Which Is The World's Deadliest Animal?

So, make your guess as to which is the world's deadliest animal then read on and you just might be in for a very small surprise!

Is it sharks, which on average cause just 6 deaths per year?

Is it the elephant, which causes a mere 500 deaths per year?

Is it the crocodile, which causes 1,000 deaths per year?

Is it the dog. the maybe not so aptly named 'man's best friend', which causes around an unbelievable 35,000 deaths per year?

Or is it snakes which, worldwide, cause 100,000+ deaths per year?

Or maybe even us humans, which according to the latest available data cause around 437,000 deaths per year?

No, it's none of these.  You need to think smaller, much smaller.

At the number one spot for the world's deadliest animal lies the, apparently not so humble, mosquito which is responsible in one form or another for over 730,000 human deaths per annum!

Just through sucking blood from humans and then transmitting viruses from one host to another, the mosquito, this seemingly insignificant yet annoying creature, is responsible for the most animal related deaths worldwide year on year.

Back in 2004 it was reported in Time Magazine that malaria sickened 300 million people and killed 3 million.  But it's not just malaria that is transmitted by mosquitoes, they carry and transmit dengue fever, yellow fever, chikungunya virus, zika virus and encephalitis.

To add to their position as the World's Most Deadly Animal it is their sheer number around the globe; during the peak season they outnumber every other animal on earth except the termites and the ants.  Perhaps more significant is that, unlike the other animals listed above, mosquitoes breed in almost all countries of the world with just one or two exceptions.

So if you're in, or soon to be travelling to, an area where mosquitoes are prevalent maybe it's time to rethink your bug repellent options.

Stay safe and bite free!

The Solid Bar Company Team

References:

• World Health Organization Data For Homicides
• National Homicide Rates By Country
• International Shark Attack File
• Elephant Attack Data From National Geographic
• World Health Organization Data For Rabies From Dogs
• Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations Crocodile Data
• World Snakebite Death Data
• Time Report On Malaria Related Disease