Surviving Animal Attacks: Leopard, Bees, Crocodile, Shark
Animal Attacks: When Wildlife Encounters Turn Dangerous
As humanity expands and natural habitats shrink, interactions with wild animals increase. While most encounters are peaceful, some unfortunately result in attacks. Here are four such incidents:
Leopard Attacks in India
Maharashtra, India, has seen a surge in leopard attacks. In January, three men were attacked by a leopard searching for food. Newspapers report a “leopard storm” as these attacks become more frequent. Habitat destruction forces leopards from their forest homes as woodland is cleared for development, pushing them out of protected parks.
Killer Bee Attacks in the USA
An elderly woman was hospitalized after being attacked by a swarm of killer bees. Stung repeatedly, she was saved by firemen who sprayed water on her and the bees.
These killer bees originated from a South American experiment to breed American honey bees with stronger African bees. The insects escaped in 1957 and migrated north, causing an estimated 1000 deaths. Bees typically attack when their hive is threatened and will pursue enemies for over a kilometer.
Crocodile Attack in Australia
Diver Jeff Tanswell was attacked by a saltwater crocodile while snorkeling in Queensland, Australia. The crocodile dragged him into deep water, a prelude to a “death roll” where they drown their prey. However, Jeff survived.
The attack may have been a female protecting her nest. Despite Jeff’s lack of resistance, the crocodile released him. Experts believe the crocodile was merely investigating Jeff, as they use their mouths to explore due to the lack of fingers.
Great White Shark Attack in Australia
Eris Nerhus was diving for shellfish off Cape Howe when a 3.5m great white shark attacked. It grabbed his head, body, and arms. Protected by a lead-weight vest, Eric stabbed the shark’s eye with a diving chisel. As Eric escaped, the shark circled him until his son pulled him into their boat.
Marine experts suggest the shark mistook Eric for a seal and released him when he fought back.