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Which Animals Prey on Humans?

Michael Anissimov
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Updated: Jun 04, 2024
Views: 28,497
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Several animals can and do prey on humans. To reassure readers and promote conservation efforts, many sources state that these animals only do so when they are hungry and there is nothing else available, but this isn't always the case. Animals that have been reported to attack humans for food include three of the four big cats (lion, tiger, and leopard; jaguars are not known to eat people, but will attack them if disturbed), the American Black Bear, the polar bear (world's largest land predator), wolves (especially the Grey Wolf), jackals, large crocodiles and alligators (especially the saltwater and Nile crocodile), large sharks (especially the great white shark, tiger shark, and bull shark), and the Komodo dragon.

All of these animals have been around for millions of years, surviving through difficult times like Ice Ages. To survive in challenging conditions, predators must eat anything they can overpower, so evolution has crafted these animals to be efficient killers. What's more, predators exist on top of the food chain, meaning they depend on a substantial supply of prey. When conditions get harsh in a region, apex predators are usually the first to die off, because they are more likely to starve by being unable to find prey than prey is likely to starve from being unable to find its own food, like smaller prey or plants. All these forces optimize predators for aggression and dietary flexibility.

All instances where animals prey on human depend strongly on the species involved and the size of the humans. Jackals, for instance, are small enough that they usually only attack children, since attempting to prey on adults would probably be too difficult. Grey wolves, on the other hand, are larger and may attack humans for food, especially when hungry, as is highly documented in European folklore. The human fear of wolves led to massive extermination campaigns that wiped them out across much of their former range within Europe.

Most bears only attack humans to protect their cubs (especially grizzly bears) or for territorial reasons, but predatory kills have been reported, most frequently from the American black bear. Pepper spray is recommended as protection from these animals, though usually yelling loudly is enough to scare them off.

The most lethal predators of humans are tigers and saltwater crocodiles. The Champawat tiger, a female Bengal tiger shot in 1907, was responsible for over 400 documented deaths in Nepal and India before she was shot by Jim Corbett. One saltwater crocodile, Gustave, a 20 foot (6 meter) Nile crocodile living in Burundi, Africa, has been rumored to have killed over 300 people. Although this figure is exaggerated, the crocodile has probably killed at least 100.

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Michael Anissimov
By Michael Anissimov
Michael Anissimov is a dedicated All Things Nature contributor and brings his expertise in paleontology, physics, biology, astronomy, chemistry, and futurism to his articles. An avid blogger, Michael is deeply passionate about stem cell research, regenerative medicine, and life extension therapies. His professional experience includes work with the Methuselah Foundation, Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence, and Lifeboat Foundation, further showcasing his commitment to scientific advancement.
Discussion Comments
By anon994533 — On Feb 16, 2016

Sharks don't prey on humans. Generally speaking when a shark attacks a human it's because of a case of mistaken identity or if they believe you're competition for their prey (e.g. if you're spearfishing). Sharks usually back off after the first bite, and the human being bitten will often times lead to death because of the trauma, blood loss, etc.

I have never read of a shark attack where the shark munches on the human and actually eats the entire person, or really continues to eat after the initial bite.

By anon158585 — On Mar 07, 2011

there has never been a documented case of a wolf attacking a human, let alone preying on them.

By anon118220 — On Oct 13, 2010

Note: The number one hunter of the animal described above including the nile crocodile and Bengal Tiger were humans. The most successful hunter of all times despite the many abilities of the various animals stated above are humans. The fact that a few of the animals went and attacked humans for whatever the reason lead to their species pushed to the brink of destruction.

We have been more dangerous to ourselves as a species than all these combined with the exception of maybe disease (bacteria) that may have caused more death among humans.

Michael Anissimov
Michael Anissimov
Michael Anissimov is a dedicated All Things Nature contributor and brings his expertise in paleontology, physics,...
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