The average holiday doesn’t need to worry about threats from the local wildlife, aside from the odd mosquito, mainstream holiday destinations are largely free from wild animals that will attack humans. Of course you can’t be too careful and the sea can often conceal unseen dangers that won’t think twice about letting humans know that they’re encroaching on their territory.
Fortunately, animal attacks on humans are rare, most wild beasts will ignore humans, so long as they’re not considered to be a direct threat to themselves, their habitat or their young. Inevitably however, when humans do clash with dangerous species, tragedy can result. Below are some of the worst attacks to befall human tourists in recent years.
Carlos Eduardo Silva, San Fransisco
You might be surprised to learn that an attack occurred in a built up metropolitan area like San Fransisco, but this is the only fatality to ever occur in a zoo. On Christmas day 2007, Tatiana, a Tigress who had been at the zoo for two years, jumped over the enclosure walls and killed 17 year old Carlos Eduardo Sousa by mauling him, slashing his neck in the process.
Ian Redmond, Seychelles
Just a few days ago, British honeymooner Ian Redmond, 30 was attacked by a shark when swimming just off of Anse Lazio beach on the idyllic island. His wife was sunbathing on the beach at the time. Local authorities attribute the attacks to a rouge shark, responsible for the death of a French tourist just two weeks before, the search is still on for the predator.
Un-named , Egypt
In another fatal shark attack, this time in the Red Sea off the coast of Egypt, an un-named 70 year old German woman was violently bitten by a great white shark in December 2010. Although a coastguard was able to get her to dry land, the woman’s arm was severed and she died from major blood loss within minutes.
Horatio Chapple, Norway
In another recent fatal attack, Horatio Chapple, a 17 year old was mauled to death by a Polar Bear on a school trip in the Nordic Tundra of Svalbard. The bear broke into Chapple’s tent as he slept after an electric trip wire designed to deter the animals failed, other individuals on the team received serious injuries. The bear was later shot dead.
Lauren Failla, India
25 year old American Lauren Failla was snorkeling in the waters surrounding the Andaman Islands, in the Bay of Bengal, India when she was brutally ravaged by a saltwater Crocodile. Failla had been holidaying to celebrate her Masters Degree when she vanished from her snorkeling group expedition. Days after her remains were recovered along with video footage of the attack.
Robert Boardman, Washington State
The most unusual thing about this attack is the animal carrying out the atrocity. In 2010, 63 year old Robert Boardman was charged at by a mountain goat while enjoying a picnic with friends in the Olympic National Park. The goat approached the group and Boardman ushered the others back to the safety of the car, the goat gouged his thigh with its sharp horns and Robert bled to death before help could arrive.
These attacks are all tragic in their own way, but go some way to illustrating the power of nature and the caution with which such creatures should be approached. In most cases, these attacks are the result of indirect our outside causes that have lead the animals to come into close contact with humans.
Joe is a travel blogger and animal enthusiast who will be taking care in the ocean when he stays in various Mexico Resorts on his tour of central and southern America next year.
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