Australia is known worldwide for its unique and dangerous wildlife. This fauna includes the most venomous snakes, deadly spiders, aggressive saltwater crocodiles, and small but lethal blue-ringed octopuses. However, a surprising report from the National Coronial Information System (NCIS) shows that the continent’s reputation for deadly animals is overshadowed by an unexpected source: the domestic horse.
The NCIS report aimed to assist death investigators and researchers. It catalogued 713 animal-related deaths over two decades, from 2001 to 2021. The data showed an average of 34 deaths per year because of the massive encounters with animals. Horses were involved in nearly one-third of these incidents—specifically, 31.1 percent—totaling 222 deaths. Most of these tragic events were caused by falls from the horses involved.
Interestingly, the second position on the list of animal-related deaths is also a non-native species. Cattle were responsible for 92 deaths, which is 12.9 per cent of the total. Nearly half of these fatalities resulted from road traffic accidents involving the livestock. Dogs ranked third, causing 82 deaths, or 11.5 per cent. While most dog-related deaths were due to bites, the data suggested that just under half resulted from falls, indicating a complex interaction.
To find the first native Australian animal on the list, we look to the fourth position. Over the course of the two decades, 53 human deaths—all categorised as traffic accidents—were caused by kangaroos. The feared venomous snakes followed in fifth place with 50 deaths. Notably, bees were linked to 45 fatalities, all due to anaphylactic shock, likely caused by non-native species. Sharks, often sensationally described as dangerous, were involved in 39 deaths, while crocodiles accounted for 25.
One significant finding regarding Australia’s feared animals is related to its venomous spiders. The report also confirmed that there were no deaths from spider bites between 2001 and 2021. It should be mentioned that the notorious Sydney funnel-web spider (Atrax robustus) has not caused a human fatality since 1981, highlighting the effectiveness of the antivenom introduced shortly after.
Comparing the Australian data to animal-related deaths in the United States provides further insight. A recent US report showed an average of 267 animal-related deaths per year, which seems high compared to Australia’s 34 annual deaths when considering the vast difference in population size—approximately 340 million in the US versus 27.4 million in Australia.
However, the main causes of death differ significantly between the two countries. In the United States, the largest proportion of animal-related deaths, 31 per cent, came from encounters with hornets, wasps, and bees, mainly due to allergic reactions. The category labelled “other mammals,” which includes horses, cattle, other livestock, and raccoons, accounted for the second-largest share at 28.6 percent. Dogs were third, responsible for 26.2 per cent of the fatalities in the US.
The data from both countries suggests a strong link between human interaction with animals and the risk of fatal encounters. The species that humans interact with most frequently—whether through work, recreation, or living together—are statistically more likely to be involved in fatal incidents. This helps dismantle the widespread belief that native Australian predators represent the most significant non-human threat on the continent.
