We usually hear about animal attacks that happen to hikers, tourists, and other visitors to an area. But it shouldn’t be surprising that most victims are the villagers who live amid potentially dangerous animals all the time. Here is a brief summary of the incidents worldwide in the last few days.
Africa
Hippo sinks family canoe, killing three — DR Congo
A family canoe on Lake Tumba. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
A mother and two of her children died when a hippopotamus reportedly rammed their wooden canoe during a nighttime crossing of Lake Tumba. Four family members were aboard; only one survived.
- Hippo attacks mother and teenage daughter — Kenya
Hippos in Kenya. Photo: Shutterstock
Mary Thandi, 35, and her 15-year-old daughter Esther suffered serious abdominal injuries when a hippopotamus attacked them near the Thiba River in the early evening of October 10.
They were returning home with two other people, who escaped. Both victims were hospitalized. Their current condition is unknown.
- Elephant kills herder looking for goat pasture — Kenya
Elephant, Kenya. Photo: Shutterstock
George Mbae Kalubira, 60, was fatally injured after encountering a wild elephant while searching for pasture for his goats around 5 am.
India
- Professional snake catcher dies from snakebite — Kerala, India
A snake catcher (not the one in this story) with a cobra. Photo: Shutterstock
A snake catcher died after being bitten in southern India. Initial reports in local press did not mention the snake species or how the bite occurred.
- Wild boars attack four people, killing woman — India
Indian wild boar. Photo: Shutterstock
Police said the boars initially attacked the people at the front of the group, then charged the others. The three surviving victims suffered minor injuries.
- Five-year-old dies after snakebite at childcare center — Bihar, India
Ishu Kumar, five, was reportedly bitten on a finger near a hand pump at a local childcare center. His family alleges that staff failed to arrange immediate medical treatment and sent him home. Neighbors later advised taking him for a ritual treatment, but he died.
Angry villagers then blocked a highway with the child’s body, demanding an investigation.
- Woman dies after being treated at three hospitals — Maharashtra, India
Charlette Gonsalves, 51, was bitten by a venomous snake in her kitchen early one morning before sunrise. Her family initially did not recognize the injury as a snakebite.
She was transferred between three hospitals as her condition deteriorated, but died the following morning.
Asia, U.S.
- Snakebite victim vomits blood within 20 minutes — Vietnam
A 44-year-old man was cutting grass near a pond in Đồng Tháp Province when a green snake bit his hand.
According to Vietnamese reporting, he became dizzy within three minutes and began vomiting blood approximately 20 minutes after the bite. He developed serious blood-clotting abnormalities and swelling extending toward his elbow.
Doctors administered antivenom and plasma. He survived.
- Gila monster bite causes fatal medical crisis — Colorado
Gila monster. Photo: Shutterstock
A 34-year-old man was bitten on his hand by one of his two pet Gila monsters. The lizard held on for four to five minutes before his partner managed to dislodge it by spraying it in the face with hand sanitizer.
The victim began vomiting, lost consciousness, and developed severe cardiovascular and neurological complications. He died approximately 83 hours after the bite.
