When was the last time humanity has a viable predator?

[s0nystyle]

just wondering...

 

[Inappropriate Behavior]

You mean who would hunt us for food (sabertooth tiger?) or sport (Predator aliens?)?

And we don't count as our own viable predator?

 

[s0nystyle]

either or, i just don't see humans hunting humans enough to count as a viable predator :/, or at least not in this day and age.

 

[Oblivious]

We don't hunt each other, but we certainly kill each other, steal each other's jobs, money, mates and sometimes dignity.

Some of us do it for a living, other's for emotional reasons. Not really much different from predators who hunt to live.

 

[Cognisant]

People still get eaten by sharks, tigers and large constrictors, it just doesn’t happen often enough to really affect the species, but cars do, if you look up some statistics on road related deaths you'll never look at a car the same way again.

 

[Da Blob]

Well from my POV, we have never lacked for predators and parasites, it is just that as efficient predators they are invisible to us, the prey, until the moment of the kill, of course, they don't feed on our flesh, that's so primitive...

 

[Phoenix Down]

doesn't the internet consume humans?

 

[Crazythinker1]

I think microbes would be today's predator against human kind. Especially the genetically engineered variety.

 

[Anthile]

People still get eaten by sharks, tigers and large constrictors, it just doesn’t happen often enough to really affect the species, but cars do, if you look up some statistics on road related deaths you'll never look at a car the same way again.

Your chances of getting killed by a shark are 1 in 264.1 million and people getting killed by constrictors seems to be more of a myth.

I think microbes would be today's predator against human kind. Especially the genetically engineered variety.

http://discovermagazine.com/2008/se...bes-could-help/article_view?b_start:int=0&-C=

 

[Saeros]

I think that to a certain extent we isolate ourselves from the environments in which we evolved, and therefore our predators. Our cities keep the majority of wild animals at bay. I can, for example, walk to school without worrying that a lion is going to jump out of a bush and devour me. I can go to work without ducking for cover at the sight of a bear in the distance. I don't have to fight for my food in order to survive (unless you count arguing with another supermarket-goer over the last bag of chips ).

 

[aracaris]

Your chances of getting killed by a shark are 1 in 264.1 million and people getting killed by constrictors seems to be more of a myth.

Yes I've swam with sharks several times, and never even been bitten. I've not swam with great whites or tiger sharks mind you, but even attacks from those sharks are pretty rare, and more likely to occur if you behave in such a way that makes it easy to confuse you for a seal, or harass them, which is just asking for it.
------------------------------------
As far as microbes, one day this could change, but the naturally occurring kind of done way more damage than any intentionally altered by humans. Microbes/virus/parasites are not only our top predators, but being preyed on by them can be far more miserable a way to go than I imagine just being killed by a lion or tiger to be (not saying that wouldn't be painful, but at least it's relatively quick).

 

[Mr.W]

The last time we had a viable predator?

Right now, my friends. Right now. The idea that velociraptors are extinct is a long purported myth maintained by "scientists" to keep the world's populace from descending into an uncontrollable hysteria.

They've simply be lurking in the shadows, waiting for just the right moment to enact a planetary coup d'etat... and they're exactly like they are in Jurassic Park.

 

[typus]

The last time we had a viable predator?

Right now, my friends. Right now. The idea that velociraptors are extinct is a long purported myth maintained by "scientists" to keep the world's populace from descending into an uncontrollable hysteria.

They've simply be lurking in the shadows, waiting for just the right moment to enact a planetary coup d'etat... and they're exactly like they are in Jurassic Park.

Someone needs to read a little less xkcd and more Dinosaur Comics to get a REALISTIC view on dinosaurs...

 

[pjoa09]

when we were neanderthals and cro-magnons?

i think more like neanderthals was the last time...

so many pictures of broken bones, really looks like they had issues with technology.

 

[Mr.W]

Someone needs to read a little less xkcd and more Dinosaur Comics to get a REALISTIC view on dinosaurs...

Dinosaur Comics is only one word away from Dinosaur Propaganda.

I will not fall for your traps, dinosympathizer.

 

[Anthile]

Dinosaur Comics is only one word away from Dinosaur Propaganda.

I will not fall for your traps, dinosympathizer.

It's already too late.

 

[babrock]

Antibiotics have seriosly diminished microbes praying on us but not completly.

Other than that and people praying on one another, one could easily assert that we mostly became removed from having any major nateral predators once we developed a civilization capable of protecting us from it. If not befor, then this definetly occered after t Enlightenment.

 

[Mr.W]

It's already too late.

Oh god...

I put a lizard hybrid in the white house.

 

[Cognisant]

"A dingo stole my baby!"

 

[Da Blob]

Speaking of reptiles, there has been a really interesting physiological reaction to change observed in reptiles. It has been termed the Defeat Stress reaction. It is the foundational recursive level for a lot of human psychological problems - such as depression, low self-esteem or the "Victim's Stance"

Well, Rats!, I can't find a 'good' link. Has anyone wondered why we have to pay to view research paid for with government funds?

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2826.2006.01422.x/abstract

 

[Trebuchet]

The first two that came to my mind were the leopard seal and cassowary, both of which have been known to hunt humans. The seal will eat a human, but the cassowary only eats fruit so presumably they hunt us for sport (or to get us out of their territory, but either way, don't mess with them). Both are listed in this article about 15 cute animals that could kill you.

 

[Invoke Ninja's True Power]

I think money is man's greatest predator. That or super-aids.