The Philippines is an archipelago country that is located in the western pacific and it is made up of over 7600 islands that are spread over three regions mainly Visayas, Luzon, and Mindanao, the Philippines has an enormous wild life area, so what dangerous animals in the Philippines you can encounter?
The country is bounded by the South China Sea on the western part, the Celebes Sea to the southwest, the Philippine Sea to the east, Malaysia to the southwest, Indonesia to the south, china to the northwest, and Vietnam to the west.
The country is a very unique location because of the diversity of the people, culture, and cuisines. When traveling to the Philippines you will realize that there is so much that you are going to enjoy when you explore this region because of the fun activities that you can do.
The capital city is manila while the largest city is Quezon and these are all in the metro of manila.
The diverse ethnicities and cultures in the country are some of the reasons why you should visit the country because you will see some of the unique places and enjoy what the local people prefer.
The country has some of the highest mountains in the region and you should not confuse it because it is an archipelago that will be a low-lying country. The highest mountain stands at 2954 meters above sea level.
There are many rivers around the country and this makes a perfect environment where different creatures thrive. The longest river in the country is the Cagayan River and it is located in northern Luzon.
This river is about 520 kilometers long and the shore is part of the capital.
There are other waterbodies around the country, which makes it a unique destination to visit during your holiday. There is a 5-mile underground river, which runs through karst before it drains its water to the ocean. This is listed as one of the UNESCO world heritage sites.
It is important that when you are exploring a region you should watch out for your safety. There is an active volcano that is located in the south of Luzon Island.
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Why Visit the Philippines
The Philippines is a unique destination where you are going to learn so many things during your visit because the culture and the diversity of the people are impeccable.
It is imperative that you plan your time adequately so that you get to visit the different interesting places in the country. The diversity in the country is based on the eight major forests that are distributed across the country.
This is important in accentuating different creatures. The country boasts of tropical rainforest and this is what makes it a perfect environment for different fauna and flora to thrive.
The country is among those places with the highest discoveries in the world with 16 new species discovered in the country. However, there is still more to discover and the pristine environment guarantees you that you have a lot to see and explore in the country.
During your trip, you should watch out for different creatures. Here are the top dangerous creatures that you should avoid during your trip to the region.
Philippine cobra
This is one of the most iconic creatures that you are going to find in the Philippines.
They are usually found in the northern part of the country and you should ensure that you are visiting these places to see them.
These cobras are incredibly venomous and you should watch out for them during your trip to the region. They live mostly in Mindoro, Luzon, Azaria, and catanduane islands.
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You will find them in different habitats such as forests, dense jungles, farmlands, and even in urban areas.
These snakes are known to like to inhabit areas near waterbodies such as a river, ponds, and lakes among others.
The snake is considered very venomous because its venom affects the central nervous system, causes nausea, and shutdown of critical organs and if it is not dealt with immediately, it can lead to death.
The concentration of the venom of the Philippines cobra is very high and you should make a point of staying away from these creatures. They are usually in dense forests.
Titan triggerfish
The titan triggerfish is an impeccable creature that you are going to find in the region.
They are usually found under the surface of the seas around the Philippines. These fish are known to grow to huge lengths and weights and this is what makes them very dangerous.
They will attack you whenever they are threatened.
The fish is very venomous and will attack your central nervous system.
They have very sharp teeth and a high amount of venom. Always stay safe when exploring the different parts of the country.
Box jellyfish
Perhaps this is one of the most legendary creatures that you are going to find in the country.
They are known to thrive in the seawater surrounding the country. The box jellyfish as the name suggests is a jellyfish that is made up of a box-like structure.
They are often found in the waters of the Philippine Sea among other areas.
According to data, about 40 people die annually from the sting of this creature.
It is imperative that you should always watch out for them when you are exploring this region. They usually have tentacles, which are used in delivering the venom to the victim.
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The box jellies usually grow up to 8 inches across and they are usually translucent in nature hence will most likely take the color of the surrounding water.
You might not see them and if you are going to explore the waters in this country then there is a high chance that you might encounter them.
The stinger cells are attached to the skin before they deliver their venom.
Venom is known to attack the central nervous system causing breakdown and failure of vital organs.
Bull sharks
The bull sharks are some of the creatures that you are going to find in the region.
The bull sharks are around this region and these sharks are known to be very temperamental. They do not need any provocation yet they will attack you whenever you are in their habitat.
They have serrated teeth and whenever they are angry, they will attack you immediately.
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They are adapted to tearing flesh and bones and if you are in the waters of the Philippines then there is a likelihood that you will encounter them during your trip to the region. Bull sharks usually like to live in shallow waters and their depths is about 100 feet.
They usually hunt for their food in pairs hence when one attacks you then there is a high chance that there is another one around the region.
Blue-ringed octopus
The blue-ringed octopus is one of the wild sea animals that you are likely to encounter during your trip to the Philippines. They are often in the seas and you will find them moving around the coral reefs that are found in this region.
Perhaps these are some of the most beautiful creatures that you are going to encounter during your trip to the region.
They are very colorful; however, these colors and beauty should not make you assume that they are nice. T
he colors are usually made so to ward off predators. They have venom in their spines and it is imperative to note that they will change color depending on the level of danger. Whenever they are feeling endangered they will often change to red and this is when they will release the toxic venom.
Venom is highly toxic and it is known to attack the central nervous system.
They are usually found in the shallow seawaters of the Philippines and around the coral reefs in the region. You should immediate medical attention if you are attacked by these creatures.
Mosquito
Perhaps this is the most legendary creature that you are going to find in the region.
The area receives a huge amount of rainfall hence they are very active and will often be in different places from the forests to the standing waters around residential houses.
They might seem to be very small, however, they are very dangerous and when the female mosquito bites you, it is then going to spread malaria to you.
Malaria is one of the most dangerous diseases as it causes the death of millions of people across the world.
The female anopheles mosquito is not the only one that is dangerous; the males are also known to spread all kinds of bacteria and pathogens that cause various diseases such as the zika virus, chikungunya, and dengue fever.
It is recommended that you should avoid the areas that are inhabited by mosquitoes or you should always use a mosquito repellent.
The most important thing that you should do is to sleep under a treated mosquito net and ensure before you travel that you have been vaccinated against yellow fever.
Centipede
The centipedes are some of the dangerous creatures that you are going to find in the region.
These creatures are known to be about 12 inches long and they have so many legs. At their tail end, you will find that they have a claw.
This claw is very dangerous because the centipedes usually use this to deliver venom to the victim.
These giant centipedes are found in different parts of the Philippines.
They usually live in forest areas and if you are planning to go hiking or trekking in the forests then you should be careful. These creatures are found in different parts of the country and they are common in the Philippines.
There have been a few cases of death reported in the Philippines.
Black widow
The black widow spider is another very dangerous creature that you are going to find in the Philippines.
The dense forests across the country create a perfect environment where these creatures usually thrive.
Some of the common areas include the islands, which string through the Sulu Sea and the edge of the pacific as well. These creatures are known to like dark places and their venom is very potent as it is stronger than that of a rattlesnake.
The venom from the black widow is enough to cause nausea; spasms, and intense pain, and when antivenom is not delivered then it could result in fatality.
The black widow snake is very distinct and the females have black thorax with a red spot on the softer underbelly.
They have long front and back legs and can move very fast. It is important that during your exploration trip then you should watch out for them.
Stray dogs
Stray dogs are some of the dangerous creatures that you are going to find in the region.
There are over twelve million stray dogs that are in the Philippines.
This number is humongous and you should watch out when you visit the country because you are likely to encounter them.
These dogs are dangerous and you should not be fooled by their beauty or species.
These stray dogs are known to have a high amount of bacteria. A stray dog bite is a common phenomenon in the Philippines and you must watch out for them. You should not feed the dogs or carry food with you if you are going to explore the different parts of the country.
These dogs are very vicious and aggressive hence you should always be vigilant when exploring the country.
Freshwater crocodile
This mammoth is among the most dangerous creatures that you are going to find in the region.
They are usually found in the fresh waters of the country.
The freshwater crocodiles might not be as big as their saltwater counterpart might.
However, it is important to note that they weigh over 400 pounds and they have very sharp teeth, which means that they can attack you, and devour your bones, and flesh at any moment.
They usually hide in the waters by allowing them to camouflage perfectly.
They only leave their eyes and nostrils out as they watch their prey. When this happens, they wait patiently before attacking them and drowning in the water. These waters usually thrive in the northern rainforests in the country such as those of Luzon.
Just as the name indicates these crocs usually prefer rivers and swamps, and they often consume native fish stocks. Human attacks are few because these crocs often find a lot of fish in the waters hence they will not even attack people.
However, you should always be careful because you never know when they are full. After all, they can attack at any moment.
