Predators have long been a concern of humans. But some predatory animals hold the record for cruelty. They kill not only for food, but also for fun.
Crocodiles and alligators - an unexpected threat
These dangerous reptiles live in muddy rivers. They do not hunt in the literal sense of the word, but simply wait for their prey to come to the watering hole. The wait can last long enough, but crocodiles remain calm for hours, putting only their eyes and nostrils out of the water. When an unsuspecting animal leans towards the water to drink, the predator makes a lightning throw and drags the victim to the bottom. Crocodiles attack not only fragile roe deer and zebras, but even elephants. And how many people died during river crossings is impossible to count.
Legendary crocodile killer two-toed Tom has been a nightmare for the residents of Alabama and Florida for over 20 years, attacking people, cows and horses.
Steppe eagle - cruel bird of prey
These animals have a truly frightening appearance: a long hooked beak, round yellow eyes and a wingspan of more than 2.5 meters. The steppe eagle is a symbol of speed and swiftness. Its amazing vision helps to notice the victim from a bird's eye view and literally fall on it in a few seconds. Also, the eagle loves to wait in ambush for its prey. The main food of this bird is gophers, hamsters and other rodents. Sometimes the eagle is not averse to feasting on a snake, a hare or a marmot.
Shark - Terror of the Pacific Coast
The danger of this predatory fish remained unknown for a long time, until at the beginning of the 20th century one of the sharks attacked vacationers in New Jersey. The predator, who tasted human blood, continued his hunt and kept people in fear for a long time. After some time, the shark was caught, but since then, these predators have a reputation for being killers. Shark cruelty became the main theme of the popular film "Jaws".
Scientists for a long time did not believe in the danger of sharks, and attacks on people were attributed to killer whales and even sea turtles.
Unexpected pet cruelty
According to the latest research by scientists-behavioral scientists, the most cruel and bloodthirsty animal was recognized as a cute and fluffy domestic cat. Surprisingly, this purring creature is actually the perfect killing machine. The cat's claws are sharp and thin, the fangs are directed inward so that the victim does not escape, and the muscles are perfectly developed for long jumps and fast races. Next to her, even a lion, a hyena and a brown bear will seem like cute animals. Domestic cats, living with a person in satiety and contentment, hunt from time to time and bring their owners "souvenirs" in the form of half-strangled mice and birds. These predators kill not for food, but for fun. They can play for hours with a half-dead mouse and, having killed in cold blood, lose interest in it. It's scary to imagine what would happen to people if cats were larger in size.
