That world in data graphic is interesting and does put a lot of things about animal harms in perspective. But it isn't very *fair* as a *ranking*. It includes roundworms (an entire phylum!) and dogs (a subspecies of gray wolves). There is massive differential in how wide the categories are.
Mosquitoes seem to "win", but actually about 40 species of mosquito can spread malaria, and although obviously some contribute far more to human deaths than others, it seems almost certain that if you track by species, humans kill more humans than any single other species does.
We're also not counting the Plasmodium parasite as the killer in the case of malaria? I mean, OK, it's not technically an "animal", but it's more directly responsible for death than the mosquito.
Also for the human deaths they only count violence. I presume all syphillis deaths are spread by other humans, but they aren't counted as human caused.
Agree on both points. If they're going to count the mosquito as the killer and not the parasite then they could add chickens because people eat them undercooked and die from campylobacter and salmonella.
That world in data graphic is interesting and does put a lot of things about animal harms in perspective. But it isn't very *fair* as a *ranking*. It includes roundworms (an entire phylum!) and dogs (a subspecies of gray wolves). There is massive differential in how wide the categories are.
Mosquitoes seem to "win", but actually about 40 species of mosquito can spread malaria, and although obviously some contribute far more to human deaths than others, it seems almost certain that if you track by species, humans kill more humans than any single other species does.
We're also not counting the Plasmodium parasite as the killer in the case of malaria? I mean, OK, it's not technically an "animal", but it's more directly responsible for death than the mosquito.
Also for the human deaths they only count violence. I presume all syphillis deaths are spread by other humans, but they aren't counted as human caused.
Agree on both points. If they're going to count the mosquito as the killer and not the parasite then they could add chickens because people eat them undercooked and die from campylobacter and salmonella.
Unless I am misreading seems like humans are the second biggest killer of humans.
As always, great stuff! Interesting re: phone prices.
TY re: mosquitos. A point I have harped on, too. See p. 276 here:
https://www.onestepforanimals.org/uploads/2/7/9/9/27990461/losingmyreligions.pdf
(Or not - it is just making the point that opposing mosquito eradication is immoral)