With numerous films and classic stories featuring animals, it’s no wonder most of us have a soft spot for so many different creatures.
Not only that, but most of these films and stories anthropomorphize the animals, making them highly relatable.
However, many adorable animals out there are actually quite deadly— even to humans.
1. Chimpanzees

Incredibly, humans share over 98% of their DNA with chimpanzees, making them our closest living relatives.
While looking into their expression-filled eyes, you can’t help but feel their intelligence and fall in love with their adorable faces.
However, chimpanzees can be quite deadly and studies have been conducted that show chimps are naturally violent. In the wild, chimpanzees are typically afraid of humans but will attack if they are provoked.
There have been instances in Uganda where hungry chimpanzees, who have been forced out of their homes by deforestation, have raided crops and have even killed some children.
Chimps who have been kept as “pets” have also been involved in several brutal attacks.
2. Dingoes
While many of us have heard, or even spoken, a variation of the expression, “A dingo took my baby”, many of us are unaware of the very real, and very tragic situation that this phrase came from.
The phrase originates from the attack and subsequent death of a young baby in 1980, for which her mother was wrongly convicted.
While dingoes look incredibly similar to our adorable, domesticated pets, they have been known to attack and kill humans.
Generally, dingoes are uninterested in and shy around humans but are considered unpredictable and aggressive if their territory, food, or young are at risk.
3. Dolphins
Films like Flipper (1996) and Dolphin Tale (2011), alongside their grinning faces, have given dolphins a friendly and adorable reputation. There have even been incredible anecdotal stories of dolphins saving humans from sharks.
However, dolphins are not always the friendly faces we seem to think they are. There is a growing body of evidence that shows dolphins will kill fellow marine mammals, as well as commit infanticide.
Stories have also emerged of dolphins in captivity attacking humans in places like SeaWorld and a wild dolphin causing significant injury to a swimmer in Ireland.
4. Domestic Cats
Our adorable feline friends are sometimes called “house panthers” for good reason. While they are typically not dangerous to humans, domestic cats can be a menace to local wildlife.
Including strays and feral cats, domestic cats kill between 1.3 – 4.0 billion birds and 6.3 – 22.3 billion mammals in the USA annually. That’s billion, with a b.
These cats are the single greatest anthropogenic cause of death for US birds and mammals.
5. Duck-Billed Platypuses
Duck-billed platypuses, with their adorably quirky appearance, can also be considered deadly.
A relatively unknown attribute of the duck-billed platypus is that the males are venomous. Their venom is not deadly to humans, but it can cause excruciating pain.
However, it is capable of killing small mammals, such as dogs.
6. Elephant
Elephants, the seemingly loveable, gentle giants that have been anthropomorphized by films such as Dumbo (1941 & 2019), The Jungle Book (1967 & 2016), Zootopia (2016), and Babar (1989), to name just a few, can actually be very deadly to humans.
In fact, wild elephants are responsible for between 100 – 500 deaths per year. Due to their sheer size, one strike can deliver a lethal blow.
Since 1990, there have been 17 deaths caused by elephants in captivity. This figure is for the US alone and will likely be much higher when considering worldwide incidents.
7. Hippopotamuses
While charming and loveable, hippos are considered the deadliest large land mammal on the planet. They are nothing like the sassy Gloria from the Madagascar films (2005-2012).
It is estimated that hippos kill upwards of 500 people a year in Africa. Despite their size and body shape, hippos can match the speed of a human on land, and they are even quicker in the water.
Their sharp teeth, weight, and size, combined with their territorial attitudes, are what make these seemingly adorable creatures so deadly.
8. Kangaroos
While human deaths from kangaroos are relatively rare, they do still occur. Kangaroos have extremely muscular upper bodies, as well as powerful legs and tails.
They also feature sharp claws which can cause deep cuts. Their forceful kicks can cause significant bruising and internal injuries.
Most recently, an Australian man was killed by a kangaroo that he was keeping as a “pet” in 2022.
9. Leopards
Leopards are some of the most beautiful big cats in the world and their coats are the inspiration for many fashion trends.
While leopards are typically the least likely to attack a human out of all the ‘big game’ species of Africa, they still can – especially when protecting their young.
In the 1900s, there was a terrifying leopard that was known to have attacked and killed over 100 adults and children in Rudraprayag, India. It was eventually shot and killed.
10. Leopard Seals
With their cute little noses, soulful eyes, and adorable “smiles”, you may be surprised to find out that leopard seals can be very dangerous.
Attacks on humans by leopard seals are rare, but in 2003 a leopard seal caused the death of a marine biologist.
There have also been a few historical encounters between humans and leopard seals that turned dangerous.
11. Lions
With films such as The Lion King (1994 & 2019) and Madagascar (2005), it’s hard not to fall in love with lions and their majestic faces.
However, lions are responsible for 250 human deaths per year, most of which occur in Tanzania.
It’s no wonder lions can be considered dangerous – their powerful bodies and sharp claws are the perfect combination to make them superb hunters.
12. Moose
The average moose does not share the personality with Bullwinkle J Moose from the beloved series (1959-1964, 2018-2019), and subsequent films (2000 & 2014), of Rocky & Bullwinkle.
Moose can be aggressive and have been involved in attacks on humans, though few of these attacks result in death. An attack by a moose can occur if the moose are provoked or harassed, or if they are particularly tired.
However, vehicles are often involved with collisions caused by moose. Around 440 deaths and 59,000 injuries are caused by vehicle collisions with deer and moose in the US every year.
13. Poison Dart Frogs
With their brightly colored skin and teeny-tiny bodies, it’s hard not to find these frogs among the most adorable in the world.
However, these frogs are considered one of the world’s most toxic creatures. One poison dart frog has enough toxin to kill 20,000 mice.
Incredibly, if a human were to just brush their skin against one of these colorful cuties, it could end up being a fatal encounter.
14. Polar Bears
Polar bears are often seen as the iconic symbol of the world’s Arctic. Their gleaming white fur and dark eyes can make anyone fall in love with them.
Don’t let their adorable appearance fool you – they can be deadly. As the largest bears in the world, their powerful bodies and sharp claws and teeth, make them the perfect hunters.
Polar bear attacks on humans are relatively rare, with only 73 documented attacks between 1870-2014, with 20 proving fatal.
15. Pufferfish
Films like Finding Nemo (2003) and The Little Mermaid (1989 & 2023) have given a rather cute persona to the pufferfish.
If their spikes are not enough to deter a potential predator, pufferfish also contain a deadly toxin. In fact, the toxin contained in one pufferfish is enough to kill up to 30 humans – and there is no known antidote.
You may be surprised to learn then that pufferfish is an expensive delicacy in Japan, known as fugu.
16. Raccoons
Often called “trash pandas” and “snack bandits”, raccoons have an element of cuteness with their little-masked faces.
However, raccoons are typically branded as pests and can even be deadly. Many raccoons carry rabies, which if passed onto a human through a bite, is fatal with no cure.
Raccoons can also carry roundworm and leptospirosis.
17. Rats
While their adorability level is certainly arguable, rats such as Remy from Ratatouille (2007) certainly help with their image.
Whether you find rats cute or not, they can be very deadly. We only need to refer to the Black Death pandemic of mid-1300s Europe.
At the time, it was unknown that rats were responsible for the transmission of the bubonic plague through the fleas they carried.
The Black Death was responsible for killing 30-50% of the population of Europe. While the bubonic plague is a thing of the past, rats can still carry many other diseases, such as leptospirosis.
18. Slow Lorises
Wide-eyed and fluffy, slow lorises are nocturnal primates found in South and South East Asia.
While they may look like the perfect snuggle buddy, slow lorises can bite and those bites can be fatal.
These primates are one of the few venomous mammals; their venom can cause anaphylactic shock or death (if left untreated) in humans. Typically, slow lorises do not bite humans though, but rather each other.
Cute or Deadly? A Difficult Dicernment
So, next time you’re reading Big Bear, Little Bear, or watching The Lion King (1994 & 2019), remember those versions of the animals you are seeing are not necessarily accurate representations.
Many of the most adorable animals can have a dark side, too – luckily, we don’t often see it.
Caitriona Maria is an education writer and owner of The Facts Institute. A teacher for seven years, she has been committed to providing students with the best learning opportunities possible, both domestically and abroad. Dedicated to unlocking students' potential, Caitriona has taught English in several countries and continues to explore new cultures through her travels.