You can never judge a book by its cover, particularly if you’re out in the wild. When we think of adorable animals, we don’t typically wonder how likely they are to kill us. Unfortunately, many animals that top the cuteness charts are also some of nature’s deadliest animals.
We have gathered fifteen adorable but deadliest animals that could kill you anytime, so be careful next time you are going to face them in the wild.
1. Elephant
With their big fan ears and cute babies, elephants are one of the more adorable creatures on the planet. They’re also incredibly deadly. An African Bush Elephant can weigh as much as 13,000 pounds, and even the tiny (comparatively, anyway) forest elephants weigh in at 6,000 pounds.
While Elephant is generally peaceful and prefers to avoid violence when harassed or abused they can turn deadly. In fact, 500 people are killed every year by elephants, and this number is rising as elephants find their habitats squeezed and human conflicts unavoidable.
2. Blue Ringed Octopus
These tiny octopuses weigh in at just 28 grams and are generally shy creatures. They love to hide in little nooks and crannies, or even inside of abandoned shells. Despite their small size, they are not an animal to be messed with because they are no.2 in our deadliest animals list. A blue-ringed octopus is more poisonous than cyanide and has enough venom to kill not one, but 26 humans with its sting.
Luckily, these animals are passive and prefer to display their bright blue rings as a warning signal before biting. There have been no deaths from the blue-ringed octopus since the 1960s. If you see this animal in the wild, give it space, and you should be fine.
3. Poison Dart Frog
These flashy frogs are frequently kept as pets because of their beautiful coloration. These gorgeous colors are there to warn others of just how deadliest animals they are. A golden poison frog has enough venom to kill 10 humans, though they are less than 3 inches long.
Poison Dart Frogs get their name from their use in hunting by native people. Natives would rub the tips of their darts on the backs of the frogs and hunt monkeys and other animals with them. Luckily, these frogs can’t hurt you as long as you don’t touch them, so all you have to do is give them the space they need.
4. Puffer Fish
These cute and clumsy fish are not good swimmers compared to—well-pretty much all other fish. They survive not because they can swim away from danger, but because they can inflate themselves to make it harder for a larger animal to eat them. They also happen to be extremely poisonous. Their poison stops your lungs from working, and one puffer fish has enough poison to kill 30 adult humans.
That being said, this fish is considered a delicacy in Japan, and frequently eaten. 42 deaths a year are attributed to puffer fish because of this.
5. Bears
We all love to snuggle with a teddy bear or see these cute, fuzzy creatures at the zoo. With their soft round ears and puffy coats, it can be hard to remember that they are also deadliest animals. A polar bear is capable of decapitating a human with just one swing of its powerful forearms, and even a black bear can do serious damage when protecting its cubs. Surprisingly, bears only kill about three people per year in the US and Canada, with unknown numbers in other parts of the world.
6. Leopard Seals
These beautiful animals are also one of Antarctica’s top predators, second only to orcas. They regularly kill and eat penguins, as well as fish and even other seals. When they attack their prey, they are incredibly vicious and will shake the animal until its skin comes off.
While human attacks are rare due to their location, they do happen and are becoming more frequent as humans venture into their territory more frequently. In a particularly notable case, a 28-year-old scientist snorkeling in the water was captured and killed by a leopard seal, with no known reason behind the attack.
7. Hippos
These cute, chunky animals don’t look like they can put up much of a fight, but they are responsible for over 3,000 deaths every year. According to BBC reports that Hippos are responsible for nearly 500 human deaths in Africa per year. They are incredibly aggressive and deadliest animals who will charge and kill anything they perceive as a threat. They frequently make threat displays by yawning to show off their huge teeth and attack each other regularly as well.
8. Cassowary
These flightless birds sport beautiful bright blue coloration on their heads, as well as long black feathers on their body. They also have enormous claws and a powerful kick that has killed many people in the past. Cassowaries typically don’t attack unprovoked, however, and usually kill in an attempt to protect their young, or after they have already been attacked.
9. Blue Dragons
The blue dragon (Glaucus atlanticus) is a beautiful sea slug that spends its time peaceably floating around on the ocean tides, waiting to come in contact with its prey. When it happens to bump into the incredibly deadly Man o’ War jellyfish, it kills and eats it, poison and all. The poison of the man o’ war is stored in the blue dragon’s extremities, which it may use to attack with. If you see this beautiful, tiny slug, it’s best to stay well away to avoid its deadly sting.
1o. Orcas
A popular tourist attraction, orcas are often captured and used for entertainment purposes in captivity. Their bright colors and apparent permanent smile hide their true predatory nature. While generally peaceful in the wild, captive orcas have attacked and killed their trainers in the past, dragging them under the water repeatedly until they drown. This is considered one of the deadliest animals in the world.
11. Moose
These animals look almost cartoonish with their long noses and knobby legs, but they are well known for being both deadly and aggressive animals. Moose attack 10-15 people a year, and may also charge cars and other vehicles. Moose are more aggressive than bears, and also more plentiful, making them a very deadliest animal to come across.
12. Slow Loris
This cute little animal doesn’t look like it can do much damage with its tiny little mouth and huge eyes, but it is one of the only venomous mammals on the planet. When threatened, it will release a deadly toxin into its mouth and mix it with saliva. Slow Loris bites are rare, despite their popularity in the illegal pet trade.
13. Tigers
While all big cats share a common theme—they are all quite cute in their way. They are also all universally accepted as the deadliest animals in the wildlife. Tigers kill the most humans out of all of the big cats, about 85 every year.
14. Cuttle Fish
Cuttlefish look like the clowns of the ocean, and their tiny size makes them look like the perfect pet to take home in a jar. Unfortunately, they are just as deadly as the blue-ringed octopus and should be treated with the same respect.
15. Wolverine
While most of us have heard of the ferocity of the wolverine, you’d never guess it is looking at their cute, almost otter-like faces. These tiny predators are incredibly ferocious, and can even take down and kill moose. While there are no documented attempts of a wolverine killing a human, there is no doubt that an animal capable of taking down a moose could make short work of a human.
Beautiful and deadliest animals exist all over the world, but for the most part, they prefer to leave humans alone. As long as you are respectful of their habitat, you should be safe from animal attacks.
