Careful! These Cute Animals Will Actually Kill You
People like to keep animals such as dogs, cats and rabbits in their homes because they’re adorable. That being said, pets aren’t the only cute creatures out there – wild animals are also pretty darn adorable. However, these animals aren’t always the friendliest. The following list features a number that, while cute, could hurt or kill someone in the wrong situation.
Hippopotamus
Hippopotamuses are the star attractions at many zoos. They’re also well known to kids, thanks to books like Happy Hippo, Angry Duck and games such as Hungry Hungry Hippos.
While they may appear friendly, they are anything but. These massive animals can run faster than humans and will sometimes attack without warning. It’s estimated that around 500 people in Africa are killed each year in hippo attacks.
Blue-Ringed Octopus
The blue-ringed octopus is among the most beautiful creatures in the ocean. Thanks to its beauty, swimmers may be compelled to pick one up, but that would be a massive mistake. This octopus is incredibly poisonous – so poisonous, in fact, that it has enough venom to kill 26 humans in just one minute.
Even worse, there’s no anti-venom to counteract the poison of the blue-ringed octopus. Any medical treatment given to patients is for the sole purpose of keeping them breathing until it passes through their system.
Wolverine
At first, wolverines appear to be quite cute, with their bear-like faces and small bodies. However, one only needs to look at their claws to realize why one of Marvel‘s most savage characters was named after the carnivore.
Notably fierce, wolverines have been known to kill animals much larger than themselves. They’ve made prey of deer, moose, elk and even wolf pups. Luckily for humans, wolverines largely avoid going after us, as well as bears.
Chimpanzee
The Chimpanzee is one of the most adored animals in the world. It’s no surprise as to why, as the simian shares an awful lot in common with humans. At the end of the day, however, chimps are part of the animal kingdom and when approached may be driven to violence. As such, caution should be exercised.
Slow Loris
Fans of the Star Wars series might think the slow loris looks a bit like an Ewok.
The adorable primates have become popular on social media for their cute appearance. Despite their cuteness, it’s not recommended for humans to approach them in either the wild or captivity. These primates will bite when threatened, and their bites contain poisonous venom.
Leopard Seal
All seals, given their playful nature, are pretty cute. Leopard seals, however, are in a class all their own. People should use caution when approaching these animals, as they’ve been known to attack humans and their bites could cause permanent scarring.
Komodo Dragon
People around the world have long had a fascination with dinosaurs, and no animal currently walking around looks more like one than the Komodo dragon.
While the reptiles may look approachable, they’ve long been seen as particularly dangerous to humans. While few people have been killed by Komodo dragons, they can take a big chunk out of those they attack.
Polar Bears
For many zoo visitors, the highlight of any trip is the polar bear. Their black snout and white fur color scheme makes for a stunning look, but the problem is that their cuteness masks the fact they can easily kill humans.
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Lucky enough, polar bears won’t usually interact with a person unless they feel threatened, and only handful of people have been killed by them.