Ten Unbelievable Animal Attack Stories!

Those cute, cuddly creatures that capture our fascination in zoos and endear themselves to us as pets are not always so soft hearted and affectionate. Get on the wrong side of certain animal species and make them feel threatened and you could find yourself caught in the crosshairs of a viscous aniaml attack.

Hugh Glass: The story of the 19th century Fur Trapper Hugh Glass is the stuff of legend as the story goes, glass was attacked and left for dead by a grizzly bear and her two cubs leaving a body so mangled that his trapping partners began digging a grave for him before being in interrupted by an Indian attack. Glass, however, was not dead. In fact, he later regained consciousness and began an arduous six week  200 mile journey on a broken leg to the nearest American settlement. Along the way, he supposedly fought off wolves to feast on a dead bison and allowed maggots to eat hi dead flesh to prevent gangrene.

Charla Nash: Charla Nash was visiting a friend in February of 2009 when the friend’s pet chimpanzee, Travis viciously attacked what it perceived as a foreign, unfamiliar threat. Nash lost her eyes, nose, lips and even her hands during the assault, after which Travis was shot by local connecticut police. As a result, the victim was treated with one of the first face transplants executed in the United States and has become a local advocate for the future enforcement of legislation that would make it harder for people to keep primates as pets.

Fabio: One anticipates a series of twists, turn and thrills when they strap in to roller coaster ride but a bird attack is not exactly the first twist that comes to mind. In 1999, Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Virginia decided to debut its new Apollo’s Chariot roller coaster in style by bringing world renowned male model Fabio to the park for its maiden ride. The photo op, however, took a rather unexpected turn when a goose that had collided with the front car bounced back and drilled the Italian Blonde Hunk Square on in the face. The freak occurrence drew national headlines on account of the sheer sensationalism of a male model getting hit in the face by a goose.

Phil Bronstein: It probably is not a great idea to wear white in the presence of a hungry Komodo Dragon. That was the lesson learned by San Francisco chronicle executive editor Phil Bronstein best known as the then husband of Hollywood Starlet Sharon Stone, on a trip to the Los Angeles zoo in 2001. A white tennis shoe clad Bronstein ventured into to Komodo Dragon exhibit and failed to heed zookeeper warnings that the Lizards might confuse his footwear with the white rats they were being fed. Sure enough, one dragon clenched down on Bronstein big toe, requiring him to undergo surgery to reattach served tendons.

Wes Perkins: Few people enjoy a greater lease on life than Wes Perkins, a 54 year old Alaska native and unlikely survivor of grizzly bear attack. Perkins and a companion were pursuing the massive beast via snowmobile when it attacked and mauled him, leaving him in critical condition. Perkins was rushed to a Seattle Hospital, where he endured 26 surgeries and over $1 million in medical expenses. The attack left his face severely mangled and cost him half his tongue, leaving him difficult to understand. More than four years after the 2011 attack, though Perkins says he feels great and is grateful to be alive.

Phyllis Johnson: The sad truth of the matter is that 94 year olds have enough natural causes out there that threaten their lives. Realistically, Kangaroos do not rank high on the cause of death list for elderly folks approaching their centennial. More remarkable than the death of a 94 year old by Kangaroo attack is a 94 year old that can survive a Kangaroo attack, as did Australia’s Phyllis Johnson. While hanging laundry outside, Johnson had a kangaroo bound into her out of nowhere, knocking off her feet and kicking her several times. The attack continued until Johnson’s son emerged with pepper spray to fend off the aggressive hopper.

Roy Horn: The thrill of witnessing one of famed stage magician duo Siegfried and Roy’s Las Vegas shows was understanding the inherent dangers in what they were doing. Nowhere was that more plainly evident than in the presence of giant white tigers in their act. On October 3, 2003, that danger got a little too real, as a 600-Lb white Bengal tiger named Montecore bit Roy in the Neck and hauled him off stage in front of horrified onlookers. Although Roy appeared to have little hope of survival, he managed to hang on through weeks of being in critical condition. He reportedly suffered a stroke and partial paralysis, with doctors needing to remove a portion of his skull to remove pressure from his swelling brain.

Chase Dellwo: Desperate times call for desperate measures, and 26 year old bow hunter Chase Dellwo certainly was desperate on October 3, 2015 when he was attacked by a 400 pound male grizzly bear. The bear took a bite out of his head and leg before tossing him in the air like a rag doll. With few other options, Dellwo thought back to a magazine article his grandmother had given him about the bad gag reflexes of large animals and jammed his arm down the bear’s throat. Remarkably, the tactic worked and the bear immediately ceased its rampage and fled back into the woods.

Frank Harmes: in 2010, Alabama resident Frank Harmes was out of for walk with his dog when he stumbled upon and adult mountain Lion looking for a snack. Good thing, then, that Harmes was prepared for some of the side effect of living in the wildness. After failing to intimidate the beast by making himself appear larger, he was able to respond even as the lion knocking him down and pounced by stabbing the animal continuously with a pocket knife. The lion retreated on account of its injuries, leaving victim wounded but alive next to an idle and largely indifferent dog.

Steve Irwin: Fans around the world mourned the loss of beloved wildlife expert and TV personality. Steve Irwin after he was fatally pierced in the chest by venomous stingray in 2006. Irwin been filming an underwater documentary called ocean’s deadliest at the time his death. Despite the title of the documentary, long-time fans, friends and associates were stunned to hear that the man known popularly as the crocodile hunter had been done in by one of the ocean’s most docile bottom feeders. His daughter, recent dancing with the stars contestant Bindi Irwin has continued her late father’s environmental conservation efforts.