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Australia is known for its diverse wildlife, but human activity has had a devastating impact on its native animal populations. From 2016 to 2020, 100 million animals were killed, injured, or displaced in Queensland and New South Wales due to deforestation. In addition, bushfires that raged across the country from June 2019 to February 2020 harmed nearly 3 billion animals, including 143 million mammals, 2.46 billion reptiles, 180 million birds, and 51 million frogs. The fires, exacerbated by climate change, caused widespread destruction and displaced entire ecosystems, with scientists warning of the severe consequences for Australia's unique biodiversity.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of animal-related deaths in Australia between 2000 and 2010 | 254 |
| Number of shark attacks in Australia since 1791 | 639 |
| Number of fatal shark attacks in Australia since 1791 | 190 |
| Average number of shark attacks per year since 2010 | 20 |
| Number of people hospitalised annually due to dog attacks in Australia in 1991 | 30,000 |
| Number of animals affected by the Australian bushfires | 3 billion |
| Number of mammals affected by the Australian bushfires | 143 million |
| Number of birds affected by the Australian bushfires | 180 million |
| Number of frogs affected by the Australian bushfires | 51 million |
| Number of reptiles affected by the Australian bushfires | 2.5 billion |
| Number of animals killed, injured or displaced in Queensland and New South Wales due to deforestation between 2016 and 2020 | 100 million |
| Number of animal-related injury deaths across Australia in 2001 | 10 |
| Number of animal-related injury deaths across Australia in 2020 | 6.5 |
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What You'll Learn
Animal attacks in Australia
Australia is known for its diverse wildlife, but some of these animals can pose a threat to humans. From 2000 to 2010, there were 254 reported and confirmed animal-related deaths in the country. Here is a look at some of the most notable animal attacks in Australia.
Sharks
Shark attacks are a well-known danger in Australia, with 639 recorded attacks since 1791, 190 of which were fatal. Since shark netting was introduced in the 1930s, the number of fatalities has decreased, with only one death on a netted beach in New South Wales and no fatalities on netted beaches in Queensland since the 1960s. However, there has been an average of 20 shark attacks per year since 2010, so the risk remains significant.
Crocodiles
Crocodiles are another dangerous predator in Australia. Recent non-fatal crocodile attacks include a 60-year-old man who escaped a crocodile's jaws by stabbing it with a pocket knife and a 32-year-old man who was injured when a 5-metre crocodile jumped into his boat. There were nine recorded crocodile-related deaths in Australia between 2000 and 2010.
Kangaroos
Kangaroos can also be aggressive towards people, and several attacks have been widely reported in the media. In one incident, a 13-year-old boy was injured by a kangaroo on a golf course, leading to a court ruling that the golf course had a duty of care to warn patrons of the risk of kangaroo attacks.
Cassowaries
The cassowary is considered the world's most dangerous bird, with a large nail on its second toe that can sever an arm or eviscerate an abdomen. While recent research has only found one human death from a cassowary attack, there are many records of natives being killed by these birds.
Bees and wasps
While they may seem less intimidating than larger predators, bees and wasps have caused 16 deaths in Australia, the same number as shark-related deaths.
In addition to these specific incidents, it is worth noting that Australia's bushfires have also had a devastating impact on wildlife, with almost 3 billion animals affected, including injury, displacement, and death.
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Bushfires and deforestation
Australia has always experienced bushfires, but the 2019-2020 bushfires were unprecedented in their ferocity, creating their own weather conditions. These fires were intensified by the worsening climate crisis, with rising temperatures and prolonged drought. The fires burned an estimated 19 million hectares of land across Australia, including 12.6 million hectares of forest and woodland in Eastern Australia. The scorched land was prime wildlife habitat and remained charred and smouldering for months afterward.
The impact of the fires on Australia's wildlife was catastrophic, with nearly three billion animals killed or displaced. This figure includes 143 million mammals, 2.46 billion reptiles, 180 million birds, and 51 million frogs. The impact on threatened species is potentially devastating, with seventy nationally threatened species having had at least half of their habitat burned. This includes animals such as the long-footed potoroo and the Kangaroo Island's glossy black cockatoo, as well as koalas, which were already in rapid decline before the fires.
The aftermath of the fires continued to detrimentally impact animal survivors due to starvation, lack of shelter, and predator attacks, particularly from feral cats. The impact also includes increased predation risk and conflict with other animals after fleeing to unburnt forests. The fires also burned more soil than usual, removing essential nutrients from the soil that are necessary for recovery.
Human interferences, such as land clearing and habitat removal, as well as a lack of urgent political action on climate change, will likely hamper the recovery of affected areas. The Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 recently underwent a review, and there are concerns that protections will be weakened in the name of development. Since the Act came into force, more than 7.6 million hectares of habitat have been destroyed.
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Shark attacks
Since 1990, there have been 186 reported incidents of shark attacks in Australia. Within these attacks, there have been 57 incidents where the species of shark was identified, 13 with no identification, and 117 incidents with no identification but with enough information to assume a species. The white shark, bull shark, and tiger shark are the three species responsible for fatal shark attacks in Australia, with 48% of reported attacks since 1990 perpetrated by these species. White sharks have seen an increase in shark attack incidents over the past two decades, rising from 24 to 55 reported attacks.
The annual average of shark attacks in Australia has increased from nine bites per year between 1990 and 2000 to 22 bites per year from 2010 to 2020. This rise in shark bites is a topic of debate among researchers. One hypothesis attributes the increase to the growing human population in coastal areas and the rise in water-based activities such as surfing and diving. Environmental factors, such as variations in water temperature, reduced water clarity, and climate change, are also considered potential contributors.
To reduce the risk of shark attacks, the Australian Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts has recommended several precautions. These include avoiding swimming far from the shore, at the mouth of a river, or near drop-offs to deeper water. Other suggestions are to refrain from swimming in dirty water, alone or with domestic animals, near people fishing, or at dusk or night.
It is important to note that while shark attacks can be frightening, they are relatively rare. The total number of unprovoked shark bites worldwide is extremely low, and there are many other dangers, such as motor vehicle accidents, that pose a greater threat to humans.
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Crocodile attacks
Crocodiles are one of the most well-known predators of humans, with the Nile crocodile and saltwater crocodile being responsible for most fatal and non-fatal attacks. In Australia, saltwater crocodiles are the most common culprits of crocodile attacks.
There have been several fatal crocodile attacks in Australia in recent years. In April 2024, a 16-year-old boy was killed while swimming off a Queensland island. This was the third fatal crocodile attack in Australia that year. In August 2024, a 40-year-old man from New South Wales was fishing in the Annan River in Queensland when he fell into the river and was attacked by a crocodile. His body was not recovered.
In addition to these recent incidents, there have been several other fatal crocodile attacks in Australia over the years. In 2001, a German student was killed by a saltwater crocodile while swimming in Kakadu National Park. In 2005, a British engineer was killed by a saltwater crocodile while snorkelling off Picnic Beach. In 2006, a medical professor was pulled underwater by a crocodile on a wildlife tour of the Limpopo River. In 2007, a 9-year-old Chinese child was killed in a crocodile pool at a holiday resort. In 2009, an 11-year-old girl was killed by a crocodile while swimming with friends at a lagoon in the Northern Territory. In 2016, a woman was taken by a crocodile during a late-night swim at Thornton Beach in Daintree National Park.
While crocodile attacks are frightening, it is important to remember that they are generally avoidable. Taking precautions such as avoiding swimming in known crocodile habitats, staying away from the water's edge, and not feeding crocodiles can significantly reduce the risk of an attack.
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Horse-related injuries
Horseback riding is a popular sport and recreational activity in Australia, but it comes with inherent risks. Riders can suffer injuries of varying severity, and these injuries often require hospitalisation. In fact, horseback riding has the highest mortality rate of all sports, with a death rate of approximately 1 per million populations per year in South Africa.
The likelihood of horse-related injuries increases with the amount of time spent riding. Inexperienced riders are more prone to accidents, but more experienced riders may attempt more challenging activities that also increase the risk of injury. Data from a study of Canadian adults admitted to a trauma centre for severe horse-related injuries revealed that the average riding experience was 27 years.
To mitigate the risks, it is recommended that riders wear protective gear, especially helmets, which have been shown to reduce head injuries and fatalities. Despite these recommendations, many riders still engage in horse-related activities without adequate protection, exposing themselves to severe injuries.
In Australia, a study found that 73% of riders reported helmet use. While this may seem encouraging, it is important to note that helmet usage rates vary across different countries and regions. For example, in a European context, children in Austria wore helmets 70% of the time compared to only 43% in Hungary.
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Frequently asked questions
It is estimated that almost 3 billion animals were affected by the bushfires that swept through Australia between July 2019 and February 2020.
Since 1791, there have been 639 shark attacks in Australia, with 190 of them being fatal.
Between 2000 and 2010, there were 254 reported and confirmed animal-related deaths in Australia.
Some of the most dangerous animals in Australia include kangaroos, bees, snakes, crocodiles, and emus.
Deforestation in Queensland and New South Wales has led to the killing, injury, or displacement of 100 million animals.
