Most animals are cute, but some are cuter than others. In this case, however, I would not judge a book by its cover.
There are many cute animals capable of the worst of things.
The best thing is to be cautious and stay away from them if you’re not familiar with them or their species.
Mute Swans
Mute swans have been introduced to lakes, ponds, and slow-flowing rivers throughout the world.
But while they cut an elegant form, these birds can be aggressively territorial.
The mute swan weighs as much as 28 pounds and can grow to have a wingspan of almost 8 feet long.
Mute swans have been known to kill dogs to protect their nests, though reports of their ability to break legs with their wings have been greatly exaggerated.
In 2012, a man in Chicago was kayaking in a pond at a residential complex when he was charged by a swan that capsized his boat.
According to eyewitnesses, the swan prevented the man from swimming to shore, which eventually caused him to drown.
The sad tale of Anthony Hensley, a 37-year-old man who worked for a company that provided swans to keep geese away from the property, stands as a reminder of just how dangerous birds can be.
But such incidents are very rare, says John Huston of the Abbotsbury Swannery in Dorset, where there are 1,000 swans but no recorded attacks on humans in the colony’s 600-year history.
If you approach a swan nest on the river, they might get aggressive and hiss and flap their wings, but the danger is over-rated and it’s a myth that they will break your leg or arm with their wings.
They are not that strong and it’s mostly show and bluster.
Perrins says he has spent many years handling swans and never been injured, just received the odd bruise. They have a reputation for being a bit aggressive, but it’s only that it’s a matter of size.
However, a large swan can give a thump, and the best advice is to stay away from the nest, which is often a place along the bank or shore where the reeds are flattened and the female is sitting.
LEOPARD SEAL
Leopard seals do not play well with others! Generally, they hunt alone and are never seen with more than one or two other seals.
Exceptions to this include the annual breeding period, which takes place shortly after the pupping season when multiple leopard seals aggregate.
The ends of a leopard seal’s mouth are permanently curled upward, creating the illusion of a smile or menacing grin.
But however happy leopard seals may be to see you, they are potentially aggressive animals always looking for their next meal.
On the rare occasion, they haul out on land, leopard seals will first issue a warning growl before defending their space more violently.
National Geographic photographer Paul Nicklen dove into Antarctic waters in 2006 to catch a glimpse of leopard seals in their natural habitat.
His experience, he later said, was one he will never forget.
For several days, a sympathetic female leopard seal brought Nicklen penguins, both dead and injured, in order to feed him and teach him to feed himself.
The story and the photos Nicklen took of the event are among the most famous in the recent history of the leopard seal species.
Sadly, there is a flip side to Nicklen’s encounter. It can be a dangerous endeavor to study leopard seals, and in one case, they have been known to kill humans.
Most recently, a marine biologist working with the British Antarctic Survey drowned after being dragged nearly 200 feet underwater by a leopard seal.
It is unclear whether the leopard seal intended to kill the biologist, but the event is a sobering reminder that these animals should be treated with utmost caution.
