Don't be fooled: these cute animals could kill you - Cuddly, but potentially deadly...

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Leopard seal -

You probably wish you could cuddle it, but doing so would put you at great risk of injury, and even death. These are in fact aggressive predators, so they can, and probably would, bite you.

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Hippopotamus -

Hippos look really cute, but make no mistake: these are one of the most dangerous animals in the world. They can take on other beasts, such as lions, so imagine what they could do to a human!

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Serval -

Don't you just want to take one home and pet it all day? Well, serval cats are wild animals, and as such don't make good pets. They can really hurt you with their strong bite.

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Dingo -

Make no mistake: dingoes are nothing like your average domesticated dogs. Australia's wild dog has an especially nasty bite.

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Dolphin -

These intelligent and cute animals can indeed be very friendly, but like many other animals, they have the capacity to kill humans. If they can successfully ram sharks with their snouts, imagine what they could do to you...

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Polar bear -

These white, furry mammals can be found in the Arctic Circle region. But don't get fooled by their cuteness; polar bears are ferocious predators that would not hesitate to kill you if they felt they had to.

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Beaver -

How cute are these rodents, right? But they use their sharp teeth to cut wood and build dams, so we'd say those are very powerful weapons!

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Chimpanzee -

Humans have kept these primates as pets, but doing so is not a great idea. Chimps can become aggressive and attack. They are stronger than us and can easily wrestle a human. Their bite is also much stronger than a human bite.

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Komodo dragon -

These enormous lizards can be found on the islands  of Komodo, Rinca, Flores, and Gili Motang in Indonesia. Not only do Komodo dragons have a powerful bite, but their saliva is venomous.

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Pufferfish -

These are so adorable... until they puff up and look like spiny balls! To eat them would be a bad idea, as they are highly toxic. They are a delicacy in some parts of the world, but the dish is carefully prepared before it's consumed.

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Panda bear -

These are also really adorable cuddly creatures, but they too can be deadly. Panda bears do prefer bamboo to meat, but they won't hesitate to bite a human if they feel it's warranted.

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Kangaroo -

These cute marsupials can easily knock a human down with a punch. Not to mention their bone-shattering kicks!

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Platypus -

It might sound like fun swimming with a platypus, but these semiaquatic animals are one of the few mammals to produce venom. The venom is delivered through spurs on their hind legs.

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Deer -

How deadly can Bambi be? Well, pretty deadly, if deer commit to it. They can cause a lot of damage with their antlers and sharp hooves.

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Raccoon -

These nocturnal animals are commonly found in both the countryside and in urban areas across North and Central America. While they are not generally aggressive, they can attack under certain circumstances. They can bite and scratch, and transmit any diseases they might carry to humans (e.g. rabies).

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Cassowary -

These colorful land birds are not generally aggressive if unprovoked, but as you can imagine, under the right circumstances, they won't hesitate to use their speed and force to launch a vicious attack.

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Moose -

Goofy, and overall adorable creatures, moose also have the capacity to trample you to death. So, if you encounter one, don't give the animal a reason to charge you!

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Poison dart frog -

You'd have to travel to a rain forest in Central or South America to come into close contact with one of these. Still, it wouldn't be a great idea. As the name indicates, their skin is highly toxic. So much so that it was used by locals to poison the tips of blowdarts.

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Giraffe -

These gorgeous long-necked animals are not usually aggressive, but if you happen to threaten their calves, you may well end up trampled to death...

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Tasmanian devil - This carnivorous marsupial is a bit rough around the edges, but that's part of its charm. Tasmanian devils do have very sharp teeth and a powerful bite though, so they're not to be messed with.

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Slow loris -

Just look at those eyes! These nocturnal primates might not have a lot of defense mechanisms, but they have a toxic bite that is not only painful, but can be lethal.

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Wolf -

While not many of us are getting up close and personal with wolves, some of us wish we could hug one, right? But it goes without saying that it's a bad idea. These animals are skilled predators, and usually there are other members of the pack around, so things could get pretty bad, pretty fast.

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Sloth -

Sloths are so cute and so chill, so how could they hurt anyone, really? Well, if they feel threatened they won't hesitate to use their long nails to scratch you. And their bite is even worse!

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Box jellyfish -

These are just so beautiful and elegant, that we naturally want to touch them. But doing so would be a very bad idea, given how poisonous they are. Their venomous tentacles can really hurt humans.

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Mute swan -

These gracious water birds may be beautiful, but they can be pretty vicious, too. They are very territorial of their nests, and won't hesitate to attack you if you come close.

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Brown bear -

Brown bears, also known as grizzly bears in North America, look really cuddly, but they'd probably hug you to death. After all, these can weigh up to 1,500 lbs (680 kg). And if that wasn't enough, their claws and teeth would finish the job.

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Elephant -

These enormous mammals not only weigh tons, but they can also use their trunks and tusks to inflict damage. If they step on you, it's most likely game over.

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Dog -

Dogs are among the best pets we can have, and indeed they are absolutely adorable creatures. But dogs are animals nonetheless, and they too can attack. Some breeds can really inflict damage, and even death.

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Wolverine -

These carnivorous mammals have really sharp, long claws that they use to kill their prey. It goes without saying these are powerful, deadly weapons.

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Rat -

These rodents may not kill you with their bite or scratch, but they do carry diseases that can be fatal.

See also: The deadliest animals on the planet

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