Do you know the big cats you see today were not always so less in diversity and race? Around 2.5 million years ago, big cats were rather a much remarkable group further classified into a lot more types than we have now. Sadly enough, as time passed down, big cats started going extinct owing to the environmental catastrophe caused by Homo sapiens.

Among the existing ones, we still have a few highly dangerous giant cats alive around the globe. Let’s explore this alluring combination of beauty and beast. Below are listed the most dangerous big cats in the world.

1. Tigers

Records show that this big cat species devours more human lives than any other big cat, making them number one on this list of the deadliest big cats. Additionally, tigers are responsible for more human kills through direct attacks than any other big cat, averaging 1,800 per year between 1800 and 2009. Throughout the 1900s, one Bengal tigress reportedly killed 436 individuals in India. In 2008, Bengal tigers lost their habitat to Cyclone Sidr, increasing tiger attack prevalence in the Sundarbans, India. Furthermore, tigers attack during the day, another distinction between these felines and the lions and leopards. These dangerous big cats are known for maintaining large territories to have a broader prey source. Speaking of their diet, tigers can go for a few weeks without any food. However, they can consume up to 88 lbs (40kg) of meat in one sitting. By not having consistent predators other than humans, tigers rarely have to protect themselves from attacks. But, being predators, they are often engaged in hunts. When they tackle their enemies, they tend to knock them down and use their teeth to sink into their throats.

2. Lions

Statistics indicate that lions consistently enter human settlements at night and during the day to catch prey. These dangerous big cat species typically attack humans due to illness, old age, or starvation, killing around 200 people annually. These dangerous big cat species typically attack humans due to illness, old age, or starvation, killing around 200 people annually. The most infamous case of lion attack was recorded in 1898 in British East Africa, currently Kenya, where two male lions devoured over 130 railroad workers. When going after prey, lions utilize ambush techniques. They try to get as close as possible to their target before pouncing. More often than not, lions target the weakest and most vulnerable individuals. Though not as stealthy as the jaguar or as fast as the cheetah, lions have developed an effective hunting tactic. These big felines defend themselves using their sharp claws and teeth. Also, unlike other big cats, lions have additional behavioral adaptation – they live in groups called pride, which means extra protection. Lions have no natural predators because of their large size and enormous strength. They usually intimidate smaller wild cats such as cheetahs and leopards by stealing their kill and sometimes preying on their cubs.

3. Cheetah

The black-footed cat and cheetah both have fast metabolisms, but the former has to spend roughly all of its waking time hunting, while the latter instead focuses on being as efficient with its energy usage as possible. Reaching a top speed of 80 miles per hour requires a lot of energy, but the ability to accelerate to 60 in just three seconds allows them to overcome most prey before it becomes a race of endurance and the cost of energy becomes far pricier. Cheetahs are also known for being highly maneuverable and can shift with their prey’s movements almost seamlessly. But the threat from other big cats is a demonstration that being a successful hunter doesn’t always mean that you can keep that prey. Despite the risk of overheating in the harsh African sun, cheetahs tend to hunt during dusk, dawn, or daytime to prevent their kill from being poached or stolen by other predators.

4. Leopard

Leopards take a different approach to avoiding territorial aggression or poaching from hyenas, lions, and other big cats. They simply bring their meals into the trees where they can eat unmolested by more terrestrial threats. Though they aren’t the biggest cats on the planet, these felines have powerful bodies that can drag carcasses weighing over a hundred pounds straight up a tree trunk. Leopards are opportunistic hunters who primarily chase ungulates like impala and gazelles, but they’re not above going after mice or birds or even venturing into the waters to go fishing. Their diet can range from monkeys to warthogs to porcupines, and they aren’t above even snacking on cheetah cubs when the opportunity strikes. Though they’re fast enough to reach speeds of nearly 40 miles per hour, these deadliest cats prefer to use their camouflaged fur to sneak close to their prey and then kill them with a single bite of their powerful jaws.

5. Puma Concolor

Known for numerous names as Cougar, Mountain Lion, El Tiger or as simple as Puma, is the scariest animal on the planet. Puma’s found everywhere from Canada to South Africa. It’s the deadliest animal in America. Puma cats are also one of the heaviest cats living in the American continents. The food a Puma likes to eat include deer, sheep and elk. But they also like to hunt small insects and rodents.

6. Panthera Ocna (Jaguars)

Have you ever seen a Jaguar hunting down its prey? If not, I’d recommend staying naïve! Jaguars tend to break the skull of its prey by biting it between the ears to get a fatal blow to the brain. The features that differentiate Jaguars from other big cats is his incredible climbing powers and swimming skills. Jaguars are among the rare big cats that climb trees. They are mostly found in Mexico, Argentina and all-around Central America.