Tag Archives: Africa

The planets second-largest continent.

Dangerous Insects: Hornets

Posted by on January 12, 2012 Comments Off

Hornets have stingers which they use to both kill prey and defend their nests. These stings can be very painful to humans, significantly more than a bee sting.  Unlike bees, hornets can sting repeatedly; making them that much more unpleasant to deal with. Hornets are provided this benefit because their stingers are not barbed, such as those of bees.

A single hornet sting is not fatal, with the exception of anyone with an allergic reaction to the sting.  Multiple stings from non-European hornets can be fatal.  The stings of the Asian giant hornet is very poisonous and can even be fatal to those who are not allergic.

Image by William Warby

Read more »

Killer Insects: The Tarantula

Posted by on December 21, 2011 Comments Off

Tarantulas (A group of related spiders under the family name Theraphosidae) can be found on every continent save Antarctica. While their large and frightening appearance can be startling, Tarantulas are mostly not a significant danger to people.

  • Tarantulas found in the New world (those indigenous to the Americas) have bites that pose very little threat to humans other than causing some pain in the area of the bite.
  • Tarantulas found in the Old world (particularly those indigenous to Asia), bite as both a defense mechanism and a method for catching prey. They are more likely to bite when provoked and are significantly less docile than new-world tarantulas. The venom old-world tarantulas is less well understood, and some early observations suggest that they are more potent than those of their new-world cousins.

There are reports of significant bites from Poecilotheria species of Tarantula, sometimes resulting in hospitalization of the patient. Indicators include both pain and swelling in the affected area, physical exhaustion, muscle cramping, difficulty breathing, and fever. In such situations, emergency medical assistance should be sought immediately.

Featured Photo by jcantroot

Read more »

Deadly Diseases: Ebola

Posted by on November 29, 2011 Comments Off

Ebola is an incredibly deadly virus, of which there are 4 different strains.  Symptoms include:

  • Sudden onset of influenza-like symptoms
  • Malaise
  • Fever with chills
  • Chest pain
  • Muscle pain
  • Joint pain
  • Nausea
  • Abdominal pain
  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting

Further into the disease, the sufferer will probably develop:

  • Severe headaches
  • Easily agitated state
  • Confusion
  • Fatigue
  • Depression
  • Seizures
  • Coma

Death from Ebola usually occurs due to multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) due to fluid redistribution, hypotension, and disseminated intravascular coagulation (leading to small blood clots in the body).

Ebola is very infectious but not very contagious (meaning not easily transmitted by physical contact).  Person-to-person transmission can occur through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of an infected person.  There are as of yet no FDA-approved vaccines for the prevention of Ebola or any Ebola-specific treatments.  Outbreaks of Ebola have mostly been restricted to parts of Africa.  Ebola kills about 7 out of every 10 people it infects. Read more »

Dangerous Snakes: The African Rock Python

Posted by on November 28, 2011 Comments Off

The African Rock python is a large and non-venomous snake that can reach lengths of about 20 feet or even greater.  It is Africa’s largest snake.  There are two subspecies of Rock python, one in Central/Western Africa and one in Southern Africa.

They live in a variety of habitats, from forests to deserts, usually near sources of water as a minimum requirement. The African rock python will first strike its prey with a viscous bite before quickly coiling around the prey and killing it via constriction.  Though fully capable of doing so and occasionally known for actually hunting people, they rarely kill humans. Read more »

Dangerous Insects: Matabele Ants

Posted by on November 28, 2011 Comments Off

Matabele ants are primarily found in central and east Africa.  They also go by the names diver ants, safari ants, or siafu.  Each ant colony can contain more than 20 million individual ants.

when their food supplies are short, the ants leave their hill and form marching columns of thousands of ants.  This wave of ant death is considered a menace by the local people, though it is not difficult to avoid them.  These columns can travel at a max of about 20 meters per hour, easy to outrun. They are more of a danger for people unable to move or when a column passes through a home. There have been reported cases of people being killed and consumed by one of these ant columns, usually dying via asphyxiation from ants crowding into the victims esophagus, blocking any passage of air.

Their bite is very painful, each soldier ant leaving two  wounds when removed. Removal of the ant heat is difficult, their jaws are extraordinarily strong. Large numbers of ants can kill small or immobilized animals and will happily eat their flesh. They are a carnivorous species. Read more »

Dangerous Mammals: The Hippopotamus

Posted by on November 21, 2011 Comments Off

Hippos are said to kill more people every year than any other creature in Africa.  It may look big and fat, but it will outrun you.  An adult hippo can literally rip a crocodile in half with its bite.  Hippopotamuses are naturally aggressive creatures, especially if the creatures young calves are present. In addition to Nile crocodiles, lions, and hyenas, hippos are very aggressive towards humans, whom they frequently attack without provocation.

Featured Photo by Just chaos

Read more »

Dangerous Mammals: The Rhinoceros

Posted by on November 21, 2011 Comments Off

Rhinos are not predators, but they are very dangerous.  They are very nervous creatures and are quick to act aggressively in order to protect themselves.  They may appear large, cumbersome, and slow, but they can reach speeds of 30 miles an hour when attacking.

A Rhino will impale its victim with its horn (if it has some, some females lack a horn) and follow up with a deadly trampling underfoot.  These attacks are luckily very rare.  The best thing you can do to avoid a rhino attack is to avoid startling one.

Featured Photo by Elisa Bracco

Read more »

Dangerous Snakes: The Spitting Cobra

Posted by on November 21, 2011 Comments Off

A spitting cobra is one of several cobra species capable of ejecting venom from their fangs when defending themselves against perceived threats.  They generally aim for the eyes and have good accuracy up to 7 feet away.  This sprayed venom is harmless to normal skin, but it can cause permanent blindness if sprayed in the eye if left untreated.  These eye injuries are also vulnerable to dangerous secondary infections.  Spitting cobras can also inject venom through a bite.

Featured Photo by Department of Sustainability & Environment

 

Read more »

Dangerous Mammals: The African Buffalo

Posted by on November 21, 2011 Comments Off

They're coming for you

Although it is not a predator species, the Cape Buffalo of Africa goes by the names “Black Death” or “widow-maker” among the locals.  The African buffalo is considered a very dangerous animal due to the fact that it gores and kills more than 200 people each year.

Typically standing 5 feet tall, 8 feet long and with a horn rack 3 feet across, being hit by an African Buffalo is like being hit by a truck. They are known to kill lions, and they will continue to mutilate a threat long after they have killed it with its horns and hooves.

Featured Photo by Mark Jordahl

Read more »

Dangerous Mammals: Hyenas

Posted by on November 19, 2011 Comments Off

Among the various species of hyenas, only two of them (the spotted hyena and striped hyena) are known to become man-eaters. Hyenas have preyed on humans for a very, very long time going back into prehistory  Gross but true; human hair has been found in fossilized hyena dung dating back since 200,000 years.  Their ancestors probably ate our pre-human ancestors like Homo erectus. Hyenas were and still are occasionally brave and clever enough to steal human kills or enter human campsites to drag off young and weak members of the tribe.  Hyenas happily scavenge  human corpses.  Hyenas that have been habituated to scavenging human corpses can become more bold in their behaviors towards the living.

Spotted hyenas prey on people in modern times, but these occurrences are relatively rare. Man-eating spotted hyenas are said to tend to be the largest specimens.  The victims of spotted hyenas trend towards women, children and sick or old/infirm men.  Spotted hyenas are feared in the country of Malawi.  In such situations they occasionally attack people in the night, especially during the hottest parts of the year, when people more often sleep outside.

Striped hyenas are usually very timid around people, though they, too can show bold behaviors toward people at night. Striped hyenas prey on humans less frequently than their spotted cousins.

Featured Photo by Marieke IJsendoorn-Kuijpers

Read more »