The Black Continent does not have a large number of monuments and monuments. In addition, often the local infrastructure does not contribute to the development of tourism. However, the unique wild fauna of Africa attracts a huge number of adventurers every year.
Africa seems to many to be a paradise, a corner of untouched nature, but this is far from being the case. This continent is home to a huge number of living beings. Meetings with some of them do not bode well for a person. Crocodiles and hippos reign in river waters. In the savannas, predatory felines are a threat. The air is filled with deadly insects such as the tsetse fly and the malarial mosquito.
It seems that all life here is a threat to human life. What animals of Africa are the most dangerous and who you should beware of when traveling on this continent, we will tell in this article.
African Five
During the colonization of the Black Continent, safari was a popular pastime. It is difficult to imagine a person who traveled around Africa and did not hear about such a concept as the "African Big Five Animals". trophies,obtained by hunting these animals are considered the most valuable and desirable for all safari lovers. The Big Five is a list of Africa's wild animals that pose the greatest threat to humans. Hunting them always involves a serious risk to life.
Today, such a safari is prohibited in most African countries. Priorities have changed, hunting weapons have been replaced by cameras, thanks to which wildlife lovers follow the life of wild animals in Africa. The big five are:
- lion;
- rhinoceros;
- buffalo;
- leopard;
- elephant.
Lion
This feline is considered to be the "king" of animals and one of the most dangerous animals in Africa. In terms of size and aggression, only a tiger can compete with it. It is noteworthy that in ancient times lions lived not only in Africa, but also in India and Russia. To date, these animals are found only on the Black Continent and in the Indian state of Gujarat.
The largest population is observed in Kenya. There, in the Masai Mara reservation, the most numerous pride of lions lives. African lions prefer areas dominated by savannahs. This is where they can be seen most often. Distinguishing a male from a female is quite easy. Male individuals have a luxurious mane and large sizes. Scientists believe that the size of the mane depends on the strength of the male and his testosterone levels.
Lionesses, in turn, do not have manes. However, if they had it, then stronglycomplicate the hunting process. The fact is that only females get food. Males are engaged only in protecting the territory and the pride. It is noteworthy that, in addition to leading a flock of life, there are often single African lions. As a rule, these are young lions, which, upon reaching puberty, are separated from their family. They are looking for another pride and trying to dominate it.
Lions are African wild animals. They hunt mainly zebras, antelopes and gazelles. Having sharp fangs and claws in their arsenal, they still kill their prey by strangulation. Most often, it is easier to observe this process with your own eyes during the great migration. At this time, antelopes roam in search of new pastures, and lions pursue herds. Weak and sick animals often become victims of predators.
African Elephant
Unlike lions, elephants are found in almost all parts of Asia. However, the most common there is the Indian elephant. This animal is much smaller than its African relative, which is found in Kenya. Scientists believe that the difference in the size of Asian and Indian elephants, first of all, depends on the diet. The Indian elephant feeds mainly on leaves, ficus is their favorite delicacy. The diet of the African elephant is quite different. Also, according to experts, landscape plays an important role.
Encountering an elephant in the wild in Africa does not bode well for a person. Unlike their Asian relatives, these animals are completely untamed andtraining. It is highly recommended not to get close to these animals. Although these are not the most dangerous animals in Africa, observation is best done from a decent distance. For these purposes, the use of an open-top SUV is perfect.
Traveling through the expanses of Kenya, you can meet several varieties of the African elephant at once. A forest variety of these animals lives here. They are small in size and lighter in color. In addition, there is a savannah elephant. It is the largest of the entire family and has long tusks and dark skin. It is noteworthy that these majestic land animals are excellent swimmers. However, like crocodiles and hippos, they do not feed on aquatic life and are vegetarians. An interesting fact is their affection for each other. Having met after a long separation, they know how to truly rejoice.
Rhinos
Not all representatives of the rhinoceros family survived to the present era. Today, science knows only five species of these creatures. Two of them live on the African continent. These are black and white rhinos. Most often they are found in Kenya. It is noteworthy that these two varieties of rhino did not get their names due to the color of the skin.
The name "white" comes from the Dutch word wijde. The British colonists perceived this word as white, which means “white” in English. The Dutch word, in turn, is translated as "wide". It is noteworthy that the white rhino is indeedvery wide and high. In size, it is second only to elephants. The diet of these animals is made up of plants growing in the savannas.
But black rhinos do have a darker color, although visually the difference is not very noticeable. However, it looks different on the outside. Like many other herbivores in Africa, this rhinoceros prefers to eat the leaves of trees and shrubs. This is the reason for his protruding upper lip. She helps a black rhinoceros pick leaves.
Today, the problem of declining rhino populations is most acute in Kenya and other countries of the African continent. According to Chinese beliefs, a powder made from rhinoceros horns promotes good potency. High demand has turned poaching into a profitable illegal business.
Buffalo
Like rhinos, there are only five varieties of these animals. However, only one of them lives on the African continent. This view is truly special. The African buffalo is the largest. At the same time, the average weight of an individual exceeds seven hundred kilograms. And the biggest buffaloes that live in the vast savannah can weigh more than a ton.
The horns of these creatures grow together on the forehead, which is their unique feature. They form a kind of shield. It is noteworthy that this feature is inherent only in adult males. Buffaloes communicate with the help of sounds, have an excellent subtle sense of smell and rather poor eyesight. Therefore, they focus on the first two qualities. Buffaloes predominantly leadherd life, but sometimes there are loners. The indigenous people of Africa call these animals mbogo.
African leopard
The name "leopard" comes from the fusion of the ancient Greek words leon and pardos. This is due to the fact that scientists of antiquity considered this species to be a hybrid of lions and panthers. However, as you know, this is not at all the case. Leopards are an independent species of the cat family.
It is noteworthy that, unlike cheetahs, which are becoming more and more difficult to see on the expanses of the Black Continent, the leopard population is only increasing every year. More than they are, only domestic cats are common. In addition to Africa, leopards are also found in Russia. In particular, in the Primorsky Territory and the North Caucasus. Such a wide distribution and large population is due to the large amount of game for these animals. Leopards consider almost any animal as prey. Watching these predators in the savannah, you can see how they drag their prey to tree branches and eat there. In this way they protect their food from hyenas and jackals, which can interfere with the meal. The leopard prefers a nocturnal lifestyle. At this time, he goes hunting, and during the day he sleeps in the trees.
Nile crocodiles
Water is one of the most important conditions for life in all of Africa. Especially in the eastern part of the continent. It is here, in the reservoirs that save many animals, that the most dangerous animals of Africa live, and one of them is the Nile crocodile.
Annually fromattacks by these creatures kill hundreds of people. They live in almost all water bodies of the Black Continent. Unlike other species, the Nile crocodile is distinguished by its huge size and increased aggressiveness. The size of these animals often exceeds 6 meters, and the weight can reach up to a ton. Thanks to the power and strength, absolutely any animal can become the prey of these reptiles. They hunt both birds and antelopes, buffaloes and even young elephants. Sometimes crocodiles even attack lions who come to the watering hole.
It is noteworthy that this predator is able to hold its breath for 45 minutes. At this time, he waits for a convenient moment, then attacks the victim with lightning speed and pulls her into the water.
Hippo
Despite their comical appearance and rather friendly name, the hippopotamus is the most dangerous animal in Africa. These creatures can weigh up to three tons. They are the third largest land animals. In addition to its large size, the hippopotamus has a very formidable weapon - tusks and fangs. It is noteworthy that the jaw compression force of these animals is considered the largest in the world. It does not matter that the hippopotamus has blunt tusks and teeth. Due to the enormous force of compression, they crush any bones. The bite of such an animal is fatal for humans in 90% of cases.
Another quality that makes this creature dangerous to humans is its speed of movement. The hippopotamus only seems to be a slow, clumsy animal. However, the speed of his run can reach up to 30 kilometers per hour, which exceeds the speed of a person. The last feature of the hippo that makes it especially dangerous is its aggression. These creatures carefully guard their territory and really do not like violations of the boundaries of their lands. Although hippos are usually characterized as herbivores, there are many cases of their attacks on people, antelopes, birds, and even crocodiles. According to statistics, from 500 to 3,000 people die every year in Africa from the jaws of hippos.
Dangerous insects
In addition to the rich animal world, there is an equally diverse number of insects on the African continent. Many of them can not only scare a person, but also kill. Both the tropical and desert regions of Africa are infested with nasty insects such as blowflies and all kinds of poisonous spiders. The northern regions of the Black Continent are most favored by scorpions. The two most dangerous species of these creatures in the world live here. This is a yellow scorpion, the bite of which is particularly painful. Its venom is loaded with neurotoxins. The bite of this creature is not uncommon for a person to be fatal. The second no less dangerous is the androctonus scorpion. It is larger than yellow, and its poison is also deadly.
In addition to scorpions, Africa is home to a huge number of arachnids no less dangerous to humans. Here there are such species as: a hermit spider, a bagworm spider and a black widow. Flying insects are no less a threat. The most dangerous fly is considered to be a cabinet fly. This is a type of blowfly that lays its eggs on the ground andquite often in wet human clothing. There the larvae are born. When they come into contact with a person, they begin to penetrate the skin, where they eventually settle. At this time, they begin to feed on the host's flesh until they grow up. After that, they get out and fly away.
Snakes
While all kinds of insects and parasites can kill quite slowly and for a long time, snakes act completely differently. There are no other poisonous creatures in the world that can kill as quickly as the snakes that live on the African continent. These species of these reptiles live here, the bite of which can kill a person in a matter of minutes.
The most dangerous in Africa is the black mamba. In addition, it is also the fastest in the world. This snake is capable of reaching speeds of up to 11 km/h, and its neurotoxic venom kills a person within an hour. It is noteworthy that during the attack, this snake, unlike other species, strives to make as many bites as possible. It only takes one to kill a grown man. The bite of this reptile is notable for its painlessness.
Besides the black mamba, there is one more snake species in Africa, which is considered the most dangerous. This is a noisy viper, whose poison is one of the strongest in the world. Its action is characterized by severe pain and destructiveness. The bite of a noisy viper causes tissue necrosis. In such cases, sometimes even amputation of the affected limbs does not save.
According to statistics, in Africa, up to 30 thousand people die from snake bites every year. Andmore suffer non-fatal injuries.
