There are plenty of dangerous beasts out there whose teeth, claws, horns and hoofs can do some serious harm to a mere human. We’ve rounded up the deadliest of them all – from bears and crocodiles to deer and cows (yes, you did read that correctly), and ranked them.

Click through the gallery to discover which is the most fearsome of them all…

The Marvel character Wolverine has certainly killed his fair share of humans, but the animal he’s named after is much less of a threat. Although known for their strength and resilience, with a muscular build and powerful jaws, they are generally shy, solitary creatures who prefer to avoid humans. Documented attacks are rare, but do happen – usually if a wolverine feels compelled to defend its territory or offspring from human encroachment. However, as they generally inhabit areas of remote wilderness, this isn’t often an issue. 

The world’s fastest land mammal, the cheetah is blessed with a slender, aerodynamic body and powerful legs which allow it to run at speeds of up to 75 miles per hour (120km/h), making it an enormously effective predator. Unlike other wild cats, cheetahs are not aggressive by nature – but they are territorial and highly protective of their young. While there are no records of cheetahs killing human beings in the wild, a number of maulings have been documented by cheetahs in captivity.

Although smaller than lions and tigers, jaguars are still formidable predators. They have the most powerful bite for their size of any big cat, which they use to crush the skulls of their prey instead of going for the throat. However, they are solitary creatures who prefer to hunt in densely forested areas and will tend to flee if they encounter humans unless they feel threatened. Attacks on humans are therefore quite rare, except in cases where they have encroached onto jaguar territory, whether for logging, agricultural expansion, hunting, or exploring in the remote jungle. 

Similar to wolves but with a smaller build and more pointed snout, coyotes are generally wary of humans and not a serious threat unless they become habituated to human presence. While attacks on adults are rare, coyotes can pose a significant risk to small children and pets. In Canada, Vancouver's Stanley Park was home to a particularly aggressive pack of the animals: from December 2020 to September 2021, more than 45 coyote attacks were reported. Massachusetts has seen several notable cases as well: in May 2023, two toddlers were attacked in Arlington, and in October, six dogs were attacked in Saugus, four fatally.

With jaws powerful enough to crush an elephant’s leg, hyenas are fierce predators, but are naturally wary of humans and generally avoid direct contact with them. However, they are also opportunistic scavengers who will take food wherever they find it, which can cause problems if they find their way into human settlements. In 2014, the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa was plagued by packs of urban hyenas which attacked rough sleepers and even dug up and ate corpses in a local cemetery. 

Far more aggressive than horses, zebras have been known to kick each other to death and there are many reports of them killing lions. If they feel threatened or cornered they are liable to viciously bite any human who comes too close and can kick both backwards and sideways with a force of 3,000 pounds (1,361kg) per square inch. In 2023, a farmer in Ohio almost lost an arm when one of his zebras attacked him.

You only have to look at a Cape buffalo’s formidable horns to know you wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of one. Grown bulls can reach over five and a half feet (1.7m) in height and 11 feet (3.4m) in length and weigh in at a colossal 1,984 pounds (900kg). They’re considered one of the most dangerous mammals in Africa, with old and grumpy bulls being the most fearsome of all as they can charge for no apparent reason. Hunters in particular should be wary as they tend to lie in wait for their pursuers before charging at the last minute.  

According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, more people in the state are injured by moose than bears each year. While not typically aggressive, moose can become dangerous if they feel harassed by humans, dogs or traffic, or when they are hungry or exhausted. Their antlers are formidable, but they can also rear up like a horse to kick and may charge if they sense any threat, especially to their young. Although most moose charges are intended as warnings, it’s wise not to stick around to find out if they’re bluffing.

Often depicted in folklore as wily tricksters, jackals are intelligent, highly adaptable creatures who live in packs much like wolves. They are largely nocturnal and tend to avoid contact with humans, but have been known to scavenge for food when their natural prey is scarce. Although attacks are rare, they do occur – especially in areas of Africa and India where human settlements encroach on wildlife habitats. As many as nine people were injured in five separate attacks in the Sultanpur, Amethi and Gonda districts of India in 2024.

Also known as mountain lions or pumas, cougars are sleek and graceful creatures, renowned for their strength, agility and impressive ability to jump. Although skilled, stealthy predators, they are shy and elusive animals and tend to steer clear of humans. There have only been 29 fatal cougar attacks recorded in North America since 1868. However two horrific attacks in 2024 show that cougars can be a real danger. Five female cyclists were attacked with one left seriously injured in Campbell Global Forest, Washington, while two brothers were seriously mauled, with one later dying from his injuries, in California. 

The grizzly bear combines incredible strength with naturally aggressive tendencies, making it one of the most iconic and feared of all wild animals. Adult grizzlies can weigh between 800 and 1,000 pounds (360–450kg), run at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour (48km/h), and have jaws that can crush through flesh and bone with terrifying ease. Grizzly bear attacks occur every year in North America, with an average of one to three serious incidents reported annually. In 2023, there was a tragic example of this, when a couple camping in Canada's Banff National Park were killed by a female grizzly. 

Wolves are generally shy and elusive creatures, preferring to prey on wild animals such as deer and wild boar. They only become dangerous when their natural prey is limited or if they have become habituated to the presence of humans. That said, a recent report by the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research identified 489 wolf attacks across the globe between 2002 and 2020 with 26 fatalities. However, the vast majority of those attacks were from wolves infected with rabies. 

The Kamchatka brown bear, found in Russia’s far east, is the biggest brown bear in Eurasia with a body height of up to 9.8 feet (3m) and a weight of at least 1,430 pounds (650kg). They are extremely territorial and protective of their cubs, meaning that if you inadvertently find yourself in their company there is likely to be trouble. Food shortages have also made the bears more aggressive in recent decades. In 2008, up to 30 hungry bears attacked and ate two geologists, while three tourists were eaten after their helicopter crashed in 2022. On average three people a year die from bear attacks in the region.

Although they may look fearsome, leopards are generally unlikely to attack humans. They need to be in top condition to hunt and survive so they tend to back down from any confrontation. However deadly leopard attacks are on the rise in India. In 2023 seven people were killed by leopards in Uttar Pradesh state's Bijnor district, while in 2024 nine people were killed in the State of Uttarakhand with a further 10 deaths recorded in Rajasthan. It’s thought that humans encroaching on the natural habitat of leopards and forcing them to seek other food sources is a major factor in the attacks. 

With 42 razor sharp teeth and the ability to run at 25 miles per hour (40km/h), polar bears are formidable predators. Polar bear attacks on humans are rare – a 2017 report recorded only 73 attacks between 1870 and 2014 in which 20 people were killed and 63 injured. However, their frequency is increasing – 47 of those attacks took place between 1960 and 2009, with 15 occurring in the short period between 2010 and 2014. At least two further deadly attacks have happened since 2023. Climate change appears to be the cause. As sea ice depletes the bears are forced into closer proximity with human populations.

Unlike bulls, cows look like placid and docile creatures, but they pose a very real threat to humans. This is partly due to their strong maternal instinct, and a tendency to resent anyone getting between them and their calves. But they can also become aggressive due to stress from bad weather, fear or illness, increasing the danger for anyone in their proximity, especially dog lovers. At least 74 cattle-related deaths have been recorded in the UK alone since 2000, a quarter of which were members of the public walking dogs on footpaths or other rights of way.  

The largest member of the cat family, the tiger has a fearsome reputation, its very name synonymous with ferocity. The largest breed, Siberian tigers, can measure up to 13 feet (4m) in length and weigh up to 600 pounds (300kg), making them formidable predators. While tigers generally avoid human contact and only attack if their territory or cubs are threatened, the expansion of human settlements has led to an increase in tiger-related fatalities. This is particularly true in India, where 497 tiger-related deaths were recorded between 2014 and 2022.

Sloth bears are considered one of the most dangerous animals in Asia. Unlike most other predators, researchers believe they don’t always need to be provoked in order to attack. Although it is estimated that only 20,000 or fewer remain in the wild, the bears are notorious for attacks on humans – and these have increased in recent years. According to a 2020 National Geographic report, the bears kill over a dozen people every year. It seems that human incursion into the sloth bear’s habitat is the primary cause.

Seeing the doe-eyed deer on this list might be a bit of a shock, but they are consistently ranked as one of the deadliest animals in the US. Each year they are responsible for around 59,000 injuries and 440 deaths. They’re not actually spearing humans with those mighty antlers on a regular basis however, it’s car drivers running into them on the road which accounts for this statistic. The UK sees a number of injuries and fatalities from deer related traffic incidents too, with peaks in collisions running from October through to December and also in May.

Although known as Man’s Best Friend, dogs can sometimes be anything but, especially when protecting their owners from intruders or seeing off a perceived threat. In the US alone, around 4.5 million people suffer a dog bite wound each year and more than 40 are killed. But this pales into insignificance next to the death toll from rabies. According to the World Health Organization, this terrible disease kills around 59,000 people per year globally, and 99% of cases are caused by dog bites and scratches.  

The largest reptile on the planet, the saltwater crocodile can grow up to 23 feet (6.5m) long and weigh over 2,200 pounds (1,000kg), while its jaws have the strongest bite of any living creature (twice that of a hippo). Most species of crocodile are relatively harmless and tend to avoid humans rather than confront them, but this daunting predator is fiercely territorial and often aggressive. Along with the Nile crocodile, it is responsible for most of the 1,000 or so crocodile-related deaths that occur each year.  

As the world’s largest land animal, the elephant's sheer size alone makes it a serious threat to us puny humans. Weighing up to eight tonnes, being trampled by one would mean almost certain (and instant) death. They can also pick humans up with their trunks and smash them into the ground or gore them with their tusks. They have been known to invade villages and croplands in South Asia, killing anyone who gets in their path, with annual fatalities numbering from 500 to 600.