Longest venomous snake in the world — up to 5.5 m. Olive-green to brown with chevron markings. Only snake that builds a nest for its eggs.

One bite delivers enough neurotoxin to kill 20 humans or an Asian elephant. Causes respiratory paralysis within 30 minutes. Antivenom essential. Mortality without treatment: ~60%.

Forests, mangroves, agricultural areas of India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines.

Diurnal. Hunts other snakes (genus name means 'snake-eater'). Rears up to 1/3 of body length when threatened and makes a low growl-like hiss.

Up to 1.7 m. Brown with characteristic three rows of dark oval blotches. Considered the deadliest snake species by human mortality — causes the most deaths of any snake worldwide.

Hemotoxic venom causes massive bleeding, kidney failure, pituitary damage ('Sheehan-like syndrome'). Kills ~30,000 people per year in India alone.

Open grasslands, scrub forests, farmland across India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, southern China, Taiwan.

Mostly nocturnal. Hisses loudly when threatened — louder than any other snake. Coiled tight in S-shape, strikes with explosive speed.

Largest cat in the world — males up to 250 kg. Orange with black stripes (each pattern unique). India holds ~70% of world tiger population (~3,000 left).

Historical man-eaters killed 1,000+ in some regions. Today ~85 deaths/year in India + Bangladesh, mostly in Sundarbans mangrove forest. Champawat Tigress killed 436 before being shot in 1907.

Sundarbans (Bangladesh+India), Indian central forests, Nepal Terai, Bhutan. Mangrove, grassland, deciduous forest.

Solitary, mostly nocturnal. Ambush from cover. Can leap 10 m horizontally. Once it tastes human, often becomes a man-eater.

Up to 5 tons. Smaller than African elephant; ears like India's shape. Despite being icons of Buddhist/Hindu reverence, kill more humans per year than tigers and lions combined.

About 500 deaths/year in India alone. 'Bull elephants in musth' (hormonal frenzy) are exceptionally dangerous. Crop-raiding leads to confrontations. Tramples or gores with tusks.

India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Indonesia (Sumatra, Borneo).

Matriarchal herds of cows + calves; bulls solitary. Highly intelligent — remember faces, hold grudges. Charge at 40 km/h.

Up to 200 kg. Black with distinctive white V on chest ('moon bear'). More aggressive toward humans than American black bear.

Highest rate of unprovoked attacks among any bear species. Japan: 5-15 deaths/year, India: 10+ deaths in Kashmir alone. Mauls — targets face and head.

Forests from Iran east through Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, China, Japan, Russian Far East, Vietnam, Taiwan, Korea.

Mostly solitary, partly arboreal. Hibernates in north. More day-active than other bears. Attacks if cornered or with cubs.

Up to 75 kg. Tawny gold with black rosettes. India has ~12,000 leopards — many living near human settlements, leading to frequent conflicts.

Kills more humans annually in India than tigers — ~150 deaths/year, mostly children taken at night. Champawat leopard killed 200+; Panar leopard 400.

Forests across all of India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Pakistan. Increasingly common in suburbs and villages bordering reserves.

Nocturnal stalker. Excellent climber — drags prey into trees. Quietly enters villages at night. Once a man-eater, hard to stop.