Latest news with #SteveBackshall
North Wales Chronicle
a day ago
- Health
- North Wales Chronicle
British walkers warned as deadliest creatures revealed
Mosquitoes are infamously the world's deadliest animal, killing up to a million people every year. In the UK, however, our 36 native mosquito species pose little in the way of threat, so they don't feature in the three-way tie for the title of UK's deadliest creature. Nor do we have marauding bears, prides of lions and snakes that can kill you with a lick. But we do have the most unassuming deadly animals, of which walkers should be especially cautious. Some fella on TikTok there wearing a muzzle in solidarity with his XL bully, 2024 is off to a flyer BBC Science Focus said the most deadly animal in the UK will come as no surprise, it is the household dog. Rishi Sunak recently added American XL bully dogs to the list of banned breeds after a rise in dog-related deaths. Other breeds are thought to be responsible for other tragic deaths also. As of September 30, 2023, there were 16 deaths in England and Wales caused by dog bites or strikes, which is the highest number in the period from 2001 to 2023. This is more than double the six deaths recorded in 2022. Bees and wasps also have a claim to the title of Britain's biggest danger. For the 0.5 per cent of the population who are allergic to the venom in their stings, the resulting anaphylaxis can be fatal. It causes the death of between two and nine people in the UK every year. The deadly killer is less obvious. It's the cow. Recommended reading: Man films wild poisonous snakes crawling around in UK Steve Backshall warns dangerous animals are coming to UK Despite coming across as four-legged hippies of the fields, grazing and generally lounging about, cows attack up to 4,000 people in the UK every year. And around five of those people die from their injuries. Most deaths are among the farming community, but walkers can be at risk too. In the wild, cattle are a prey species, so new mothers are primed to defend their calves. Most accidents occur when natural boundaries are ignored. Cattle can injure people by knocking them down and trampling or lying on them.
Rhyl Journal
a day ago
- Health
- Rhyl Journal
British walkers warned as deadliest creatures revealed
Mosquitoes are infamously the world's deadliest animal, killing up to a million people every year. In the UK, however, our 36 native mosquito species pose little in the way of threat, so they don't feature in the three-way tie for the title of UK's deadliest creature. Nor do we have marauding bears, prides of lions and snakes that can kill you with a lick. But we do have the most unassuming deadly animals, of which walkers should be especially cautious. Some fella on TikTok there wearing a muzzle in solidarity with his XL bully, 2024 is off to a flyer BBC Science Focus said the most deadly animal in the UK will come as no surprise, it is the household dog. Rishi Sunak recently added American XL bully dogs to the list of banned breeds after a rise in dog-related deaths. Other breeds are thought to be responsible for other tragic deaths also. As of September 30, 2023, there were 16 deaths in England and Wales caused by dog bites or strikes, which is the highest number in the period from 2001 to 2023. This is more than double the six deaths recorded in 2022. Bees and wasps also have a claim to the title of Britain's biggest danger. For the 0.5 per cent of the population who are allergic to the venom in their stings, the resulting anaphylaxis can be fatal. It causes the death of between two and nine people in the UK every year. The deadly killer is less obvious. It's the cow. Recommended reading: Man films wild poisonous snakes crawling around in UK Steve Backshall warns dangerous animals are coming to UK Despite coming across as four-legged hippies of the fields, grazing and generally lounging about, cows attack up to 4,000 people in the UK every year. And around five of those people die from their injuries. Most deaths are among the farming community, but walkers can be at risk too. In the wild, cattle are a prey species, so new mothers are primed to defend their calves. Most accidents occur when natural boundaries are ignored. Cattle can injure people by knocking them down and trampling or lying on them.
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
British walkers warned as the deadliest creatures revealed by scientists
The deadliest animals in the UK have been revealed and you won't quite believe the top 3. Mosquitoes are infamously the world's deadliest animal, killing up to a million people every year. In the UK, however, our 36 native mosquito species pose little in the way of threat, so they don't feature in the three-way tie for the title of UK's deadliest creature. Nor do we have marauding bears, prides of lions and snakes that can kill you with a lick. But we do have the most unassuming deadly animals, of which walkers should be especially cautious. BBC Science Focus said the most deadly animal in the UK will come as no surprise, it is the household dog. Rishi Sunak recently added American XL bully dogs to the list of banned breeds after a rise in dog-related deaths. Other breeds are thought to be responsible for other tragic deaths also. As of September 30, 2023, there were 16 deaths in England and Wales caused by dog bites or strikes, which is the highest number in the period from 2001 to 2023. This is more than double the six deaths recorded in 2022. Bees and wasps also have a claim to the title of Britain's biggest danger. For the 0.5 per cent of the population who are allergic to the venom in their stings, the resulting anaphylaxis can be fatal. It causes the death of between two and nine people in the UK every year. The deadly killer is less obvious. It's the cow. Recommended reading: Man films wild poisonous snakes crawling around in UK Steve Backshall warns dangerous animals are coming to UK Despite coming across as four-legged hippies of the fields, grazing and generally lounging about, cows attack up to 4,000 people in the UK every year. And around five of those people die from their injuries. Most deaths are among the farming community, but walkers can be at risk too. In the wild, cattle are a prey species, so new mothers are primed to defend their calves. Most accidents occur when natural boundaries are ignored. Cattle can injure people by knocking them down and trampling or lying on them.
The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
The eerie ghost town on world's largest island, abandoned for 20 years & visitors have to arrive by dog sled or boat
ON the edge of the Earth lies a village frozen in time – quite literally. Itterajivit, is the hauntingly deserted Arctic outpost that's been abandoned for nearly 20 years. 7 Once a bustling community in eastern Greenland's Scoresby Sound, Itterajivit is now a ghost town, crumbling quietly in one of the most remote spots on the planet. The village, also known by its Danish name - Kap Hope - was first inhabited in 1925 as part of a trio of small communities surrounding Ittoqqortoormiit. By the 1960s, its population had peaked at around 112 people, complete with a school‑chapel, workshop, youth club, and recreational spaces. But life on the edge proved tough. Isolation, limited job prospects, and government policies favouring larger hubs meant families gradually drifted away. By 2005, just nine residents remained – and then, none. A scattering of wooden houses still stands – some sagging, snow-filled, and forgotten. Others are clung to by local Inuit hunters, used as seasonal shelters when braving the region's punishing conditions. According to one traveller on BirdForum: 'Of the two dozen houses, only a couple are maintained. The rest are in decay, a broken window soon means a house full of snow.' Most visitors arrive the hard way – either by dog sled or boat – depending on the whims of Greenland's brutal weather. In winter, sea ice cuts off access altogether. And getting to nearby Ittoqqortoormiit requires flying to Reykjavik, chartering a plane to Constable Point, then boarding a helicopter or boat. So why go? Because what remains of Itterajivit is nothing short of breathtaking. Backed by jagged black hills and overlooking frozen shorelines, the village's stark beauty is pure Arctic drama. Polar bears, musk oxen, Arctic foxes, and seals roam the surrounding wilderness – a wildlife haven untouched by time. The village featured in Canadian travel series Departures, and in Expedition with Steve Backshall on the BBC, where the adventurer and his team kayaked through the world's largest fjord, passing Itterajivit's haunting ruins. Greenland, officially the world's largest island that isn't a continent, is home to just 56,000 people – and this spot is one of its loneliest. Governed by its own local parliament but still part of the Kingdom of Denmark, Greenland sits so far north it experiences both Polar Night and Midnight Sun – meaning endless darkness in winter, and 24-hour daylight come summer. For those craving extreme isolation, ghost-town intrigue, and jaw-dropping scenery, Itterajivit delivers. 7 7 7 7 7 7
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Scottish Sun
The eerie ghost town on world's largest island, abandoned for 20 years & visitors have to arrive by dog sled or boat
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ON the edge of the Earth lies a village frozen in time – quite literally. Itterajivit, is the hauntingly deserted Arctic outpost that's been abandoned for nearly 20 years. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 The village, also known as Kap Hope, was first inhabited in 1925 Credit: Tripadvisor Once a bustling community in eastern Greenland's Scoresby Sound, Itterajivit is now a ghost town, crumbling quietly in one of the most remote spots on the planet. The village, also known by its Danish name - Kap Hope - was first inhabited in 1925 as part of a trio of small communities surrounding Ittoqqortoormiit. By the 1960s, its population had peaked at around 112 people, complete with a school‑chapel, workshop, youth club, and recreational spaces. But life on the edge proved tough. Isolation, limited job prospects, and government policies favouring larger hubs meant families gradually drifted away. By 2005, just nine residents remained – and then, none. A scattering of wooden houses still stands – some sagging, snow-filled, and forgotten. Others are clung to by local Inuit hunters, used as seasonal shelters when braving the region's punishing conditions. According to one traveller on BirdForum: 'Of the two dozen houses, only a couple are maintained. The rest are in decay, a broken window soon means a house full of snow.' Most visitors arrive the hard way – either by dog sled or boat – depending on the whims of Greenland's brutal weather. In winter, sea ice cuts off access altogether. And getting to nearby Ittoqqortoormiit requires flying to Reykjavik, chartering a plane to Constable Point, then boarding a helicopter or boat. So why go? Because what remains of Itterajivit is nothing short of breathtaking. Backed by jagged black hills and overlooking frozen shorelines, the village's stark beauty is pure Arctic drama. Polar bears, musk oxen, Arctic foxes, and seals roam the surrounding wilderness – a wildlife haven untouched by time. The village featured in Canadian travel series Departures, and in Expedition with Steve Backshall on the BBC, where the adventurer and his team kayaked through the world's largest fjord, passing Itterajivit's haunting ruins. Greenland, officially the world's largest island that isn't a continent, is home to just 56,000 people – and this spot is one of its loneliest. Governed by its own local parliament but still part of the Kingdom of Denmark, Greenland sits so far north it experiences both Polar Night and Midnight Sun – meaning endless darkness in winter, and 24-hour daylight come summer. For those craving extreme isolation, ghost-town intrigue, and jaw-dropping scenery, Itterajivit delivers. 7 It is only accessible by dog sled or boat Credit: Tripadvisor 7 The village once had just over 100 inhabitants in the 1960s Credit: Alamy 7 The village is in one of the most remote places on earth Credit: Tripadvisor 7 The view from Itterajivit in February Credit: Alamy 7 Hunters still roam the land Credit: Alamy
