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How dangerous are sharks?

There is an element of myth-making in the creation of shark’s fearsome reputation. Even the Great white shark do not deliberately prey on humans, but sometimes bite to investigate something unfamiliar in their environment. They use their teeth like we use our hands.

Our perception of the risks sharks pose are skewed by high profile events and Hollywood movies. In 2016, there were 81 shark attacks worldwide, four of which were fatal. Compare this to the fact that 20 people a year are killed by cows in the United States, and humans are estimated to kill over 100 million sharks each year.

Now, which one is the most dangerous animal?