Very few species of animals deliberately and regularly hunt humans as prey. However, under certain circumstances, some large predators may perceive humans as victims.
Below are the most likely of them.
Lions: In certain regions, such as southern Tanzania, there are known cases where lions, especially young or injured ones, begin to deliberately hunt humans. This may be related to a lack of their natural prey.
Polar bears: For a hungry adult male polar bear, especially under stress due to food shortages, a human can become a target for hunting. Such attacks are rare but extremely dangerous.
Crocodiles (primarily Nile and saltwater crocodiles): Although they more often act as opportunistic predators, attacking prey that finds itself in the water, there are known individuals that begin to systematically hunt humans and may even attack boats.
It is important to understand that the overwhelming majority of animal attacks on humans are acts of self-defense, protection of offspring, or territorial conflict, rather than deliberate hunting. Statistically, the chances of being killed by another human are incomparably higher than dying at the hands or jaws of a wild animal.
