Horses were involved in 222 deaths from 2001-2021 according to recently updated coronial data. Photo: ANDREW KACIMAIWAI
One animal has been identified as the deadliest to humans – and it’s not spiders, crocodiles, sharks or jellyfish.
It’s horses, according to updated figures released by the National Coronial Information System (NCIS), a database of deaths reported to a coroner in Australia and New Zealand.
Even bees have played a part in more deaths than sharks or crocodiles, it says.
The NCIS said in its latest figures that there was, on average, 34 animal-related deaths every year from 2001-2021. On a state basis, the highest number of such deaths were in NSW (24.1 per cent or 172 deaths) then Queensland (24 per cent or 171) and Victoria (21 per cent or 150)
It reviewed 713 deaths over 20 years that were reported to an Australian coroner and found that the horse was involved in 202 deaths of 505 deaths that land mammals were involved in (505 deaths or 70.8 per cent of the 713 total). Other land animals involved in fatalities included cows (92), dogs (82) and kangaroos (53).
All kangaroo-related deaths were due to vehicle incidents with nearly half (26) involving a motorcyclist and 48 on a public roadway or highway.
Of the horse-related deaths, just over half of all fatalities (112) involved people aged 45 years and over with falls the most common cause (59.5 per cent or 132) deaths.
Over a third (79) of these deaths involved trail riding and 33 involved horse racing and related activities with 12 deaths during equestrian events such as rodeo, show jumping or dressage.
Other findings revealed that males comprised 67.7 per cent of animal-related deaths.
Dogs were involved in 82 deaths over the 20-year period; most commonly to those aged 65 years and over (41 deaths). The most common cause of dog-related deaths were from bites (38) and falls (35).
All deaths due to reptiles and amphibians (75) involved snakes (50) and crocodiles (25).
Bees were the most common insect represented in deaths with 45 deaths due to bee sting anaphylaxis co pared to 39 deaths by sharks and 25 from crocodiles.
Fatal bee stings were most common in Western Australia with 20 of 45 reported insect deaths in that state.
The NCIS says despite non-fatal injuries caused by spider bites, there were no deaths from 2001-21 due to a spider bite.
For the NCIS data, visit here: Animal-related deaths in Australia
