Illustration photo: Getty Images.
Saw-scaled viper, also known as saw-scaled viper (scientific name: Echis carinatus), is a venomous snake in the family Vipers.
They are especially aggressive and dangerous. Along with cobras, Russell’s vipers, and kraits, this species causes the majority of the 58,000 snakebite deaths each year in India.
Instead of making a “hissing” sound like other snakes, the viper makes a “sizzling” sound by rubbing its serrated scales, especially when threatened.
The viper is commonly found in Central Asian and Middle Eastern countries. They can cause deadly bites, as the venom affects the body’s ability to form blood clots, leading to kidney and other organ failure unless treated promptly.
Dog
Illustration photo: Getty Images.
According to WHO, man’s best friend is also one of the most dangerous animals.
Bites from rabid dogs are the leading cause of rabies in the world (including 99% of human rabies cases worldwide).
Most cases of rabies are reported in Asian and African countries, where there are large numbers of stray dogs carrying the disease and little access to medical facilities for rabies treatment.
The rabies virus attacks the central nervous system and causes death within an average of 1 to 3 months.
Besides, it is impossible not to mention dog attacks and deaths.
Statistics from National Statistics (UK) show that the number of dog attacks in 2023 increased by 5,248 cases compared to 2022. In the US, each year about 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs.
Hippo
Illustration photo: Getty Images.
Hippos are the world’s most dangerous land mammals, killing an average of 500 people each year in Africa. That’s more than lions and other apex predators.
Hippos can weigh over 2 tons, have an aggressive nature and are highly territorial. They can accelerate in short distances, reaching 32 km/h on land, and 13 km/h in water.
These factors make them extremely dangerous to humans, if we accidentally enter their habitat, according to the Wildlife Alliance at the San Diego Zoo.
Hippos also have sharp teeth, and are known to be the main cause of capsizing and sinking boats… in farming and fishing wetlands.
A separate 2024 study found that habitat loss and rising human populations pose an increasing threat to hippos.