375Fox
AH legend
- Joined
- Feb 19, 2020
- Messages
- 4,001
- Reaction score
- 13,197
- Location
- Pennsylvania
- Media
- 172
- Hunted
- Zambia, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Cameroon
The list order makes logical sense to me. I would think the toll due to crocs would be vastly undercounted in Africa though. Crocs don’t leave bodies and people in very rural areas go fishing and just don’t return. I’m not sure how those numbers would ever be accurately counted.Crocs and Hippos are just about tied for most human deaths in Africa. Crocs slightly more.
But that said...Crocs barely crack the Top 5 for human deaths by an animal in Africa...they come in at #5
Most people here won't guess the #1 Killer Animal in Africa without Googling it usually...but when they think about it, it makes complete sense.
Animal Deaths in Africa
#10 - Rhino's kill a few people each year. Main reason it isn't more is because there are so few left.
#9 - Lions kill around 70 people a year. Interesting thing about this is most all of the "Killer Lions" are sick/old males who cannot effectively hunt prey animals anymore and turn to humans because they are easier to catch than an Impala or Kudu and who don't have claws/horns to fight back. The old/sick Lions start to prey on humans out of desperation.
#8 - Cape Buffalo kill about 200 people a year
#7 - Elephant kill about 500 people a year
#6 - Hippo kill about 3,000 people a year
#5 - Nile Crocs kill also kill around 3,000 people a year
#4 - Tsetse Flies kill about 10,000 humans a year via transmission of Sleeping Sickness
#3 - Black Mamba - Exact numbers for Black Mamba deaths are unknown, but snakes kill approximately 30,000 people a year in Africa and it is estimated that the Black Mamba is less than Animal #2. Black Mamba are the most aggressive snake that often don't back away but will even pursue humans. Nasty ass snake.
#2 - Puff Adder - As noted, the exact numbers are unknown but snakes kill 30,000 people a year and it is believed more come from Puff Adder than any other snake. Most happen because their camouflage is so good and unlike our rattlesnake, they don't warn you to back off. They just sit still and depend on the camouflage and end up getting stepped on and bite the victim.
#1 - The Mosquito kills more than a million people a year in Africa from Malaria, Dengue Fever and Yellow Fever....Malaria kills 3,000 African children a day.
So there is the list of what really should worry you in Africa. That said, almost all of those deaths are from native villagers not hunters with guns and PHs/Trackers in front of them and Malaria Prophylactic Medicine in their bag.
But it should show you how important it is to take the Malaria Prophylactic if hunting in an area where Malaria is common.
Here’s a puff adder from my hunt in Cameroon last week. Tracker was guiding Land Cruiser back to the road in the dark, luckily he doesn’t miss anything.