8 Crocodile
Most feared are saltwater crocs that lurk in murky estuaries and grow up to 10 metres long. Unwary people crossing rivers can get munched, and the animals even attack small boats. The worst crocodile attack took place in 1945 when 1000 Japanese soldiers escaping through mangrove swamps in South East Asia were reduced to 20 overnight by thousands of crocs.
7 Elephant
With poaching for the ivory trade under control in many parts of Africa, elephant numbers are on the increase again. The vegetarians don’t attack humans for food, but because a herd can eat an entire field of crops in one night, conflict flares up between them and with their farmer neighbours. Elephants kill about 500 people a year.
5 Polar Bear
Probably the smartest hunter of people, bears see us as food on two legs, they are also extremely patient and can plan. Polar bear researcher, Ian Stirling says, ‘A polar bear attack on a human, ends only when one is dead. In areas where bears are not hunted they have little fear of man. Fatal polar bear attacks are only rare because few people share their environment.’
My Movie
man killers
Flipside April 2006
plants of prey
Flipside May 2006
