What Are Dangerous Animals in India?

dangerous animals in india

India is rich with the beauty of exotic architecture and lush natural surroundings. You will interact intensely with the natural environment, filling your senses with unique tastes, sounds, smells, and even colors. Since it is home to some of the earliest civilizations on the planet, you will find the scripts and history of the country, which gives you an in-depth of the country that has been in existence for centuries now. The history of the Indian subcontinent is exceptional, and you will get to indulge in the past and its mythology as well. The country’s customs and traditions being followed today make it one of the unique destinations. The architectural brilliance will give you a showcase of the best artisans of the time in the region. However, during your exploration, there are animals and creatures that you are likely to encounter, and they might be a challenge because some of them are very dangerous.

The Asian black bear

The Asian black bear

The Asian black bear, or what is commonly called the white-chested bear, is one of the most dangerous creatures that you will ever find across the Indian subcontinent. This bear is medium-sized, and even with the size, they have very sharp claws and teeth, and they are solid and will attack at any moment. These creatures are the most dangerous because they will attack you unnoticed. It would help if you stayed away from the areas inhabited by the Asian black bear.

Monkeys

One of the main creatures you will likely encounter during your trip is monkeys. There are so many monkeys in India, and these cheeky creatures are very mischievous, making your experience weird. Since they are more advanced creatures, they have different characters and more humanlike characters. For a first-time visitor, you might find them a nuisance. However, currently, some people consider them a form of entertainment.

However, monkey attacks have been reported in different states, and you should avoid them at all costs. You should not feed them or entertain them because they can cause injuries or infect you with diseases. The monkeys can stone you or just attack you in groups hence the need to stay away from them. 

Snakes

One of the most dangerous snakes you will find in India is the cobra. It is one of the most dangerous creatures that you will find in India among Russel’s viper, saw-scaled viper, and common krait. These snakes are not just listed as dangerous creatures; however, they are the main cause of death in the Indian subcontinent. It is important to note that these snakes are the main cause of death in India. The cobra is the most dangerous of them all and it is a popular snake in India with the highest venom that you can find.

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The venom from the cobra is known to have hemotoxic, cytotoxic, and neurotoxic properties. Thousands of people die each year in India from snake bites and you should take your time to avoid areas that snakes inhabit. The mortality rate of the snake bite is over 85% hence the need to seek immediate medical attention if a snake bites you. The vipers and kraits are known to cause over 25000 deaths each year in India and you should avoid the areas that are inhabited by these creatures.

Dogs

One of the most dangerous creatures you will encounter during your Indian trip is dogs. The dogs are usually across the country and you should avoid them at all costs because these are stray dogs and they are filled with bacteria, viruses, and other diseases. These stray dogs usually roam around the street, and they tend to be very aggressive, especially when they are angry or when they are with their cubs.

There have been numerous human attacks by these stray dogs and you should ensure that you stay away from these creatures during your visit to India. According to statistics, over 50 000 deaths are caused by rabies each year. The main source of rabies is street dogs; hence you should be very careful when exploring the Indian subcontinent. If these dogs bite you then you should seek immediate medical attention. Rabies is one of the deadliest diseases; if it is not treated immediately after the bite, it could turn fatal.

Indian rhinoceros

Indian rhinoceros

This is one of the largest animals on the planet and it is one of the beasts that has been around in the Indian subcontinent for years now. They are very powerful and can weigh up to 8000 pounds. The rhinoceros stands at 2 meters tall, and they can run at a speed of 35 miles per hour which means they are pretty fast and when they attack you, they are likely to catch up with you. Since such a huge creature can charge at you at such a speed, they can attack you and kill you.

The rhinos are known to be bad-tempered and they have bad eyesight hence they will aggressively attack you before thinking. They are fearless and wander across the nation. They have become wildly angry and will attack humans anytime since people have been poaching them for years.

Sloth bears

Sloth bears

The sloth bear is one of the most dangerous creatures that you will find in the Indian subcontinent. This creature has a clown-like appearance and it may strike you like a casual observer it is hazardous and it may attack you unannounced. The animal usually feeds on insects and typically grows up to 2 meters tall and can reach weights of up to 400 pounds. It is one of the most dangerous creatures you will encounter during your trip to the Indian subcontinent.

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The massive size coupled with an exceptional sickle-like claw is very dangerous because it can pierce through your skin or vital organs. These creatures are very unpredictable and you should not move near them because they can attack you to death. They usually dislike humans and any interaction with them will likely lead to attacks and this could lead to injuries or even death.

Crocodiles

Numerous crocodiles are native to India, ranging from the saltwater crocodile, the freshwater crocodile, and the mugger crocodile. The name mugger is derived from the Indian word Magar, which describes the crocodile. These Indian crocodiles can grow up to 16.5 feet long and they can reach enormous sizes of up to 500 pounds. Sharp teeth usually characterize them, and a strong tail and they can run so fast up to 30 miles per hour.

The crocodiles feed on animals and other creatures; you must stay away from them because they are extremely dangerous. There are more than twenty deaths caused by crocodiles each year. These crocodiles are found on the eastern coast of India and they are effective killers. You should avoid the waters that crocodiles inhabit.

Leopards

One of the major big cats you will find in India is the leopard. The Indian leopards are very tactful, and agile, have strong muscles, and sharp teeth, and are known to traverse the different parts of the country. Since leopards are predatory, you must avoid the areas where these creatures are thriving.

The local leopards feed on small-sized animals such as deer, and pigs. They have also been known to cause a nuisance to farmers because they consume livestock. These creatures are very strong and can weigh up to 150 pounds and drag double the weight. Their strength can be seen in the type and extent of their bites. You must avoid the leopards’ areas because they can attack you.

Asian elephants

One of the creatures people tends to adore when they visit the Indian sub-continent is the Asian elephant. From the looks of it, this creature might seem less dangerous and you can interact with it. However, you should try as much as possible to avoid them because they can become very dangerous and attack you. At least one person is killed every day by an elephant in India. The beast stands at 10 feet tall and it can weigh up to 16000 pounds.

Avoid these creatures because they are very dangerous and can trample you to death. Most of the deaths caused by the elephants are often human-animal conflicts in farming areas where the stray elephants go to farmers’ fields and villages. Drunk elephants are one of the most common phenomena, and they can attack the rice stocks for rice beer. Avoid areas that are inhabited by these creatures or maintain a distance to keep you safe.

Red scorpion

This is one of the most dangerous creatures that you are likely to encounter in India. The red nature is one of the warning colors that you should avoid. This is one of the arachnids with some of the worst stings because they have a very highly concentrated venom. They are known to be nocturnal and will attack you, they usually consume lizards and smaller mammals.

An adult red scorpion can grow up to 4 inches long and they usually have venom that can cause fatalities to adult human beings. There have been cases of deaths caused by the venom of the red scorpions. Some of the side effects of the scorpion stings include swelling, redness, excruciating pain, fever, lowered heart pressure, difficulty breathing, and eventually death. It is important that you seek immediate medical attention to avoid death.

Bengal tigers

Bengal tigers

This is one of the most dangerous creatures you will interact with during your trip to the Indian subcontinent. The tiger can stand around 12 feet in length, and an adult will weigh over 850 pounds. It is imperative to note that they have very formidable muscles, sharp teeth, and claws, and they are very dangerous predators because they can attack very fast. 

The most common way that the tiger will attack the victim and suffocate it is to feed on wild pigs and buffaloes. Humans are small creatures for these creatures because they are far more equipped to tear human flesh and muscles very fast. In the past decade, there were over a thousand deaths each year caused by the tigers. Currently, the number stands shy above 400 and you must maintain some distance from these big cats.


In conclusion, India presents you with the best tourist experience and you should include it in your vacation destinations. It is rich and diverse and you will never miss activities and things to do there. You should always stay safe when visiting places to avoid any sort of injury.

Aurimas Bio

Hi there! I’m Aurimas, a man behind Go Look Explore. I’m passionate about hiking, exploring off-the-beaten-path destinations, and everything outdoors related. Let’s connect.