(Ranked by Human Deaths Per Year)
10. Bears (Various species)
Estimated Deaths per Year: ~5–10
Why They’re Dangerous:
Bear attacks are rare but lethal, often triggered when surprised or if cubs are nearby. Grizzly and polar bears are the most aggressive species.
9. Baboons (Genus: Papio)
Estimated Deaths per Year: ~5–10
Why They’re Dangerous:
Highly territorial and bold, baboons can become violent, especially when competing for food or threatened by humans.
8. Wolves (Canis lupus)
Estimated Deaths per Year: ~10–20
Why They’re Dangerous:
Though rare, wolf attacks occur—mainly
due to rabies or in regions where wolves lose their natural fear of people.
7. Leopards (Panthera pardus)
Estimated Deaths per Year: ~30–50
Why They’re Dangerous:
Stealthy and powerful, leopards occasionally prey on humans in areas where they live close to villages,
especially in India and Africa.
6. Tigers (Panthera tigris)
Estimated Deaths per Year: ~50–100
Why They’re Dangerous:
Injured or aging tigers sometimes become man-eaters. Notorious cases like the Champawat Tiger have cemented their fearsome reputation.
5. Lions (Panthera leo)
Estimated Deaths per Year: ~100
Why They’re Dangerous:
Lions usually avoid humans, but in regions like Tsavo and Tanzania, desperate or old lions may hunt people, sometimes in coordinated attacks.
4. Elephants (Loxodonta & Elephas species)
Estimated Deaths per Year: ~100–500
Why They’re Dangerous:
Elephants are massive and unpredictable, especially during mating season or when provoked. Human-elephant conflict in rural Asia and Africa
is a growing issue.
3. Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius)
Estimated Deaths per Year: ~500
Why They’re Dangerous:
Surprisingly one of Africa’s deadliest animals, hippos are highly territorial and
known to capsize boats or charge at humans without warning.
2. Dogs (Canis lupus familiaris)
Estimated Deaths per Year: ~59,000
Why They’re Dangerous:
Most of these deaths come from rabies,
transmitted by bites from unvaccinated dogs, especially in Asia and Africa.
1. Humans (Homo sapiens)
Estimated Deaths per Year: ~475,000 (intentional homicides only)
Why They’re Dangerous:
The most dangerous mammal is ourselves. From war and murder to
environmental destruction, no other species poses a greater threat to its own kind.