The World's Most Dangerous Animals. Kevin Baker Baker

away on a tentacle unperturbed.

      Box jellyfish have very dangerous tentacles that can grow up to 3 metres in length. Most of the harm caused by these jellyfish comes from their ‘cnidocytes’ which are all over their tentacles. Cnidocytes are small ‘poison pouches’ that harbour small darts and venom. Each tentacle has over 500,000 cnidocytes. This cube or bell shaped jellyfish has four distinct sides, which gives the box jellyfish its name. A fully grown box jellyfish can grow to a respectable size of 30 cm in diameter and weigh up to 2 kg. They are usually pale blue in colour or transparent.

      When tentacles wrap around their victim, they shoot their poisoned darts into the skin. The venom then enters the bloodstream. Just a small amount of box jellyfish venom is enough to stop the heart and spike blood pressure. Records show that most victims who are injected with the venom survive; however, many countries don’t require death certificates for jellyfish related deaths, so the data may be skewed.

      Don’t expect the box jellyfish to be a trivial dumb blob of goo. Box jellyfish actually display complex behaviors that allow them to avoid things as well as speed up their swimming in a certain direction. Box jellyfish are in fact quite intelligent, as tests have not only shown that they have a very basic memory, but that they can also learn.

      These jellyfish can be found throughout the Atlantic and east Pacific oceans, the Mediterranean, as well as North California, Japan, South Africa and New Zeeland. Box jellyfish encounters are more likely to happen 7-10 days after a full moon in Hawaii, when they come near to the shore to spawn. These spawning activities are occasionally so widespread that beaches have to be closed until it is safe to go back into the water.

      A victim can immediately go into shock if stung and if they are swimming alone the pain is so severe that the swimmer will usually not be able to make it back to shore on their own. Necrosis can occur in venom infected tissue, which means that cells are destroyed causing tissue to die, often leaving permanent scars.

      Unlike myth would tell you, it is not a good idea to urinate on jellyfish stings and you would certainly be doing the poor victim a favour by not considering urinating on them, as this would only further darken the tragic experience for them. Spirits and vodka should never be poured over stings either as this is also a myth, it is just a waste of time and good spirits. Natural vinegar does work however, and has saved many lives. Vinegar needs to be poured over any tentacles still attached to the victim’s body before they can be removed, as removing them before this can lead to more venom being released. If cardiac arrest occurs, CPR may keep the victim alive until help arrives. Hospitals and medical centres near areas where box jellyfish are common will usually have an antiserum called ‘antivenin’ which can relieve pain and reduce scarring.

      According to Dr. Angel Yanagihara, research professor at the university of Hawaii, who was stung by box jellyfish (quoting from an article by Diana Nyad for the Huffington Post), the feeling of being stung by a box jellyfish was like her entire body was “ . . . submerged in hot, burning oil” and she yelled "Fire!, Fire!, FIRE!" Her companion who was also stung in the water was startled when his breaths per minute slowed down to just three breaths per minute. Luckily, they both miraculously survived.

      3 – Asian Giant Hornet

      The world’s largest hornet. Image courtesy of Hometboy1970.

      Imagine if there were a 3 inch long wasp with a quarter inch long stinger. Well, this insect is real . . .

      A simple honey bee is no real concern. Even the more sinister wasp hovering around your ice-cream is not really that much of a threat. For the most part, these critters will not bother people if they are left alone. With honey bees, although painful, their stingers do more damage to the bee than to their victims. Then there is the Asian giant hornet: a fearsome insect that most people can only imagine in their worst nightmares.

      While the average wasp is around ¾ of an inch in length, the Asian giant hornet can reach upwards of three inches in length. That is roughly the size of an adult’s thumb. Their anatomy is very different to other hornets; their heads are orange and wider than normal, their eyes and antennae are a dark brown colour and their mandibles are black, while the rest of their body is mostly black and golden. Additionally, unlike other hornets, they do not have barbed stingers. This means that the stinger will not detach itself and remains on the body of the hornet after it has been used. Because of this, the Asian giant hornet can sting its victims repeatedly.

      The stinger is about a ¼ of an inch long and the venom of this hornet contains eight different chemicals. Each of these chemicals has a specific purpose, ranging from causing tissue degeneration, breathing difficulties and even attracting other hornets to the victim. The venom is so powerful that even those who are not allergic to the venom can die if stung enough times. The stings can also cause renal failure. In China, it is recommended that anyone stung more than 10 times should seek medical help, and emergency treatment should be found if stung more than 30 times. It is estimated that roughly 40 people die every year as a result of Asian hornet stings in Japan alone.

      The Asian hornet is extremely territorial. This means that they will attack anything that infringes upon their territory. They will also target honeybee larvae in order to provide food for their own larvae. These giant hornets present a deadly threat to bees; a single Asian hornet can kill up to 40 honeybees per minute due to their deadly mandibles that can strike quickly. Honeybees are essentially defenceless against these attacks as their stingers are completely ineffective against this larger, more armoured insect. A handful of Asian hornets can decimate a hive of tens of thousands of bees in only a few hours. These hornets are relentless hunters. They have been known to fly over 60 miles to chase their prey, travelling at speeds of up to 25mph.

      As their name suggests, the Asian giant hornet is found mostly in Eastern Asia, namely Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Indochina, China, Nepal, India and Sri Lanka. They are mostly common in the mountains of Japan and prefer higher altitude forests in temperate or tropical areas. However, they have even been seen in the United States and England, most likely due to recent climate change.

      These insects are making their way around the world, courtesy of global warming. They are so big that it is hard to believe that they exist, except for popping up in sci-fi or horror movies.

      In some parts of the world, the Asian giant hornet, the largest hornet in the world, is commonly consumed as part of a healthy diet by some insect devouring individuals. The most popular cooking methods are deep fried or served as sashimi. Bon appetit!

      4 – Bull Shark

      A bull shark in Walkers Cay, Bahamas.

      The Bull Shark (Carcharhinus leucas) is often considered to be one of the most dangerous sharks to mankind; some people even say that they are arguably more dangerous than even great white sharks.

      They are an aggressive species of shark that prefer shallower coastal waters. What really sets these sharks apart from others is that they can survive for a while in brackish waters or even freshwater. As a result, these sharks have even been spotted in the Amazon and the Mississippi River. Although commonly found in lagoons, bays, or the mouths of rivers, it is not entirely unusual for this shark to be found as far inland as Illinois.

      Typically, sharks need to have salt in their blood in order to survive. Their blood is typically as salty as the seawater around them. However, bull sharks are able to regulate the levels of salt in their blood using different organs. Therefore, they can adapt themselves to live in both salt and fresh water, although they are more commonly found in saltwater because that is where their food of choice is and their population is higher in saltwater areas, where they can reproduce easier.

      The bull shark gets its name from both its stocky build and broad, flat snout, plus its very aggressive and often unpredictable behavior. When attacking, bull sharks will often initially head-butt their prey, much like a bull charging. They tend to hunt alone and are extremely territorial. They