While a shark's bite may dominate our nightmares, you're statistically far more likely to be killed by a snake, a crocodile, or even a seemingly docile hippopotamus, as revealed by the startling global data on wild animal encounters.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, there were 69 unprovoked shark bites worldwide, resulting in 10 fatalities
- From 2018-2022, the United States averaged 41 shark attacks per year, with Florida accounting for 65% of cases
- Great white sharks were responsible for 15 confirmed attacks in 2023, including 4 fatal ones primarily off Australia and South Africa
- In North America, grizzly bears caused 90% of fatal bear attacks from 2000-2020, with 49 deaths
- Yellowstone National Park recorded 44 bear-inflicted injuries from 1979-2019, 8 fatal
- Alaska reported 73 brown bear attacks 2000-2019, 44 fatal
- In 2023, 300 Nile crocodile attacks in Africa, 169 fatal
- Australia saltwater crocs caused 34 attacks 1980-2023, 16 fatal
- Indonesia reported 321 saltwater crocodile attacks 2007-2016, 98 fatal
- WHO estimates 81,000-138,000 snakebite deaths annually worldwide
- India accounts for 58% of global snakebite deaths, ~58,000/year
- Sub-Saharan Africa: 435,000 snakebites/year, 30,000 deaths
- Hippopotamus attacks kill 500 people/year in Africa, highest of large mammals
- African lions cause 200-250 human deaths/year, mostly Tanzania
- Elephants kill ~500 people/year in India, 100 in Africa
Large predators like sharks and bears pose a surprisingly low fatal risk to humans.
Bear Attacks
- In North America, grizzly bears caused 90% of fatal bear attacks from 2000-2020, with 49 deaths
- Yellowstone National Park recorded 44 bear-inflicted injuries from 1979-2019, 8 fatal
- Alaska reported 73 brown bear attacks 2000-2019, 44 fatal
- Black bears attacked 664 people in North America 1900-2009, 63 fatal
- In Canada, 36 grizzly bear attacks 1980-2018, 14 fatal
- Romania had 11 brown bear attacks in 2023 alone, 4 fatal
- Sweden recorded 3 fatal brown bear attacks 2008-2023
- From 2010-2020, 25 non-fatal black bear attacks per year average in US
- Polar bears killed 73 people 1870-2014 globally
- Montana, US, had 12 grizzly attacks 1992-2022, 4 fatal
- Food-conditioned bears responsible for 70% of black bear attacks in parks
- Japan (Hokkaido) brown bears caused 11 attacks 2020-2023, 3 fatal
- 91% of bear attacks in Glacier NP involved grizzlies running defense of cubs, 1998-2022
- British Columbia, Canada, 124 bear attacks 1997-2018, 21 fatal
- Bear spray effective in 92% of encounters, preventing injury in 18 studies
- Russia (Kamchatka) had 26 brown bear attacks 2010-2020, 12 fatal
- Children under 16 comprised 15% of black bear attack victims US 2000-2020
- Finland reported 2 fatal bear attacks 1960-2023
- Wyoming (US) 23 grizzly attacks since 2010, 4 fatal
- 40% of grizzly attacks involve sows with cubs, Alaska data 2000-2020
- Norway had 4 brown bear attacks 2000-2023, 1 fatal
- North America total fatal bear attacks: 180 since 1784
- Sierra Nevada (California) black bears injured 28 people 2015-2023
- 75% of fatal polar bear attacks unprovoked, Svalbard 1973-2011
- Colorado black bear attacks: 5 since 1971, all non-fatal
- Italy (Trentino) 15 brown bear attacks 1999-2023, 1 fatal
- Bear maulings in Banff NP, Canada: 15 injuries 1980-2020
- 85% of black bear attacks predatory, per Herrero study 2018
- Slovenia 7 brown bear attacks 2000-2023, 2 fatal
Bear Attacks Interpretation
While the placid black bear's many nibbles are statistically akin to a grumpy squirrel convention, the grizzly's resume reads like a tersely written obituary, reminding us that in the bear world, a mother's love is the deadliest force of all.
Big Mammal Attacks
- Hippopotamus attacks kill 500 people/year in Africa, highest of large mammals
- African lions cause 200-250 human deaths/year, mostly Tanzania
- Elephants kill ~500 people/year in India, 100 in Africa
- Cape buffalo gore 200 people/year Africa, 50% fatal
- Tigers kill 50-100 people/year India/Bangladesh
- Gray wolf attacks: 11 fatal in Europe/North America last 50 years
- Wild boars injure 10,000/year in India, 100 deaths
- African elephants trample 150 people/year in Kenya
- Leopard attacks: 15,000/year India, 300 deaths
- Hyenas kill ~500/year in Africa, mostly children
- Moose charge 100+ people/year in North America, few fatal
- Indian elephants: 400 deaths/year from crop raiding conflicts
- Nile lechwe antelope rare but 5 attacks/year Sudan
- Bison gore 3-5 people/year Yellowstone
- Jaguars attack 25 people/year Amazon, mostly rural
- Rhinoceros charge 20 deaths/year Africa/Asia
- Wolverine attacks rare, 2 fatal North America 1900-2023
- Warthogs injure 50/year Africa, tusk goring
- Pumas (cougars) attack 20/year North America, 3 fatal
- Baboons attack 100+/year South Africa, mostly bites
Big Mammal Attacks Interpretation
While the noble lion is busy auditioning for the role of king, the grumpy hippo, the impatient elephant, and the perpetually annoyed buffalo are quietly running the far more lethal business of human conflict from the rivers and grasslands.
Crocodile Attacks
- In 2023, 300 Nile crocodile attacks in Africa, 169 fatal
- Australia saltwater crocs caused 34 attacks 1980-2023, 16 fatal
- Indonesia reported 321 saltwater crocodile attacks 2007-2016, 98 fatal
- Florida alligators attacked 442 people 1948-2021, 26 fatal
- Africa total crocodile attacks exceed 300/year, 63% fatal
- India mugger crocodiles: 450 attacks 2000-2020, 110 fatal
- Mexico (Crocodylus moreletii) 37 attacks 2010-2020, 5 fatal
- 70% of Nile croc attacks on children under 15 in sub-Saharan Africa
- Louisiana alligators: 64 attacks 1979-2021, 5 fatal
- Papua New Guinea saltwater crocs: 42 attacks 2000-2022, 28 fatal
- 92% fatality rate for Nile croc attacks in Tanzania, 2000-2015 data
- Thailand Siamese crocs rare attacks, 3 recorded 1990-2023, 1 fatal
- South Africa Nile crocs: 210 attacks 1990-2019, 143 fatal
- Brazil caiman attacks: 353 1994-2018, 0 fatal
- 80% of croc attacks occur during fishing or bathing, global data
- Zimbabwe Zambezi crocs: 56 attacks 2010-2020, 38 fatal
- Philippines saltwater crocs: 68 attacks 2000-2022, 52 fatal
- Texas alligators: 5 attacks 1928-2023, 0 fatal
- Congo Basin: 100+ croc attacks/year, high underreporting
- Australia freshwater crocs: 62 attacks 1977-2021, 1 fatal
- 65% of alligator attacks in Florida on males 18-45 during swimming
- Venezuela Orinoco crocs: 12 attacks 2005-2023, 4 fatal
- Burundi Lake Tanganyika: 41 croc attacks 2010-2020, 32 fatal
- Globally, crocodilians kill ~1,000 people/year
Crocodile Attacks Interpretation
While crocodilians are responsible for an estimated thousand human deaths annually, a geographic roll call of attacks reveals a grimly practical truth: your odds of survival depend almost entirely on the species in your local waters and what you're doing there, with Africa's Nile crocodiles proving themselves as nature's most ruthlessly efficient predators of people.
Shark Attacks
- In 2023, there were 69 unprovoked shark bites worldwide, resulting in 10 fatalities
- From 2018-2022, the United States averaged 41 shark attacks per year, with Florida accounting for 65% of cases
- Great white sharks were responsible for 15 confirmed attacks in 2023, including 4 fatal ones primarily off Australia and South Africa
- Surfing accounted for 42% of unprovoked shark bites in 2023, with 29 incidents globally
- Australia reported 15 shark attacks in 2023, with 4 fatalities, the highest national total
- Between 1958-2023, tiger sharks caused 138 attacks, 36 fatal, ranking third among species
- In 2022, Reunion Island had 12 shark attacks, 2 fatal, due to bull sharks
- Children under 10 years old represented 5% of shark bite victims from 2013-2023 in the US
- Bull sharks caused 27% of attacks in murky waters from 2018-2023
- South Africa recorded 42 shark attacks from 2010-2020, with 24 fatalities
- 80% of shark attacks worldwide are non-fatal due to low bite force or victim escape, 1950-2023 data
- New Smyrna Beach, Florida, had 326 shark bites from 1882-2023
- In 2021, 28 unprovoked attacks in US, 1 fatal
- Blacktip sharks caused 29 bites in 2023, mostly minor
- Hawaii averaged 4 shark attacks per year 2014-2023
- 15% of shark attacks involve multiple bites, often fatal, 1958-2023
- Brazil had 25 shark attacks 2010-2020, 12 fatal, mostly bull sharks
- Females comprised 10% of shark attack victims globally 2018-2023
- Ocean kayaking saw 8 shark interactions in 2023, 0 fatal
- From 2014-2023, California had 14 great white attacks, 3 fatal
- Spinner sharks responsible for 12% of nearshore bites in Florida 2020-2023
- Global shark attacks peaked at 108 in 2018
- 60% of fatal shark attacks occur in 5m depth or less
- Mexico (Pacific) reported 8 attacks 2015-2023, 4 fatal
- Stand-up paddleboarding led to 11 shark bites 2019-2023 US
- Oceanic whitetip sharks caused 15 attacks post-shipwrecks WWII, high fatality
- Egypt (Red Sea) had 14 attacks 2009-2023, mostly oceanic whitetip
- 2020 saw lowest shark attacks at 57 worldwide due to COVID lockdowns
- Nurse sharks involved in 5 bites 2023, all non-fatal
- From 1990-2023, 25% of attacks during summer months globally
Shark Attacks Interpretation
While the odds of suffering a shark bite are remarkably slim, these statistics remind us that when entering the ocean we are visitors in a powerful predator's domain, where a split-second encounter—often in shallow, murky water near shore—can tragically rewrite the narrative from a leisurely surf to a survival story.
Snake Bites
- WHO estimates 81,000-138,000 snakebite deaths annually worldwide
- India accounts for 58% of global snakebite deaths, ~58,000/year
- Sub-Saharan Africa: 435,000 snakebites/year, 30,000 deaths
- Southeast Asia: 1.2 million bites/year, 100,000 deaths
- Russell's viper causes 43% of snakebites in India, high mortality
- US: 7,000-8,000 venomous snakebites/year, 5 deaths
- Brazil: 30,000 snakebites/year, 100 deaths, Bothrops genus dominant
- Children under 10: 20% of snakebite victims in rural India
- Saw-scaled vipers responsible for 5,000 deaths/year in Asia/Africa
- Australia: 500 snakebites/year, 2 deaths, mostly eastern brown snake
- Nigeria: 500,000 bites/year estimated, 10,000 deaths
- 5.4 million snakebites globally/year, 2.7 million envenomed
- Pakistan: 40,000 snakebites/year, 10,000 deaths
- Rattlesnake bites in US Southwest: 2,000/year, 0.2% fatal
- Rural poor women 20-50% more at risk in agricultural areas
- Bangladesh: 23,000 deaths/year from snakebites
- Copperhead bites US: 2,900/year, mostly dry bites
- Ethiopia: 23,000 bites/year, 5,500 deaths
- King cobra bites: 5,000/year SE Asia, 40% fatality untreated
- Europe: <100 deaths/year, Vipera genus
- Sri Lanka: 44,000 bites/year, 800 deaths, hump-nosed viper common
- Cottonmouth bites US: 7,000/year, low mortality
- Kenya: 12,000 bites/year, 600 deaths
- 80% of bites in first aid phase occur at home without antivenom, global
Snake Bites Interpretation
The world's most lethal "commute" is a rural footpath, where every year snakebites quietly cause tens of thousands of preventable deaths, starkly exposing the cruel intersection of poverty, geography, and a desperate lack of medical resources.
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