10 Notorious Animals Who Became Serial Killers
The Man-Eaters of Tsavo
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In 1898, construction workers on the Kenya-Uganda Railway had more than just the weather to contend with. Based in the Tsavo region of Kenya, the workers were picked off by two maneless male lions. They struck at night, dragging workers from their tents to feed on. At one point, the lions were attacking daily. The workers tried many measures to scare them off, such as lighting fires, but nothing seemed to work - the big cats just kept coming. Eventually, Lieutenant-Colonel John Henry Patterson led a group of Indian Sepoys in successfully hunting the lions. Patterson then had the lions’ turned into rugs. From March to December, the Man-Eaters of Tsavo are said to have claimed around 135 victims.
The Man-Eating Shark of the Jersey Shore
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This string of incidents are said to be responsible for making the US collectively wary of sharks. In July 1916, New Jersey was experiencing a heatwave, perfect for going into the sea to cool down. But some soon regretted that decision. Even after the first shark attack, the beaches stayed open. After twelve days, there were five victims, with only one surviving. It’s debatable whether a pack or a lone shark was responsible. As for the species, it’s suspected to have been a great white or a bull shark. The government began catching hundreds of sharks across the East Coast in retaliation as panic gripped the nation. While one Michael Schleisser claimed he’d slain the infamous Jersey shark, others disagree he caught the right one.
Osama bin Laden the Elephant
With a name like that, you already know this elephant lived in infamy. Osama wreaked havoc near a jungle area within the state of Assam, India. Starting in 2004, the tuskless Asian elephant began his warpath against humans. On top of destroying houses, he also trampled people. Over his rampage, Osama took the lives of at least twenty-seven people, fourteen of which within the span of six months. Unlike most elephants, Osama wasn’t afraid of fire or firecrackers, and local villagers had little to fight the creature with. By December 2006, the government had enough and sent in hunters, who soon tracked Osama and shot him. Since then, there’ve been several rogue elephants that have also shared the name.
Tilikum the Killer Whale
Tilikum, nicknamed “Tilly,” was stationed at various theme parks across North America. And he caused multiple people to lose their lives. In 1991, Keltie Byrne, who worked with Tilly, fell into his tank and was dragged under the water. In 1999, Daniel P. Dukes snuck into SeaWorld Orlando in Florida. His body was found in Tilly’s tank the next morning. In 2010, Dawn Brancheau was the trainer of the orca. After finishing a show, Tilly grabbed her and pulled her under the water. Following this, SeaWorld implemented safety procedures to avoid more incidents but continued having Tilly perform until he passed away in 2017. Tilikum was even the focal point of the 2013 documentary “Blackfish,” which examined the psychological damage he sustained in captivity.
The Sankebetsu Brown Bear
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In 1915, a brown bear came out of hibernation and went on a rampage, causing the deadliest attack of its kind in Japan’s history. Located in the Rumoi Subprefecture on the island of Hokkaidō, the reign of terror began in December. The bear arrived at the Ōta family house in the settlement of Sankebetsu Rokusen-sawa. With two people present, neither survived. While locals went searching for the bear, it managed to elude them. Even with guards stationed, the bear attacked the Miyouke family house next. It caused several people to perish in the attack. Soon, officials got involved and organized a hunting party. The bear was eventually tracked and shot. In just five days, it had taken the lives of seven people.
The Beast of Gévaudan
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In the summer of 1764, a violent spree of an animal began in the former province of Gévaudan in France. This creature’s deeds eventually kickstarted a mammoth and costly operation by the kingdom to stop it. And several times, they hunted and slayed the animal they believed was responsible. But the attacks continued. In the space of three years, there were up to 610 attacks on humans, around 500 of which were fatal. With this much violence, it was theorized that the attacks could be the result of a pack. But many believe one creature was responsible. Typically described as a wolf, the apparent culprit was shot by a hunter in 1767, and the attacks ceased. Regardless, the beast has gone down in French lore.
The Lions of Njombe
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In 1932, the residents of Njombe in Tanzania lived in fear of an ultra-aggressive pack of fifteen lions. And it was all started by the British, who ruled the country at the time. They had attempted to wipe out the rinderpest virus by destroying livestock and other local animals like zebras and antelopes. Lacking food, the lions attacked humans as starvation took hold. They reportedly adapted from typical lion hunting methods and became more proficient at their offenses. By 1947, an estimated 1,500 people had perished from the lions’ attacks. So, George Gilman Rushby, a hunter and game warden, was called in to put an end to the pride, which he successfully did.
Gustave the Crocodile
Just one crocodile in Burundi has caused massive fear in the people of the African country. After all, this beast has been slaying humans for decades. Gustave is a Nile crocodile that’s believed to be over eighteen feet in length and weigh 2,000 pounds. Due to his massive size, scientists believe Gustave has to attack larger prey like humans rather than more agile animals. He’s easily identified from the various scars across his body with unknown origins. Even after numerous attempts to capture him, Gustave is still free to haunt the Ruzizi River and Lake Tanganyika, although there are rumors of his demise. It’s believed Gustave has taken the lives of up to 300 people, and he’s gone down in the country’s folklore.
The Leopard of Panar
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In the early 1900s, the isolated residents of the Panar region in Kumaon, India, found themselves being stalked by a unique leopard. He was bold in his attacks, often creeping into people’s homes at night. And due to locals not having access to firearms and weapons, the leopard was in his hunting element. Over his reign of terror, the leopard was reportedly responsible for slaying up to 400 people. The deeds of the leopard eventually reached the legendary hunter and later conservationist Jim Corbett. By 1910, Corbett laid a trap with a goat as he waited in a tree. However, the leopard wasn’t interested in the easy animal. Instead, it went for Corbett, who injured the leopard before killing it the next day.
The Champawat Tiger
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A Bengal Tigress caused so much mayhem that even professional hunters and an army failed to stop her reign of terror. According to reports, the tiger started its human attacks in Nepal before traveling to the Kumaon division in India, striking at villages along the way during the day. Her favored targets were lone people that went into forests for firewood. Jim Corbett was brought in to hunt the tiger in 1907. He followed a trail left by the feline’s last victim, but it managed to escape. Corbett then gathered villagers for a mass search party. The tiger charged at Corbett, who shot it several times. His final bullet was the one that ended the tigress, who was responsible for slaying 436 people.
