# What's The Most Dangerous Animal You Ever Touched? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 18, 2010, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-dangerous-animal-you-ever-touched/543641 "2010-06-18T03:13:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-dangerous-animal-you-ever-touched/543641/81 "2010-06-23T14:58:31Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Worst petting zoo ever. Wrong. That is an EPIC petting zoo!😃 ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-dangerous-animal-you-ever-touched/543641/82 "2010-06-24T01:46:22Z")
6-foot reef shark while diving in the bahamas. Whale shark while diving in Australia. (I know they won’t eat you, but they’ll knock the shit out of you if they feel like it–as learned by one of my diving companions. Broke a couple ribs.) ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-dangerous-animal-you-ever-touched/543641/83 "2010-06-24T02:12:37Z")
> [@Rysdad](#): > > Whale shark while diving in Australia. (I know they won’t eat you, but they’ll knock the shit out of you if they feel like it–as learned by one of my diving companions. Broke a couple ribs.) I went whale shark diving (uh, snorkeling, not proper diving) in the Philippines and we were given strict instructions not to get within 6 feet of the sharks. The guides broke the 6 foot limit, but even they didn’t actually touch the sharks. Were you seriously allowed to touch them? I’m kind of surprised that the Filipinos would be more vigilant about the sharks’ welfare than Australians. Also, being near them was, while definitely one of the top experiences of my life, also pretty terrifying. There were a few occasions where I was just like, “TOO CLOSE MUST SWIM AWAY.” ---
**Author:** ![Trepa\_Mayfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Trepa\_Mayfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trepa_Mayfield)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-dangerous-animal-you-ever-touched/543641/84 "2010-06-24T02:21:56Z")
Well, there was this girl I knew in college… ---
**Author:** ![KRC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/45deac/32.png) [@KRC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KRC)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-dangerous-animal-you-ever-touched/543641/85 "2010-06-24T03:07:20Z")
Probably an elephant or an adult mountain lion. The mountain lion was very tense; a few minutes later it’s trainer took it to a dark room and tethered it there. Later me, my mother,and my sister walked by the room and saw it staring at us, pale as a ghost but with glowing eyes. Once my boyfriend and I and a friend’s child were on a fishing trip and rather than buy bait at the store he decided to hunt and forage. He flipped over a rock and grabbed a spider with his bare hands. Me and the kid jumped back. “But that’s a black widow!” the kid yelled. It sure was. “I don’t care if it’s a pink widow, I’m gonna use it” my boyfriend said. It didn’t bite him. And he caught some fish. ---
**Author:** ![sunstone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunstone/32/3372_2.png) [@sunstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunstone)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-dangerous-animal-you-ever-touched/543641/86 "2010-06-24T05:08:17Z")
Several species of rattlesnakes, Gila Monsters, and a 12 foot African Rock Python and a similar Burmese Python. Plus various scorpions. Did I mention that I worked for a herpetologist as a graduate student? ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-dangerous-animal-you-ever-touched/543641/87 "2010-06-25T16:04:21Z")
> [@Ogre](#): > > Yeah, it’d probably be a bad idea to have one as a pet, but I question the “dangerous” thing. I was just reading the Wiki on the cassowary, so I’m not trying to post as an expert or anything, but I note that, among all cassowary attacks, the vast majority had to do with people trying to hand-feed the cute widdle birdies, or in defense of food sources, or guarding chicks. In other words, it was the people who were doing dumb stuff. > > Granted, that’s normally the case when a human gets attacked by an animal, but I question whether that in itself makes an animal “dangerous”. > > Not only that, but the only recorded human death from cassowary attack was a 16-year-old kid who, along with his brother, was trying to “beat the cassowary to death with a club”. :smack: So the cassowary fought back. Dangerous animal? I dunno. Let’s define “dangerous” as more likely and able to kill you than a parrot". And there’s not that many man-killing birds, really. 😃 My most dangerous: either the hippo or a hawk. She had a spare glove for use to wear, but that bird was heavy! And ruthless eyes, too. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-dangerous-animal-you-ever-touched/543641/88 "2010-06-25T16:55:51Z")
A hippopotamus in the wild. ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-dangerous-animal-you-ever-touched/543641/89 "2010-06-25T17:06:47Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > A hippopotamus in the wild. You touched the most dangerous animal in Africa and you’re not going to share the story? ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-dangerous-animal-you-ever-touched/543641/90 "2010-06-25T18:01:06Z")
I rode a camel. Sort of lame compared to the tigers and cobras you guys have fondled but I enjoyed it. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-dangerous-animal-you-ever-touched/543641/91 "2010-06-25T18:34:22Z")
Not too much of a story, unfortunately. Just under the bridge out of Garoua, a regional capital in Cameroon, there is a herd of hippos. For some reason the local boatmen and bathers don’t seem to mind sharing their space with the world’s deadliest animal. One hippo, named Africa, has been tamed by the local boatmen who feed her cornmeal every day. For a small fee, tourists are invited to come down to the river side, feed her, and snap some photos (sometimes with their heads in her mouth.) I wanted nothing to do with it, since I know very well that she could easily decide to stop being tame. But Mommy Dearest came all the way to Cameroon and she wanted to see the hippo, so I went along. I think I was the only one who was terrified by the whole thing. Here is an article about Africa the Hippo. > **[The deadly hippo so tame she can be fed by hand](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-399663/The-deadly-hippo-tame-fed-hand.html)** > > They are one of the most dangerous creatures known to man and account for more human deaths than any other mammal in Africa. But this hippopotamus is so tame people feed her by hand ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-dangerous-animal-you-ever-touched/543641/92 "2010-06-26T06:23:01Z")
> [@Kyla](#): > > I went whale shark diving (uh, snorkeling, not proper diving) in the Philippines and we were given strict instructions not to get within 6 feet of the sharks. The guides broke the 6 foot limit, but even they didn’t actually touch the sharks. Were you seriously allowed to touch them? I’m kind of surprised that the Filipinos would be more vigilant about the sharks’ welfare than Australians. Note 1: We were snorkeling, too. Note 2: Yep, they told us to keep clear, but I was in front of it and it sort of came to me. Rather than swim away, I dove under it to take some pictures.. Touched its chin as it passed over. Note 3: The guy that got smacked tried to pat it on the tail. Most unwise. ---
**Author:** ![Acid\_Lamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-dangerous-animal-you-ever-touched/543641/93 "2010-06-27T19:35:08Z")
either a russel’s viper or a deathstalker scrpion. ---
**Author:** ![pinkyvee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6de8d8/32.png) [@pinkyvee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkyvee)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-dangerous-animal-you-ever-touched/543641/94 "2010-06-27T19:39:55Z")
A murderer. I did his physical. Yuk! ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-dangerous-animal-you-ever-touched/543641/95 "2010-06-28T02:50:35Z")
A real cranky St. Bernard. The owner said “Go ahead and pet him, so he knows you’re a friend.” Fucker bit me. Just a warning nip really, but he was huge and could have hurt me bad had he been so inclined. ---
**Author:** ![KinkiNipponTourist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e9bcb4/32.png) [@KinkiNipponTourist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KinkiNipponTourist)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-dangerous-animal-you-ever-touched/543641/96 "2010-06-28T03:10:01Z")
Fraternity brother. _ **Drunk** _ fraternity brother. I’m lucky to be alive. I believe this is a win. ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-dangerous-animal-you-ever-touched/543641/97 "2010-06-28T03:12:02Z")
> [@pinkyvee](#): > > A murderer. > I did his physical. > Yuk! So not only did you touch him, but you touched his junk? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-dangerous-animal-you-ever-touched/543641/98 "2010-06-28T03:17:26Z")
> [@Rysdad](#): > > Note 3: The guy that got smacked tried to pat it on the tail. Most unwise. _wince_ Yeah, that is seriously stupid. Those things are _enormous_. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-dangerous-animal-you-ever-touched/543641/99 "2010-06-28T04:08:24Z")
> [@limegreen](#): > > One of the old farmers near my grandfather was eaten by his pigs one early morning. Say _what?!!_ That isn’t just a Stephen King story? I mean, forget the rhinos, that’s a lot closer to home… ---
**Author:** ![pinkyvee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6de8d8/32.png) [@pinkyvee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkyvee)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-dangerous-animal-you-ever-touched/543641/100 "2010-06-28T16:28:23Z")
> [@tr0psn4j](#): > > So not only did you touch him, but you touched his junk? :eek: I wore gloves. But, yes! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-dangerous-animal-you-ever-touched/543641.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-dangerous-animal-you-ever-touched/543641.md?page=6)