Most wildlife doesn’t want to kill, or even hurt, you. Even those with sharp teeth and claws, venomous bites and stings or highly toxic chemicals secreted in their skin mainly want to avoid you at all costs, says James Fair.
That’s the good news. There are, however, some places in the world where it pays to keep an eagle eye out for anything moving in your direction – it’s nothing personal, but you probably want to keep out of their way.
Deadliest places in the world for wildlife
Asian elephant, Odisha, India
Thanks to their bulk and tusks, elephants are extremely dangerous if you meet them in the wrong place at the wrong time. Between 2019 and 2024, more than 2,800 people were killed by Asian elephants in India, with the highest number of deaths occurring in the state of Odisha. It’s not the elephants’ fault – conflict over land, with villagers protecting valuable crops, is usually the reason, so tourists can, by and large, breathe easy.
Funnel-web spider, New South Wales, Australia
One of the world's deadliest spiders and most-feared animals in Australia, the Sydney funnel-web spider Atrax robustusinhabits a large area of New South Wales, and is renowned for entering backyards and falling into swimming pools, where it can survive for a surprisingly long time. It has one of the most toxic bites of any spider, but there is a very effective anti-venom. Arachnophobia is usually an over reaction to a perceived threat, but perhaps with the funnel-web, it serves a purpose.
Golden lancehead, Ilha da Queimada Grande, Brazil
Known as Snake Island, this 43 hectare island off the coast of Brazil has an estimated 2,000-4,000 golden lanceheads, a pit viper with a highly potent venom. The island is largely uninhabited, and day-trippers are strictly not allowed, so there are no records of anyone ever having been bitten by one of its snakes. But if you do decide to gatecrash, best to make sure you’re wearing stout shoes and have the anti-venom with you.
Golden poison frog, Rana Terriblis Amphibian Reserve, Western Colombia
One of the most toxic animals on the planet, the golden poison frog – aka Rana terriblis, terrible frog – has enough poison in its skin to kill 10 people or 20,000 mice. If you get any in your bloodstream, your nerves can no longer transmit impulses, leading to heart failure and death in less than 10 minutes. The good news is that you’re safe as long as you don’t do anything daft like touch one and then lick your finger. After the tadpoles hatch, the male carries them on his back to some water where they can develop and turn into frogs.
Great white shark, Guadalupe, Mexico
Great white shark attacks on humans are rare, and most happen where they’ve mistaken you for something like a seal, but there’s nevertheless a reason why shark diving operations put you in a cage rather than permitting you to swim gaily around with these 4-6 metre perfect killing machines. Between June and January, hundreds of great white sharks populate the waters around Guadalupe, making it one of the best places to see the ocean's top dog.
Komodo dragon, Komodo Island, Indonesia
You’re never far from a Komodo dragon on Komodo, and almost everyone who goes there (or one of the other nearby islands where they also live) knows of their fearsome reputation. This wasn’t wholly true for a group of scuba divers who were separated from their boat by strong currents and subsequently washed ashore they knew not where, however. It was Rinca – one of those ‘other islands’ – and they spent the next 48 hours fending off dragon attacks before being rescued.
Polar bears, Churchill, Canada
Once the Arctic sea ice has melted in the summer, polar bears are half-starved for much of the year, and it’s this that makes them dangerous. They gather in great numbers in the small town of Churchill, on the western shore of Hudson Bay, waiting for the sea ice to refreeze so they can hunt seals again, and encounters with humans are not uncommon though not usually fatal.
Saltwater crocodile, Cahill’s Crossing, Kakadu NP, Australia
At Cahill’s Crossing in Northern Territory, traversing a flooded causeway could be risky, but the bigger danger is provided by densely packed saltwater crocodiles lured to this stretch of river in September and October, the height of the dry season, by the abundance of mullet. You don’t have to risk your life on the crossing to enjoy this reptilian feast, however. There are viewing platforms on the riverbanks where you can watch the salties – and any intrepid motorists – in complete safety.
Southern stingrays, Stingray Sandbar, Grand Caiman
At so-called Stingray Sandbar, dozens of southern stingrays scoot along the shallow sandy seabed like excited puppies, seeking squid morsels handed out by goggle-eyed tourists. You need to be wary of the spines at the end of the tail, but their strange, suction-powered mouths bear more of a resemblance to a hoover than anything remotely dangerous. If you don’t lift your feet up when you’re in the water, you can’t tread on the tails.
Tigers, the Sunderbans, Bangladesh and India
Up to 60 people a year are attacked by tigers in the Sunderbans, of which about half survive. Such is their reputation as man-eaters, some locals go out into the forest wearing a mask on the backs of their heads, fooling the tigers into thinking they are facing their victim, making an attack less likely. Though tiger numbers appear to be declining in this vast river delta of wetlands and forest, the dangers still persist.
- Wildlife-human conflict: If we are to save predators from extinction, we must protect the people that live alongside them
- Best places see tigers in India
Discover more facts about some of the world's deadliest species
- Deadliest insects: Discover the world's most dangerous insects to humans
- Deadliest sea creatures: Meet the most dangerous animals in the ocean
- Deadliest river animals: The fearsome aquatic creatures that can deliver a lethal punch
- Deadliest snakes in the world: Meet the world's most venomous snakes and their lethal bite
