Throughout history an average wild animal has had the ability to kill an average human being so how did we as a species not only survive but ended up on the top of the food chain?

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Throughout history an average wild animal has had the ability to kill an average human being so how did we as a species not only survive but ended up on the top of the food chain?

In: Biology

36 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

As an animal we’re really well adapted to kill other animals.

We are the only animal which can throw well enough to kill prey (though technically there are fish which shoot water at insects, and chameleons throw their tongues etc, but talking to larger animals here):

https://theconversation.com/how-humans-became-the-best-throwers-on-the-planet-131189

We are the best animal at running long distances:

https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg23231031-300-humans-are-better-endurance-runners-than-any-other-animal/

Though we don’t hunt with biting, our bites are one of the most infectious, so probably not an ideal target for other animals of prey:

https://medicinetoday.com.au/mt/2017/november/feature-article/human-and-animal-bites-managing-and-preventing-infection

This is before you add in our social structures and intelligence, which means we’ll likely be in groups, create weapons and design traps.

Add it all together and we’re very dangerous. For example, tigers and bears are very strong and will kill a human 1v1 if they want to. But other humans will later track the dangerous tiger or bear. The tiger and bear won’t be able to outrun the humans. The humans will follow them, throw weapons from a distance, and/or create traps. Even if the tiger or bear kills several more people, they’ll be killed before they are able to kill a whole tribe.

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