Humans – Nature Noon

Human vs. Tiger: Can a Human Survive?

Here’s whether a human can survive a fight with a tiger: Despite the slim chances, a human can survive a fight with a tiger if their luck is in their favor. Therefore, it is safer to avoid getting into a fight with a tiger altogether. Once the animal starts engaging, you are pretty much toast. So if you want to learn all about whether and how a human can survive a fight with a tiger, then this article is for you. Let’s jump right in! Can a Human Survive a Fight With a Tiger? A human can survive a fight with a tiger if luck is in his/her favor, but the chances are very slim. The safer option is to avoid getting into a fight with a tiger altogether. Once the animal decides to engage, you are about as good as dead. Weapons and tools provide about the only real chance for a human to survive a tiger attack. Hand-to-hand combat is very unlikely to go well for a person. Firearms will scare off a tiger with the noise alone. Pepper spray can also do the trick if you start spraying while the tiger is at a good distance. Firecrackers might come in handy. Lighting a few of them makes tigers flee the spot because it sounds like a gun battle is on. Never think of a sick, injured, very old, or very young tiger as something less dangerous than an adult, healthy one. All tigers are fierce killers. Disabled tigers may have less ability to hunt big animals, but humans are still a little match for them in direct combat. How Many People Have Been Killed by Tigers? Around 373,000 people have been killed by tigers between the years 1800 and 2009. Most of the attacks happened in Southeast Asia, Nepal, and India. An average of 1,700 people are killed by tigers every year. How to Survive a Tiger Attack? Your best chance of surviving a tiger attack is spotting the predator before it spots you. In any case, you need to stay motionless and quiet. Any movement will alert the animal and turn its predatory attention to you. The worst thing you can do is panic. How can one avoid panicking when threatened by a tiger attack, you ask? Well, not easily, that’s for sure. However, staying calm will increase your odds of survival. Inhaling deeply and closing your eyes for a second might help you lower your anxiety, even for a little bit. Panic tends to make people engage in a fight or flight response. Either of those reactions will encourage the tiger to attack you. Once you’ve taken that moment to calm yourself, start backing away slowly without making eye contact. Don’t turn away or show your back to a tiger. You only make yourself a more appealing target that way. You can start running in the opposite direction as soon as the animal is out of your sight. Until then, keep facing it. Avoiding a Tiger Attack With Another Person If a parent were to see their child attacked by a tiger, their first instinct would be to step in front of their son or daughter and shield them with their own body. That instinct might not be the best solution, unfortunately. Experts think that putting your child on your shoulders might make you look more intimidating to the tiger by making you look bigger. The same rule applies if you are with another adult and if either can hold the other one on their shoulders. Any action that makes you look bigger is beneficial in this situation. Stand tall, puff yourself up, and hope the tiger perceives you as a large threat. Doing the opposite, such as crouching or sitting, will encourage the wild cat to come running in your direction. Keep Yourself Clean A natural (albeit embarrassing) response in a situation of extreme fear or happiness is for a person to pee his or her pants. When you are near a wild tiger, however, you must do everything in your power to hold your urine in your bladder. Tigers are very attracted to the smell of urine. They also might think you are trying to mark your territory and perceive the urinating as an act of aggression. In this case, a simple pee is a thing that can get you killed. Keep a Safe Distance From Captive Tigers Nowadays there are more tigers in captivity than there are tigers living in the wild. Despite what you might see on social media and TV, tigers can never become reliable pets. That’s why you should always keep your distance from tigers. Don’t try to pet them. Simply enjoy their beauty with your eyes only. Fight Back If there is no chance of remaining hidden, and the tiger looks ready to attack you, then you need to fight back. Lying on the ground and playing dead won’t work with this particular animal. It will only make you an easy meal. If the tiger caught you in its grips, try to stick your hand in its mouth to trigger a gagging reflex. This reflex stops the animal from biting. The good news is that tigers are more afraid of humans than they are of just about anything else, including lions. Chances are that you won’t need to use your hand in that manner. Can I Escape From a Tiger if I Jump in the Water? Even though it’s a popular belief that all cats fear water, tigers are excellent swimmers that willingly go into the water to cool themselves off. Jumping into the water to save yourself from a tiger won’t do you much good. What would happen if you did jump into water? Well, first of all, the tiger will jump towards you and practically crush you beneath its weight. They can jump at distances of over 33 feet (10 meters). Even if you went far, the tiger can cross as much as 18 miles …

What Can a Mantis Shrimp Do to a Human: Can It Hurt a Human?

Animals

Mantis Shrimp vs. Human: What Can a Mantis Shrimp Do To a Human?

Here’s what a mantis shrimp can do to a human and whether it can hurt them: A mantis shrimp’s powerful punch can hurt humans. A shrimp can land before a person even realizes it is there because its strike is so quick. Shrimp punches cause deep wounds and lacerations with rounded edges. There is almost always a loss of tissue after a mantis strike and heavy bleeding. So if you want to learn all about what a mantis shrimp can do to a human, then this article is for you. Let’s jump right in! What Can a Mantis Shrimp Do to a Human? A mantis shrimp can hurt humans with its powerful punch. The shrimp’s strike is so fast that it can land before a person even knows the animal is there. The shrimp’s punches leave deep wounds and lacerations with rounded shapes. After a mantis strike there is almost always a loss of local tissue along with heavy bleeding. Fishermen attacked by mantis shrimp say that it hurts terribly to get punched or pierced by them. Fishermen fear mantis shrimp and are very cautious because of the many anecdotal reports of these marine animals injuring humans. Have There Been Reports of Humans Getting Injured by Mantis Shrimp? There have been a few reports of people getting into fishing accidents with mantis shrimp. Luckily, none of them were lethal or too serious. However, some people did have to get professional medical help because of the intense pain and the bleeding. One case was a 50-year-old fisherman that tried to remove the animal from the hook of his fishing rod. The mantis shrimp used its tail to strike the man in the arm, causing pain and bleeding. The mantis shrimp’s tail, however, is actually the thing that causes the least damage. Two fishermen from Brazil were injured by mantis shrimp they found in their fishing nets. When trying to get the shrimp out of the nets, the fishermen received stinging strikes from the animals. One of the fishermen rinsed the wound with soap and water and saw it heal in one week. The other fisherman left the wound unattended and suffered the injury for weeks. Some people have been injured by accidentally stepping on mantis shrimp. Because the animals camouflage themselves by burrowing into holes, they are quite easy to step on. Doctors that have treated people attacked by mantis shrimp say that a course of antibiotics and wound-cleaning promote faster healing. Has a Person Ever Been Killed by a Mantis Shrimp? No, a person has never been that severely injured by a mantis shrimp to die. Even though mantis shrimp injuries are painful and severe, they have never killed a human. A human can die if they are allergic to mantis shrimp and suffer anaphylactic shock after eating one. Choking on a mantis shrimp could also be fatal. What Animal Has the Most Powerful Punch in the Animal Kingdom? The animal with the most powerful punch in the world is the mantis shrimp. It generates approximately the same force as a 22-caliber bullet that has just exited a gun barrel. How Do Mantis Shrimp Hunt? Mantis shrimp are carnivorous animals, which means they eat exclusively meat. According to their hunting style, they can be divided into two hunter categories: Smashers Spearers Smasher and spearer mantis shrimps aren’t different species of animals. They are just specimens from the same species that prefer two different forms of attack. Smasher Mantis Shrimp As the name indicates, the smashers have blunt clubs on their raptorial arms. The term “raptorial arm” is pretty much the same as the term “predatory arm.” It describes how the forelegs of some arthropods are modified to grasp their victims while they consume them. Smasher mantis shrimp use the clubs to smash and open crabs, clams, oysters, and other creatures with hard shells. When they strike, the smashers move their arms at speeds of up to 45 miles per hour (20 meters per second). The mantis shrimp punches with 200 pounds (91 kilograms) of force. Its arms move so fast that they practically tear the water apart. When punching, mantis shrimp create something called “cavitation.” Cavitation is when watery areas with low pressure are vaporized into bubbles that almost instantly collapse. The collapse is characterized by a burst of sound, heat, and light. The heat of the punch can reach 8500°F (4700°C). How hot is that, do you ask? Well, it’s approximately 5–10 thousand times hotter than the sun’s surface. Boat engineers pay a lot of attention to this phenomenon when they are designing boat propellers. Cavitation bubbles have the power to tear holes through metal propellers, as well. Smashers leave their burrows more frequently than spearer shrimp do. They seek out sedentary prey and settle the beef face to face by smashing their opponent’s armor and exposing the tasty, soft interiors. Spearer Mantis Shrimp Spearers ambush their prey. Fish species with soft skin fall victim to spear attacks. The fish aren’t nearly fast enough to escape the quick bursts of punching speed executed by mantis shrimp. Spearers have barbed spears on the end of their arms. They surprise their prey and release the spears surprisingly fast. Even though spearers plenty fast enough to put food on their mantis tables, their attacks are slower than the attacks of smashers. A fast spearer mantis species can deliver a spear attack at around 13 miles per hour (6 meters per second). Scientists discovered that smaller spearers are faster than larger ones. Still, even the smallest mantis spearer doesn’t come close to the speed of the average smasher. Uropods What both spearers and smashers have in common are their uropods. Uropods are structures in the tails of mantis shrimps that make their recognizable caudal fans. On each uropod, there is a pair of pointed spikes that the shrimp use as an additional weapon. The top of a mantis shrimp’s tail is called a telson. Researchers discovered that the shrimps use their telsons …

Animals

Why Shouldn’t You Look Into the Eyes of a Lion?

This is why you shouldn’t stare at the eyes of a lion. Do you like when people stare at you? This is how lions feel. So if you want to learn all the details about why you shouldn’t stare at a lion, then you’re in the right place. Let’s dig right in! Just Don’t Stare at Lions Have you ever dreams of going head-to-head with a lion? Are you a hunter desperate for a lion trophy? Are do you want to do what members of the African Maasai tribe used to do? They used to kill the lion for its mane and tail, not for the meat. If any of the above fascinates you or you happen to be a tourist or nature lover, you will want to know what you should do if you face a lion. Therefore, this article will be of great interest to you. Lion Behavior There is a famous military saying that states: “If you know the strengths and weaknesses of your enemy, you have already won the battle.” So before we get into a deep discussion about what you should do if faced with a lion, it is important to know how a lion might behave. Instinctive Fear of Humans According to research studies, it is a fact that lions, along with other wild animals, have an instinctive fear of humans. What this means is they are naturally wary of humans. They know that humans are hunters, and many have seen what humans can do to other animals. So they fear the human voice, smell, and other indicators that might tell them a human is near. There is another study claiming that adult lions have a fear of humans, not their cubs. This is because the cubs haven’t learned to be afraid yet. But, that doesn’t mean you should approach them, as you will see. Lions Are the Least Afraid Among All Cats Although lions have an instinctive wariness of humans, it doesn’t mean that they will start screaming in fear and run away upon seeing you. Instead, they will just avoid you if at all possible. But if you are continuously bothering them, breaching their territory, or being extremely hungry, then be ready to be attacked and possibly become their dinner. If You Have a Sudden Encounter With a Lion A person who sees a lion and doesn’t move away is truly a fool. Yet, when you face a lion, you will see it near you most of the time. Lion’s heart is rather small and inefficient, so they cannot run for a long period of time. So they sneak up on their prey. They are the perfect stalkers, lean-to-earth, almost hidden within waving grasses. They put themselves into a perfect position to camouflage themselves. If a lion has come to hunt you, then you will surely be attacked without much warning. Some Lions Will Attempt a Mock Attack Unlike other big cats such as the jaguar, tiger, leopard, and so forth, lions are famous for attempting 2 or 3 pseudo-attacks. What this means if they make some false attacks on their prey before launching the actual one. Most likely, they do this to feel out their quarry to determine the best approach. Lions Will Try To Avoid Confrontation With Humans According to wildlife experts, a lion will try its best not to confront humans. However, if they feel threatened, they may become aggressive. In other words, you need to do something that provokes them. Otherwise, they will do their best to avoid you. Your Chances of Survival Are Slim Although there have been incidences where people have managed to kill the lion that attacked them, that kind of outcome is rare. However, if you are not well armed or don’t belong to the Maasai tribe and know how to deal with lions, you have only a tiny chance of survival. So don’t go into battle against them. Running Away From a Lion Is Not an Option The most common response of humans to any sudden threat is to run away from it. But, unfortunately, this doesn’t work in the case of lions. Don’t even think about running away from a lion. They can run faster than you. Your job is to slowly retreat. When Not to Look Into a Lion’s Eyes Lions are not our enemies. They will not attack us unless: They are hungry enough. They are irritated by our presence. They feel threatened, especially when if there are cubs around. They are in a romantic mood, and they want some privacy. When they are already in an aggressive mood because it’s breeding season, the particular lion has been in a recent fight, it is sick, or just plain angry. Don’t Stare at Lions, Even From a Distance Think about it. Do you like people staring at you? It’s annoying, isn’t it? That’s just how the lions feel. Even with full tummies and half-closed eyes, they are still monitoring their territory. When you suddenly appear and stare at them as if you claim that territory, it will surely annoy them, and they might decide to chase you away or attack. Don’t Stare at Lions When They Are With Their Cubs Humans don’t like their family time interrupted, so why would you think lions would enjoy being disturbed by you. Their job is to protect their family. So, if you bother them, they may bother you to protect their babies. Don’t Stare at Lions When They Are Breeding In the animal world, breeding time, by its very nature, is a time of aggression and demonstrations of power. They are already pretty stoked up and eager for a fight, so don’t do something stupid and provoke them. Just avoid it. Just walk away or retreat slowly, so you don’t ruin their version of romance. Don’t Stare at Lions When It Is Staring Back It is the habit of cats to focus on everything coming into their frame of reference. They try to figure out whether it is prey, …

Animals

Are Sea Lions Dangerous To Humans?

This is whether sea lions are dangerous to humans. In short: they can. So if you want to learn all the details about whether sea lions are dangerous to humans, then you’re in the right place. Let’s jump right in! Sea Lions Can Be Dangerous to Humans The animosity between humans and animals is called the human-wildlife conflict (HWC). It happens when animals cause a substantial direct or recurring danger to the safety and livelihood of humans. The phenomenon happens predominantly on land, but occurrences in the ocean are also a possibility. It often results in the persecution of that species and its associated actions. Human-animal interaction had led to the extinction or domestication of animal species in the past. But humans have learned to interact with animals in many different ways. As a result, perhaps the richest biodiversity of animal species is present in the ocean. Can you imagine a creature strong enough to cause trouble to humans in the sea? It is not difficult to imagine that it is a reality. Let us have an introduction to one such giant—sea lions. What Are Sea Lions? Sea lions are a species of mammals found in the biological classification Order of Pinnipedia, also known as pinnipeds. The word comes from Latin, where pinna means “fin” and pedis means “foot.” Therefore, any animal found in this Order has finned feet. Some people like to call them feather foot or wing foot animals. Animals that fall under this Order include walruses (family Odobenidae), true seals or seals without ears (family Phocidae), and eared seals such as sea lions and fur seals (family Otariidae). A sea lions’ Family name is literally “little ears.” If you look closely, you can see little ears on both sea lions and fur seals. We call the babies of sea lions pups. And just like with humans, sea lion moms give birth to only one pup at a time. Twins do happen, but rarely. As with all mammals, they are nursed by their mom for about 6 to 12 months. Sea lions have a life span of around 20-30 years. And they can get big! Females can weigh between 200-400 pounds (90-180 kg.) and grow to about 2.5 ft. (75 cm.) long. Males are even bigger, roughly 600-800 pounds (270-360 kg.), and can grow up to 8 ft. (2.4 m.) long! There are six distinct species of sea lions, which are identified by their own characteristics, lifestyle, dietary habits, and behaviors. Much like seals, they can survive both in water and on land. Sadly, they are associated with deadly attacks on humans. Before moving towards their interaction with humans, let us briefly overview six key species of sea lions. Steller’s Sea Lion (Eumetopias Jubatu) They are sometimes called northern sea lions. They are the largest sea lion species. Sexual dimorphism is very prominent in this group. What dimorphism means is that males are large than females. For example, adult males can be three times larger than adult females of the same age. The male’s necks are also glorified with hairs, much like a lion’s mane. All animals of this species are buff to reddish-brown in color. Their length can range from 2.3-3.3 ft. (70-100 cm.) and their weight from 240-1120 pounds (109-508 kg.). Their geographical range extends from the Central Californian coast to the Aleutian Islands and over to the eastern Russian coast and along with Japan’s northern islands and the South Korea coast. California Sea Lion (Zalophus Californianus) The most eye-catching, magnificent sea lions out there are probably the California sea lions. Adult California sea lion females have tan fur, while males have dark brown fur. These sea lions are the ones you are most likely to see at a sea animal show like Sea World. You may wonder why only Californian sea lions are used for shows and entertainment. The answer lies in their behavior and ability to learn. They are extremely intelligent and can learn to respond to a variety of vocal and non-vocal communication signals. Geographically they inhabit rocky and sandy beaches of coastal islands and also the mainland shorelines along the western US, Mexico, and Canada. Females can grow to a maximum length of 6.5 ft. (2 m.) and weigh approximately 242.5 pounds (110 kg) on average. Males are 3-4 times bigger than females and can grow to 8.4 ft. (2.5 m.) and weigh up to 1,153 pounds (523 kg.). Galápagos Sea Lion (Zalophus Wollebaeki) These are the most abundant species of marine mammals found in the Archipelago of the Galápagos. These sea lions are commonly found sleeping on beaches and swimming in close proximity to the shores. The males weigh around 550 pounds (250 kg.) but occasionally can fatten to 900 pounds (408 kg.) while the average weight of females is between 200 and 250 pounds (90-113 kg.). Their necks are thick, and the bulls are particularly thick at the chest and shoulders. In addition, the female body is slimmer and longer as compared to males. These sea lions are commonly found in two key areas off the coast of Ecuador: The Isla de la Plata Galapagos Islands South American Sea Lion (Otaria Flavescens) These sea lions are distinguished from other lions by their wider and shorter muzzle. In addition, their muzzle is dark brown, while the belly is pale gold or dark brown. The sea lions are commonly found along the lower eastern and western coasts of South America and also in the Falkland Islands. Australian Sea Lion (Neophoca Cinerea) These beautiful creatures live in colonies consisting of small populations along the coastline of South and Western Australia. Historically they were hunted for their valuable fur leading to a precipitous drop in population, about 60% over four decades. They are now listed as “endangered” on the endangered species list established under Australian law. Hooker’s Auckland Sea Lion (Phocarctos Hookeri) They are also called Hooker’s Sea Lion or even New Zealand sea lion, which is where they live. They have sexual dimorphism. Adult females (called rāpoko in …

Animals

How Does Wasp Spray Work?

This is about how wasp spray works. Best NOT use any wasp spray in the sense of live and let live. However, if you’re just curious about how wasp spray works, let’s talk. Let’s get right into it! Just Leave Insects Alone Whenever Possible Can insects kill humans? Unfortunately, sometimes they can. Maybe scorpions came first to your mind? How about spiders? Or maybe fire ants? Although mosquitoes kill millions of people each year by spreading deadly diseases, they are not venomous. In terms of diversity and number, insects are the largest group in the animal kingdom. It is estimated that there are one million ants per one human: 1,000,000:1. Insects can range from the most beneficial, such as bees and silkworms, to the deadliest ones, such as: Brown Recluse Brazilian Wandering Spider Australian Funnel Back Can a Wasp Kill a Human? Wasps are not without purpose. They are both predators and pollinators. For example, fig wasps and other wasps are used as a biological method to control aphids. (An aphid is a tiny pear-shaped insect that destroys green fruit and leaves). Many wasps act as parasitoids to other insects. For example, paper wasps lay eggs in nests of other species. Their larvae take food and shelter away from the young of those species. And, depending upon the type of wasp and the allergic sensitivity of the person, their sting can kill you. For example, in 2013, hornets killed 41 people and injured 1600 in a single attack in China. Wasps and hornets belong to the family Vespidae of the suborder Apocrita of the order Hymenoptera of insects, including ants and bees. Some wasps and hornets are eusocial (live together by making nests), while most are solitary (a single small nest is made by the female only). The eusocial species make nests with multiple combs except for Apoica flavissima, famous for single comb nests. Some wasps make their nests with mud (i.e., the mud dauber). There are over one hundred thousand species of wasps, and they range in size from the Asian giant hornet (5 cm) and tarantula hawk (5 cm) to the smallest chalcid wasp, which is only 0.14 mm in length. Most of them are parasitoids (living at the expense of others), while some are predators (paralyze and kill their prey) and fluid feeders. Wasp can be beneficial if their numbers are few. They keep a check on other insects if the natural biological mechanisms work. But, if their number rise too much, they are considered pests and should be controlled. They usually come out in larger numbers at the end of summer searching for food, and may sting if disturbed. A wasp sting usually won’t hurt you, but can be painful and may cause in very rare cases an anaphylactic shock, which is death due to allergic hypersensitivity. Just leave wasps alone if possible. How Does Wasp Spray Work? It depends upon its composition. Generally, a wasp spray contains: Insecticides Additive agents Foaming agents A base to make a homogenous emulsion Insecticides The main acting agent is the insecticide chemical used in the spray. How your particular spray works depends upon which insecticide is used. The insecticide might be: Contact insecticide or systemic insecticide Repellent or non-repellant It may be toxic to other species or not Any product you buy from the store or make at home may contain one or more of the following agents. The mode of killing action of every group is explained below: Organophosphates In the past, these naturally occurring and synthetic compounds were extensively used in wasp sprays and pesticides. They still make up to 50% of the killing agents in pesticides today. They are potent nerve agents and lethally increase the nervous and muscular activity of the insect. For that purpose, they irreversibly block an enzyme called acetylcholinesterase responsible for the controlled transmission of messages from one neuron to the next at the junction between the two. This enzyme is also present in humans and other animals. Thus, these drugs pose a toxic threat to humans as well. Examples of organophosphates are: Chlorpyrifos Malathion Parathion Carbamates These insecticides work by blocking the same enzymes, but unlike organophosphates, bind reversibly. Examples of carbamates are: Carbofuran Carbaryl Fenobucarb Pyrethroids The most commonly used insecticide agents in modern wasp sprays are pyrethroids. To understand how they work, you need to know a bit about nerve physiology. There are channels in the membranes of neurons called voltage-gated sodium channels, which are responsible for the movement of sodium into the neuron (influx) so that the nerve impulse (the message from the brain to the muscles and other parts of the body) can be conducted. Pyrethroids are very potent excitotoxic agents and act by keeping the voltage-gated sodium channels open. This keeps all the neurons in an excited state, and the whole body of the insect becomes paralyzed, leading to death. Pyrethroids are effective against all insects. But there is a problem: Pyrethroids can be degraded by a particular enzyme present in some insects, thus lowering the efficacy of these chemicals. To prevent this, another agent called piperonyl butoxide is added in wasp sprays containing pyrethroids which block that enzyme. Fortunately, pyrethroids are not toxic to humans. But they can be toxic to aquatic animals like fish. Examples of Pyrithroids include: Allethrins: First synthetic pyrethroid insecticides. Cypermethrin: Used extensively in agriculture fields and livestock to destroy ectoparasites. Permethrin: Widely used but is toxic to bees as well. Phenothrin: Active ingredient of Raid wasp spray. Prallethrin: Main insecticides in many wasp sprays such as Wasp Freeze. Tetramethrin: A white crystalline powder. Tralomethrin: A bromine derivative of pyrethroids. Additive Agents Piperonyl butoxide: The most commonly used additive along with pyrethroids in wasp sprays is piperonyl butoxide that destroys the insect’s built-in mechanism for detoxification. It enhances the efficacy of wasp sprays in terms of duration and intensity of action. Plant oils as insect repellents: Plant oils such as peppermint oil, clove oil, sesame oil, and wintergreen oil can also be added to wasp spray or your homemade insect repellents. Foaming agents: Certain foaming agents are added to some wasps sprays …