While it is true that all organisms in nature are interdependent on each other, fundamentally nature thrives on killing. The wildlife has always propelled itself on the sentiment of “eat or be eaten” because it allows them to survive and evolve.
Among the 1.2 million species on Earth, there are quite a few species which are particularly deadly for humans. Upon reading this, creatures such as sharks and lions may come to mind but you will be surprised to know that brute size and physical strength is not what sets apart the world's most dangerous animals.
Carnivorous apex predators are of course creatures that you do not want to mess with but they are not as deadly as you may think.
In BBC’s ranking of the 10 most dangerous animals in the world, lions secure the 10th position for killing 200 humans on average per year, while crocodiles have a kill rate of 1,000 which bumps them up to the 7th position.
Animals like lions, crocodiles and hippos are aggressive and territorial by nature. Each of these species are quick to ambush anything that enters their habitat, and possess a bite that can crack your skull or tear the body in half. A crocodile often begins with a bite before continuing to swallow your entire body.
Size and strength are deceiving, and the world’s deadliest creatures are often the smallest ones.
Hippos may have canines which are half a meter long but these small creatures attack by spreading life-threatening diseases to millions of people each year with a pin-prick size bite.
Scorpions and assassin bugs easily surpass the apex predators on the list of the most dangerous animals by causing thousands of deaths through toxins and diseases.
However, the most dangerous animal in the world is the one that can be found across every household, providing more loyalty than any family member as they continue to hover around you all the time.
Mosquitoes are blood sucking insects that hold the record for killing the most humans in a year at 725,000.
They do not set out to kill directly but act as a vector for deadly diseases, when they feed on human blood.
In the course of their feeding, they transmit infectious pathogens which are responsible for causing malaria, dengue, Chikugunya virus and yellow fever.
Having the most humid weather conditions all year round and an abundant source of stagnant water bodies, Bangladesh is easily the host to 123 different species of mosquitoes.
These conditions are extremely suitable in order for these creatures to breed and evolve.
Mosquitoes can cause the death of other land mammals such as livestock and has reported to be in existence since the late Cretaceous period of dinosaurs.
The mosquito-borne disease with the highest number of fatalities is malaria. Malaria is a parasitic disease that is caused by the bite of female Anopheles mosquitoes.
Additionally, every year Bangladesh continues to have thousands of dengue cases, causing large number of fatalities.
In order to avoid mosquito bites, you must wear protective clothing or douse your body and surroundings with insect repellant. At night, normalize using mosquito nets and make sure to clean your water holding containers.
Despite being a few millimeters big in size, mosquitoes are by far the deadliest animals in the world causing the greatest number of human deaths.
They can be referred to as nature’s serial killers even if they do not necessarily have the intent to kill, but due to their high capacity for spreading diseases that result in human deaths.
