One could say the jaguar is the most dangerous of them all, since it’s the apex predator of the region and the true king of the jungle, since lions don’t live in rainforests and tigers solely live in Asia.
But here’s the thing: unlike what currently happens in lion, tiger and leopard cases, there have been few to no accounts of jaguar attacks on humans, and thus the species is not prone to become a man-eater. In fact, the few jaguar attacks on people that have occurred were not for food purposes, but solely for self-defense, protection of cubs and territorial behavior. Nevertheless, despite being the top of the food chain in the region, jaguars don’t or seldom pose a threat to wandering people.
In fact, the real dangers that lurk within the depths of the Amazon jungle are actually the following:
– The bullet ant, which has one hell of a nasty sting, described as causing “waves of burning, throbbing, all-consuming pain that continues unabated for up to 24 hours”.
– Various species of venomous snakes (mind you, serpents, both venomous and non-venomous, are found all over the world, so if you have a phobia of snakes, don’t dream of finding a place on earth, except the North and South Poles, without snakes; thus said, why would a jungle like the Amazon be any different?), the deadliest of which is the South American Lancehead (see above).
– The Brazilian wandering spider, which has a venom that can cause intense pain, resulting if untreated in paralysis and difficulty in breathing.
– The giant centipede, the largest of its kind, capable of over-powering mice as well as other invertebrates like tarantulas.
– The boa constrictor. Despite lacking venom, it nevertheless must be approached with caution, otherwise you’ll be subject to a painful bite (constrictors possess sharp teeth that can cut through flesh like knives).
– The vampire bat. Normally, it feeds on the blood of cattle, pigs, goats and horses, and very rarely feeds on human blood. However, if they do feed on human blood, the real danger is when the feeding bat carries rabies.
– The poison dart frog, whatever the color. Indeed, various species of this type of frog secrete deadly toxins through their flesh, which can prove fatal to the unfortunate who attempt to touch it or eat it. Their bright coloration is a warning as if to say, “Touch me and you’re dead.” Their poison, if absorbed in large amounts, can cause heart failure within minutes. Hence, a friend of mine once told me that these frogs are the most poisonous animals on earth, far more poisonous than snakes and spiders themselves.
Just when you thought it was safe going back to the water, the river is home to even deadlier creatures:
– The black caiman, the largest of the caiman subspecies. Like all crocodilians, it will readily feed on any animal unfortunate enough to cross its path, including ourselves. When on the hunt, it will grab the victim with its powerful jaws and drown it; and if the prey is too big to be swallowed whole, it will then go to the traditional crocodilian death roll, which can rip an entire pig to pieces.
– The bull shark, the only species of shark that can survive in freshwater. Since it often dwells in shallow water, this shark can be found in many types of habitats, including the Amazon river. It’s territorial by nature, and easily provoked. Hence, the bull shark is among the most dangerous of shark species to humans, alongside the tiger shark and the notorious great white.
– The red-bellied piranha. Despite its reputation as a dangerous carnivore, it’s actually a scavenger, and will mainly eat plants and insects during the rainy season when food is abundant. It also tends to only feed on weak, injured, dying or dead animals. Red-bellied piranhas do not stay in groups in order to pack-hunt for larger animals, but instead shoal for protection against predators, like caimans and river dolphins. Nevertheless, when they attack humans, their assaults can be fatal, often only resulting in multiple cuts on your hands and feet.
– The electric eel. This fish, which isn’t actually an eel despite its name, often uses small amounts of electricity to stun its prey before swallowing it whole, but when threatened, it can release larger amounts (and keep on releasing for minutes until electricity is depleted). A caiman would be vulnerable, and many people have suffered from shocks, even when they were accidentally stumbling upon the fish, though death only occurs when multiple shocks are unleashed, or when the victim is too paralyzed to move.
– And finally, the most dangerous of all, the green anaconda, the world’s heaviest snake. Lurking in the dark water (where it moves stealthily, in contrast to being sluggish on land), it waits for its unsuspecting prey; once locked onto a target, it will strike without warning, grabbing the victim with its powerful, knife-like teeth, and then embracing it in its deadly coils, so to speak. Any animal can be on the menu: capybara, wild boars, monkeys, birds, mice and rats, jaguars, caimans, and occasionally humans, in which case the victim will need a lot of effort to escape its coils. Another thing: the giant ones are females, which you must watch out for, while the males are very small, but still can put a fight with their teeth.
All of these creepy crawlers will make you wanna reconsider going to the jungle, especially the Amazon rainforest.
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