and septicaemia amongst other things. And whilst we are talking about snakes lets not forget the constrictors. Asia is home to the world’s longest snake, the reticulated python. Whilst you may think these aren’t dangerous as you can buy one at the local pet shop you’d be wrong. These 20ft (7m) plus monster serpents have been responsible for numerous deaths both in the wild and in captivity. Although more than capable of killing an adult human these pythons are actually incapable of swallowing their victim as an adult’s shoulders are too wide. Related stories so where does the sloth bear live? surfgatinho India and Sri Lanka, mainly braslin I hate sharks Naaz Charania They are all animals and are higher up in the hierarchy, so they eat all small animals. survival of the fittest.

Question: What large dangerous short-snouted variety of creature, from India, is a mugger?
Answer: Crocodile