# Which animal has killed the most humans? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 1, 2014, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-animal-has-killed-the-most-humans/687441 "2014-05-01T15:06:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-animal-has-killed-the-most-humans/687441/21 "2014-05-01T16:18:29Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > Bad eating habits are surely humans killing themselves, not through any direct action of the animals. > > Unlike with mosquitoes. > > I think mosquitoes win the kill all humans contest. Since when did mosquitoes get reclassified as animals? They are insects that are passing on a disease. an animal kills with it’s claws and teeth. And then eats you while you may still be alive. The OP asked for an animal that killed people, not a disease or obesity. I’m now thinking wolves since they have a wide range of habits worldwide. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-animal-has-killed-the-most-humans/687441/22 "2014-05-01T16:21:56Z")
You might want to take another look at what the [definition of an animal](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal) is. Hint: includes insects. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-animal-has-killed-the-most-humans/687441/23 "2014-05-01T16:26:27Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > Since when did mosquitoes get reclassified as animals? It was back on the day in which the words “animal”, “insect”, and “mosquito” were all given their definitions. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-animal-has-killed-the-most-humans/687441/24 "2014-05-01T16:29:46Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > I’m now thinking wolves since they have a wide range of habits worldwide. Despite the fear there aren’t that many recorded instances of people being killed by wolves. [From wiki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolf_attacks_on_humans): “The country with the most extensive historical records is France, where nearly 7,600 fatal attacks were documented in from 1200–1920.” I’m not good at maths, but that looks like a little over ten per year in that time period. Hippos probably did better. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-animal-has-killed-the-most-humans/687441/25 "2014-05-01T16:30:04Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Weird that everyone is making guesses. Bill Gates just[published a blog article on this](http://www.gatesnotes.com/Health/Most-Lethal-Animal-Mosquito-Week) last week, with an infographic and everything. > > The answer is mosquitoes, followed by humans, snakes and dogs. Then he’s completely wrong. The WHO data I posted showed 1.6 million deaths per year by AIDS. Humans carry the AIDS virus. If he’s counting mosquitos carrying diseases, he should count humans giving other humans AIDS. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-animal-has-killed-the-most-humans/687441/26 "2014-05-01T16:30:40Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > It was back on the day in which the words “animal”, “insect”, and “mosquito” were all given their definitions. Yes, I know the dictionary definition that every living thing is an animal, but then animals get split up into subcategories of insects, bacteria, reptiles and such. Most people don’t commonly call insects animals in everyday conversation. If the OP would clarify what he was looking for . . . ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-animal-has-killed-the-most-humans/687441/27 "2014-05-01T16:33:12Z")
I’ve never heard of anyone who didn’t consider mosquitos to be animals in everyday conversation or conversations that occur years apart. Nor are all living things animals. The only ambiguity in the OP is whether the animal directlyy kills the person as opposed to passing on a disease. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-animal-has-killed-the-most-humans/687441/28 "2014-05-01T16:39:22Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > The only ambiguity in the OP is whether the animal directlyy kills the person as opposed to passing on a disease. We can just decide that ourselves eh? Ok, it has to be direct, not just carrying a disease. I’ll stick to cows. 1.4 billion people worldwide are obese. > **[Obesity and overweight](https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight)** > > Obesity and overweight fact sheet from WHO providing key facts and information on causes, health consequences, double burden of disease, prevention, WHO response. “According to the McDonald’s Corporation website (as of June 2012), McDonald’s has, “More than 33,000 restaurants around the world in 118 countries. In the United States, there are more than 14,000 restaurants…” In 2007 there were 30,000 restaurants in 119 countries so in the intervening years, one McDonald’s country was lost.” > **[An Introduction to Geography](https://www.thoughtco.com/geography-basics-4133034)** > > Start mapping your journey as a geography teacher or student with these beginner-friendly resources covering everything from world capitals to careers. ---
**Author:** ![Bozuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/edb3f5/32.png) [@Bozuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bozuit)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-animal-has-killed-the-most-humans/687441/29 "2014-05-01T16:41:30Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > Yes, I know the dictionary definition that every living thing is an animal, but then animals get split up into subcategories of insects, bacteria, reptiles and such. Most people don’t commonly call insects animals in everyday conversation. If the OP would clarify what he was looking for . . . I doubt any dictionary says any living thing is an animal. For my part, it seems obvious to me that mosquitoes would be included under “animals”. ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-animal-has-killed-the-most-humans/687441/30 "2014-05-01T16:51:32Z")
OK, I’m being Mr. Pedantry Personified here, but since the OP used the term ‘animal’ in the singular I’m putting forward [The Champawat Tigress](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champawat_Tiger), thought to be responsible for killing about 430 people in the early Twentieth century. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-animal-has-killed-the-most-humans/687441/31 "2014-05-01T16:57:19Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > Yes, I know the dictionary definition that every living thing is an animal . . . This is entirely incorrect. For example, plants are living things but not animals. ---
**Author:** ![Learjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@Learjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Learjeff)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-animal-has-killed-the-most-humans/687441/32 "2014-05-01T16:57:22Z")
The mosquito, I’d guess. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-animal-has-killed-the-most-humans/687441/33 "2014-05-01T16:57:46Z")
Add 300 more deaths to the death-by-cow total: > **[Great Chicago Fire](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Chicago_Fire)** > > The Great Chicago Fire was a conflagration that burned in the American city of Chicago during October 8–10, 1871. The fire killed approximately 300 people, destroyed roughly 3.3 square miles (9 km2) of the city including over 17,000 structures, and left more than 100,000 residents homeless. The fire began in a neighborhood southwest of the city center. A long period of hot, dry, windy conditions, and the wooden construction prevalent in the city, led to the conflagration. The fire leapt the s... ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-animal-has-killed-the-most-humans/687441/34 "2014-05-01T16:58:57Z")
The OP asks “which animal has killed the most humans?,” not which animal is responsible for the most human deaths. There’s a difference. Mosquitos don’t kill humans. They deliver parasites that kill humans. Cows don’t kill humans in any appreciable numbers. Even if obesity is considered a cause of death (a debatable point), and even if eating beef is a significant cause of obesity (a debatable point), that’s still not a case of cows killing humans. Humans killing themselves, maybe, but not cows killing humans. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-animal-has-killed-the-most-humans/687441/35 "2014-05-01T16:59:08Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > Yes, I know the dictionary definition that every living thing is an animal, but then animals get split up into subcategories of insects, bacteria, reptiles and such. No - bacteria are not animals. Protozoa are not animals. Fungi are not animals. Plants and algae, again not animals. Sponges on the other hand _are_ animals - what they aren’t are _vertebrates_. Now I’ll grant that most people probably don’t think of things like tunicates and sponges as animals ( though they are ), but it seems to me most people _do_ consider insects animals even by the loosest definition of the word. I’m sure I did when I was a little kid - ‘the birds and the bees’ and all that. But regardless we’re in GQ and don’t have to adhere to foolish lay definitions ;). But you wanted to limit the discussion to just _vertebrate animals_, well then [Russell’s Viper](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daboia) might be the most prolific killer, though it has some serious competition from the likes of Saw-Scaled Vipers ( which has the distinction of being both among the [Big Four](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Four_%28Indian_snakes%29) as well as killing in the ME/NA ), Puff Adders and the Indian Cobra. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-animal-has-killed-the-most-humans/687441/36 "2014-05-01T17:15:33Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > Then he’s completely wrong. The WHO data I posted showed 1.6 million deaths per year by AIDS. Humans carry the AIDS virus. If he’s counting mosquitos carrying diseases, he should count humans giving other humans AIDS. If you look at the link you’ll see that he did indeed include humans. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-animal-has-killed-the-most-humans/687441/37 "2014-05-01T17:15:36Z")
I was going to mention that malaria is caused by protozoa, which at one time were considered animals (or at least there were in 7th grade science - not sure about formal taxonomy) but are now in a different kingdom. I’m not sure of bacteria (and almost positive viruses) were never considered animals. Brian ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-animal-has-killed-the-most-humans/687441/38 "2014-05-01T17:39:42Z")
According to this guy, snakes are #4 behind humans, mosquitos, and tsetse flies which would be carriers. > **[25 Animals Responsible For Killing The Most Humans](https://list25.com/25-animals-responsible-killing-humans/?view=all)** > > Few words can describe the collective beauty of the animal kingdom. From the thunderous march of the buffaloes to the majestic perching of an eagle, animals have served as inspiration and delight for most of ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-animal-has-killed-the-most-humans/687441/39 "2014-05-01T17:52:23Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > But you wanted to limit the discussion to just _vertebrate animals_, well then [Russell’s Viper](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daboia) might be the most prolific killer, though it has some serious competition from the likes of Saw-Scaled Vipers ( which has the distinction of being both among the [Big Four](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Four_%28Indian_snakes%29) as well as killing in the ME/NA ), Puff Adders and the Indian Cobra. Since the OP is new and hasn’t come back to clarify his question I’d say this is more likely what he had in mind; cause I’m a freaking mind reader even if I anit no good at dictionary meanings. 😃 I was thinking more in line of what people think of when they think “kill that damn thing before it kills us right this very minute” us sort of animal. Nasty little buggers snakes. And there venom is home grown, not some disease that is tagging along with them. Perhaps bees would also qualify since I now allow them in my animal kingdom and will welcome them onto my Ark. 😉 Oh, and welcome to the board Cardboard! It’s generally considered nice (but not necessary) to participate in the threads you create. but no harm. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2014, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-animal-has-killed-the-most-humans/687441/40 "2014-05-01T18:01:20Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > We can just decide that ourselves eh? Ok, it has to be direct, not just carrying a disease. > > I’ll stick to cows. There is also the ambiguity of what ‘outside of humans’ means. In one sense cows won’t qualify because they’re killing us when they’re inside of us. Mrs. O’Leary’s cow and a few stampedes don’t kill many humans from the outside. And of course, inside of a dog it’s too dark to read. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-animal-has-killed-the-most-humans/687441.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-animal-has-killed-the-most-humans/687441.md?page=3)