I found out that sharks account for about six fatalities a year worldwide. This is a relatively small number compared to many other animal that kill humans. Often overlooked is the mosquito. It kills almost 2,000,000 people worldwide every year. No one ever cries when you kill a mosquito so they should definitely go first.
Snakes and other venomous animals are high on the list, killing over 50,000 people per year. You can get rid of them as long as you don’t ask me to do it. I was surprised to learn that elephants kill more than 500 people a year. There aren’t that many left and they are big targets. It shouldn’t take long to get rid of those. After them, lions and tigers and bears (oh my) must go.
What about those cute little deer? On average about 80 people die every year in America when they crash into deer running across the highway. Certainly the insurance companies who pay out millions for those accidents won’t cry when they are gone. Sorry to say but we should also think about doing away with dogs. I love dogs but I can’t allow my bias to get in the way. (Sorry P.A.W.S.) About 20 people a year die in the U.S. from dog attacks. Worldwide, over 40,000 deaths are attributed to dog bite related rabies transmission.
Now we come to one of the least feared yet most fatal animals, the alcohol impaired driver. Around 15,000 people die in the U.S. in alcohol related accidents each year. That’s about one person every 20 minutes. Worldwide, the number certainly exceeds those killed by venomous animals. My modest proposal? Drivers under the influence, who kill, should be the second to be eliminated (after mosquitoes). Feed them to the sharks!
BARRY HIRSHBEIN
Chalan Kanoa, Saipan
