It's safe to say that mankind is the deadliest animal on the planet. Still, there are plenty of creatures that could still give us a run for our money. Take a look at the list below.
12. Jellyfish
According to The Medical Journal of Australia (Fenner, & Williams, 1996), the jellyfish is responsible for 15-30 times more deaths each year than all unprovoked shark attacks worldwide.11. Tigers
Tigers have killed more people than any other big cat. In fact, tens to hundreds of people are killed by wild tigers annually in tiger-range states (this is not including those who die from tigers in captivity).10. Deer
Most deer-associated deaths are caused not by antlers but by accidents on highways. Deer often cross highways and stop right in the middle of roads, causing collisions among vehicles. It is estimated that around 120 people die every year because of deer.9. Domestic Dogs
In the United States alone, about 30 people die annually from dog related incidents with other high-income countries such as Australia, Canada and France reporting comparable incidence and fatality rates. It’s important to note that most aggressive acts caused by dogs are due to human misconduct.8. Cape Buffalo
Cape buffaloes are heavy animals, often weighing 1.5 tons. They stand tall at 1.7 meters high and are approximately 2.8 meters long. These animals attack humans by means of their sharp horns especially when they feel that they are in danger. According to statistics, they are responsible for 200 deaths per year, over and above other huge animals.7. Elephants
The largest terrestrial animal alive can weight up to 15,000 lbs (7,000 Kg) and reach a height of about 13 ft (4 m). They are responsible for an estimated death toll of 500 people annually.6. Crocodiles
With their assorted earth tone colors they can blend into their environments and become deadly stealth machines while in the water. It is reported that about 1,000 to 2,500 people die by crocodiles each year.5. Hippopotamus
Considered to be Africa’s most dangerous animal, a hippopotamus is a docile-looking water mammal that can be very vicious when provoked. Around 2,900 people are killed every year because of hippopotamuses.4. Scorpions
Known as one of the oldest creatures to ever live on earth, scorpions evolved from sea-dwelling creatures to land menaces about 340 million years ago. Around 1,300 to 2,000 species of scorpions exist in the world but only 25 of them have poison that is dangerous enough to kill humans. Nevertheless, anywhere between 1,000 to 5,000 people are killed by scorpions annually.3. Snakes
If you fear snakes, your fear is not unmerited. Snakes kill an average of 50,000 people around the world every year. Most deaths are said to come from snakes that are threatened by mere human presence and activity.2. Tsetse flies
The Tsetse fly is responsible for spreading the African sleeping sickness, which affects as many as 500,000 people, 80 percent of whom eventually die.1. Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes may be one of the smallest on this list, but they are among the deadliest. These insects are carriers of fatal diseases such as malaria and dengue, which kill around 660,000 to 1,000,000 people every year.
It's generally well-known that the mosquito is the most dangerous animal on earth, due to the fact that they can carry dozens of deadly diseases and attack by the hundreds or thousands. The tsetse fly is definitely another scary creature, and if you're traveling to Africa anytime soon we'd recommend you give this bugger a wide berth or a good slap. But it's crazy to see that man's best friend, the domestic dog, comes in so high on the list. Hopefully, we can reconcile our friendship soon.
For an even greater list, check out List 25.