Animal Attacks: 5 Cases of Shocking Animal Attacks on Humans

(Photo : Shashank Hudkar / Unsplash)
Not all animal attacks are expected animal behavior. Here are 5 shocking ordeals.

Animal attacks are increasing over the years, with some being shocking incidents.

Before delving into some examples, it is worth understanding why animal attacks happen. Studies and experts believe that it has something to do with the proximity of humans to wildlife, humans triggering the attack, and blatant disregard for the dangers of keeping exotic pets.

Although there are many other reasons, these three are the common denominators for the 5 cases of shocking animal attacks on humans listed in this article.

Study on Proximity Angle: One in Three Animal Attacks is Fatal

Researchers compiled a record of large carnivore attacks over 70 years, offering insight into their occurrence worldwide. The study examined 5,440 attacks by 12 species, revealing different reasons and patterns in attacks on humans by big cats, canids, and bears. Approximately one in three of the incidents were fatal, while others caused injuries.

The research suggests a rise in attacks, especially in lower-income nations, where human-predator interactions are more frequent during daily activities like farming. Increased reporting in the internet age may also contribute to the apparent rise. This compilation sheds light on the dynamics of human-carnivore encounters and provides valuable information for future mitigation efforts.

Study Postulating Humans Cause Animal Attacks

In 2016, European and Canadian researchers studied 697 documented attacks by large carnivores (bears, cougars, and coyotes) on humans in North America, Russia, and two European countries between 1955 and 2014. Almost half of these attacks resulted from risky behaviors by the human victims, with leaving a child unattended in the wilderness being the most common.

Successful conservation efforts leading to the recovery of large carnivore populations in developed countries have increased the number of "bold individuals" engaging in outdoor activities, often unaware of the true dangers of these habitats.

Humans Disregarding Warnings Against Keeping Exotic Pets

Exotic animals, like lions, tigers, wolves, bears, reptiles, and non-human primates, belong in their natural habitats, not as "pets" of private individuals. Their wild nature and potential danger make them unsuitable for captivity. Accurate records of exotic animals kept as pets are lacking, but estimates suggest a high number, including around 5,000 tigers held privately.

The American Veterinary Medical Association, USDA, and CDC oppose individual ownership of certain exotic animals due to the specialized care they require. Private ownership leads to poor treatment, endangering both the animals and the people. Attempts to change their behavior often involve cruel practices. When owners can no longer care for them, zoos and sanctuaries are overwhelmed, leading to euthanasia, abandonment, or appalling living conditions for these animals.

Exotic animals pose inherent dangers to individuals, neighbors, and communities. Incidents of attacks on humans and other animals, as well as escapes, have been reported nationwide. Tigers, monkeys, and snakes have caused harm, with these animals being inherently dangerous. Exotic pets are often isolated in small enclosures, unable to express natural behaviors freely, making them potential time bombs with unpredictable behavior.

5 Cases of Shocking Animal Attacks on Humans

#1 - Hostile Zebra Rips Arm Off Ohio Man (Serious Injury)

In Pickaway County, Ohio, deputies responded to a zebra attack that left Ronald Clifton, 72, severely injured. After arriving at the scene, one deputy had to use his cruiser to keep the aggressive zebra away while tending to Clifton's arm, which was bleeding heavily. Another deputy helped Clifton to an ambulance while a third kept watch on the zebras.

The zebra continued to behave aggressively, prompting the deputy to ultimately shoot and kill it to ensure everyone's safety. The report indicated that the male zebra was likely protective of the females in the field. Clifton was taken to Grant Hospital for treatment of his injuries.

#2 - Stressed Bottlenose Dolphins Battle-Ramming Six (Injuries)

Officials in central Japan reported four swimmers injured in dolphin attacks at Suishohama beach in Fukui prefecture.

On the same morning, a dolphin rammed a man in his 60s, causing him to suffer broken ribs and hand bites. Another man in his 40s encountered a separate incident where he experienced arm bites from a dolphin. Later in the day, two more individuals were injured by dolphins.

Fukui has recorded six such attacks this year. While dolphins are not typically aggressive to humans, swimming alongside them can be stressful for wild bottlenose dolphins, possibly disrupting their behavioral routines. Dolphins have also been known to display hostility towards their fellow sea creatures, as observed in incidents in Ireland and Cornwall.

#3 - Exotic Pet Chimp Travis' Frenzied Attack (Fatal)

Travis, a chimpanzee, was raised as a quasi-human pet by the Herolds. He appeared in TV shows and commercials, seemingly content as long as he was young. However, as he grew older, signs of unpredictability emerged. In 2003, he exhibited bad behavior during a drive, but it was dismissed as playful. Experts warned that he was now a fully sexualized adult with immense strength.

Then, at age 14 and weighing 250 pounds, Travis attacked his owner's friend, Charla, brutally despite Sandy's attempts to stop him. Police shot Travis to protect others, but he managed to return to the house before dying. Charla suffered devastating injuries. This tragic incident serves as a haunting reminder that wild animals should not be kept as pets. Travis's cremation and interment with Sandy Herold symbolize the bond they shared, but the consequences of keeping a wild animal as a pet remain hauntingly clear.

#4 - Indian Goonch Developed Taste for Human Flesh (Fatal)

A giant mutant fish, believed to be a goonch catfish, is suspected of targeting swimmers in an Indian river, possibly due to a taste for human flesh from feeding on corpses thrown into the river after funeral ceremonies. Locals have long believed in a mysterious monster lurking in the waters along the India-Nepal border. Reports of disappearances and attacks have fueled these fears, with the first recorded goonch attack occurring in 1988.

The goonch's potential predation on humans has raised concerns and added to the legend surrounding the creature.

#5 - Crocodile in Carry-on Takes Plane Down (Fatal)

On August 25, 2010, the Filair Let L-410 flight departed from Kinshasa, Congo, with planned stops in various locations. During take-off, tragedy struck as the plane crashed into a house near the Bandundu runway, killing 18 passengers and two pilots, with just one survivor. Initial reports speculated that fuel shortage caused the crash, but the true cause was revealed by the sole survivor: a passenger had smuggled a crocodile onboard in a duffle bag.

The crocodile escaped mid-flight, creating chaos as people panicked and rushed to the front of the plane, causing an uneven weight distribution that led to the crew losing control and the fatal crash. The crocodile survived but was later killed by authorities.

Also Read: Theodore Roosevelt National Park Bison Attacks Minnesota Woman as Rutting Season Starts

Reliable References on Animal Attacks

The study referenced in the intro was done by Penteriani, together with his team, and was published in early 2023 in the journal PLOS Biology. The same study was discussed in an article by the Smithsonian Magazine.

The study on human-caused animal attacks was done also by Penteriani, together with his team, and was published in 2016 in the journal Scientific Reports. It was discussed by HuffPost in an article published in the same year.

The role of exotic pets in animal attacks was explained in a Born Free USA article.

The list of shocking animal attacks was referenced from several sources including Daily Mail, Unilad, Non-Human Rights, BBC News, Treehugger, and NewYork Post.