New York A Top-5 State In Deaths Caused By Exotic Animals

NEW YORK — New York has had the fifth most human fatalities caused by exotic animals with five since 1990, according to a study by All About Cats.

An elephant crushed a man at a circus in 1993. Other exotic animal fatalities in New York have been caused by a deer, nilgai antelope, and two reptiles, according to All About Cats.

The study defined exotic animals as those that are "rare, not usually native to the country and often rather thought of as wild animals than pets."

New York and Illinois are tied for fifth in the United States at five deaths each. Florida is No. 1, with 16 deaths, Pennsylvania second with eight, Texas third with seven, and California fourth with six.

Big cats — including various species of tiger, lion, cougar, and jaguar — have caused the most fatalities among exotic animals across 12 different states.

The study differentiated exotic animals and native animals.

"[Native animals] are animals that are indigenous to the U.S., meaning, naturally occurring and as such have not been brought here," the study wrote. "Just as with the previous exotic animals, keeping many of these indigenous animals in the States as a pet is not recommended or safe, domesticated animals are always a better choice in this respect."

Florida again took the first spot in deaths caused by native animals with 68 — the majority caused by alligators, according to All About Cats.

Other animals native to the United States, according to the study, are bears, cougars, sharks, snakes, dogs, and wolves.

As of 2018, mosquitos were estimated to be responsible for 750,000 human deaths per year, making them, by far, the most dangerous animal in the world.