In general, the birds are not ranked high on the “most threatening animals” list of nature. But that … more
Do you know what is the most deadly animal in the world? I’ll give you a hint. It has wings and is capable of flight – but it’s not a bird. The answer? A mosquito.
Mosquitoes are a real scourge, responsible for up to one million human deaths a year.
Mosquitoes will not be lethal from their bites only – to be fair, a flock of mosquitoes are not something we need to overlook as they can kill cattle, horses and other large mammals in rare cases.
On the contrary, what makes them so dangerous are the diseases that carry – malaria, dengue, yellow fever and more.
Birds, on the other hand, can also be dangerous to humans because of the transport they carry – the most common bird flu or H5N1. Nevertheless, the risk of bird flu is smaller than that of malaria. To give a framework, confirmed human deaths from bird flu in the last two decades are less than 500. I repeat: mosquitoes kill up to one million people a year.
The chances of human death or injury to bird attack are even more remote. But that is happening. When it does, it is often caused by one of the following four species of birds – two of which we have documented elements of human deaths.
Mischief
South Cassowary (Casuarius casuarius).
Often called “the most dangerous bird in the world”, the Cassowary (Casuarius spp.) Lives in the rainforests of northern Australia and New Guinea. These non-flight birds are impressive in appearance-light-blue skin, a helmet-like hair, and a knife-like nails on each foot. While they are usually shy and vague, Cassowaries can become extremely aggressive if they feel threatened, especially during the breeding season or when chicks defend.
Their most scary weapon is a sharp, curved nail on each foot, which can grow up to 5 inches. With a single kick, they can reduce light skin and interrupt the arteries.
One of the first documented deadly Cassowary attacks happened in Australia in 1926, when a 16 -year -old boy said he tried to club and kill the bird. Cassowary kicked him in the throat, cutting his slaughter vein. He died a little later from his injuries.
More recently, a The 75 -year -old man was killed by a cassowary On an exotic animal breeding farm in Florida, where the bird was held in captivity. The man suffered more than twelve injuries to the bird’s sharp nails and died shortly after the arrival of the paramedics on stage.
Many other attacks have been reported in Australia, although most are not deadly.
Magpie
Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina Tibicen).
Australian Magpies (Gymnasium) are well known for their aggressive behavior during the breeding period, especially from August to October. Located throughout Australia, these medium -sized birds are extremely soil and will defend their nests with stunning boldness against much larger invaders, including humans. Cyclists, joggers and walkers are common goals, especially if they are inadvertently removed too close to a nesting area.
Attacks usually include fast, low slopes from behind, often accompanied by loud squawking. While many incidents lead to no more than a terrorism, some have caused injuries, accidents or cycling accidents. People who crush their bikes have been reported while trying to avoid swooping magpies, leading to broken bones or worse.
In rare cases, efforts to avoid these birds have ended in tragedy. In 2019, a 76 -year -old Man from Sydney died of head injuries Keep in a bike accident while trying to avoid a swooping magpie.
Experts indicate that not all magpies are aggressive. Only about 10% of male magpies are involved in this behavior and often remember individual people who perceive as threats. Wearing sunglasses on the back of your head, using zipper in helmets or avoiding known nesting areas during the breeding period is all common countermeasures.
(Lateral line: While the birds discussed here attack people only in self -defense or to defend the territory, they meet two bird victims who may have seen people as a source of food: One is recently disappeared and The other lives in this area of America.;
Ostrich
Ostrich (Struthio Camelus).
The ostrich (Struthio Camelus), the largest bird in the world may not be able to fly, but its long legs and stature make a serious threat if caused. With Africa, ostriches can stand over 9 feet high and weigh over 300 pounds.
Their long legs are incredibly powerful, capable of delivering a fatal kick with sharp, forced fingers. These kicks are loud enough to kill big predators like lions and can easily injure or kill a man.
Ostrums are generally peaceful pastures, but during the breeding season or when turned, they can become extremely defensive. Males, in particular, are known to be aggressive when guarding a partner or nest. Attacks on people usually appear in captivity or agriculture situations, where people can unknowingly enter their territory.
Emu
EMU (Dromaius Novaehollandiae).
The emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) is Australia’s second largest bird after the ferret and, while less aggressive, can still be a threat under certain conditions. The emus is weird, rapidly changing, with no flight that can reach speeds of up to 30 miles per hour and stand over 6 feet high. Unlike Cassowaries, they do not have a nail that kill, but their strong legs can cause serious damage with a kick or a blow.
Emus is not naturally aggressive to humans, but like any large wild animal, they can become defenses if they are scared, caused or protecting their territory. Incidents that include emus usually occur in captivity or areas where people have fed them and changed their physical behavior. In some tourist areas, Emus is known to hunt people to eat or become overly familiar with heads, bites or casual knockdown.
During Australia’s famous “Emu War” in 1932, the soldiers fought to control big Emus flocks that were destructive crops – highlighting both the durability and the compassion of the bird. While EMU’s reputation is more comical than awesome, it is important not to underestimate these tall birds. Providing space and nutrition of wild animals are all the essentials for peaceful coexistence.
Are you a lover of animals holding a pet, maybe even a (friendly) pet bird? Get the scientist Pet personality test To find out how well you know your animal.
