Africa is known for its diverse wildlife. Here is a countdown of the top-10 most deadly African animals.
Number 10. Rhinoceros
Rhinos are the second-largest land mammals on earth (elephants are the largest). White rhinos weigh around 5,000 pounds. Both white and black rhinos live in Africa and are critically endangered. Their numbers drop everyday due to poaching, which is the illegal hunting of rhinos—usually for their horns.
Rhinos can’t see very far or very well and have short tempers. This makes them dangerous to humans who might get in their way. Rhinos are known to charge at full force and use their horns to attack. While the number of people killed by rhinos is unknown, it is best to use caution near rhinos.
Number 9. Lion
Lions are responsible for killing around 70 people a year in Africa. The lions that target humans are usually sick, injured, or nielderly males. Scientists think that these weaker males attack humans rather than their regular prey because humans are an easier meal. Humans can’t run as fast as animals like zebra or gazelles. Humans also lack dangerous hooves and horns that can injure a hunting lion.
Number 8. Cape Buffalo
Cape buffalo are huge and impressive beasts. They live in large herds and protect each other using their large horns and formidable strength. Even lions don’t bother the Cape buffalo because the risk of getting hurt or killed is too high. Cape buffalo are known to protect themselves by attacking in large groups and are responsible for around 200 human deaths per year.
Number 7. Elephant
Elephants are another critically endangered African animal. African elephants are the largest land mammal on earth and can weigh up to 13,000 pounds. Poachers are one of the biggest threats to these sensitive and intelligent creatures and generally kill them for their tusks. Elephants that feel threatened by humans will not hesitate to attack, though males are responsible for the most human deaths. Elephants kill around 500 people each year.
Number 6. Hippopotamus
Hippos live in and around the water in Africa. They are fiercely territorial and aggressively protect their territory from perceived threats. Hippos can run 20 miles per hour and have massive jaws with 20-inch tusks that look like huge teeth. Hippos kill around 3,000 humans each year.
Number 5. Nile Crocodile
This fearsome beast grows up to 16 feet long and weighs around 500 pounds. People and Nile crocs often share the same habitat. That means that crocs and humans run into each other regularly. The Nile croc hides in the water with only its eyes or nose exposed. Humans use the same water sources. They go to the water to wash clothes, fish, or bathe. This is when the most crocodile-related deaths occur. Nile crocs are responsible for killing at least 3,000 people per year in Africa.
Number 4. Tsetse Fly
The tsetse fly is a bloodsucker. It doesn’t look much different from a common housefly. Yet it is responsible for around 10,000 human deaths each year. The tsetse fly carries a parasite that causes Sleeping Sickness. It also carries another similar type of parasite that kills livestock like cattle. If the Sleeping Sickness isn’t treated, it causes death.
Number 3. Black Mamba
The black mamba isn’t actually black. Its narrow body is a light grayish-brown. The inside of its mouth, however, is as black as coal. The black mamba is one of the most venomous snakes in the world. The amount of venom in each bite is enough to kill 12 full-grown men within an hour. The snake is also known to chase people and can move as fast as 12 miles per hour. Growing up to 8 feet long, the black mamba is one of the most feared snakes in Africa.
Number 2. Puff Adder
The puff adder is possibly one of Africa’s most deadly snakes and is responsible for killing the most people each year. It is a well-camouflaged snake that freezes when someone approaches it (other snakes usually run away). Because it holds so still and is so well camouflaged, people don’t see it lying there. Most bites occur when someone accidentally steps on the snake. While it’s not known exactly how many people the puff adder kills each year, more than 30,000 people die from snakebites in Africa each year.
Number 1. Mosquito
The mosquito is both the smallest and most deadly animal on this countdown. It kills more people than all the other animals on this list combined. Mosquitoes carry diseases that kill more than 1 million people each year. These diseases include Malaria, Dengue Fever, and Yellow Fever. Malaria alone kills more than 3,000 African children each day.
