Random People Who Went Toe-to-Toe with Wild Animals and Won (16 items)

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  (#11) Man Grabs An Elephant By The Tusks

  Despite being beloved by many, elephants are known to be among the aggressive mammals in the world. In early 2003, explorer J. Michael Fay was in Gabon helping set up one of the country’s new national parks. 

  While leading a tour group through a coastal section of the park, Fay was charged by a young female elephant. According to him, the elephant was defending her territory and her herd. 

  At first Fay tried to stand his ground, which usually deters elephants, but the young female didn’t stop. When she was less than a foot away from Fay and ready to gore him, he reached out and grabbed ahold of her tusks. The two struggle for some time until members of Michael’s group returned and scared off the elephant. 

  Once the elephant was gone, Fay was evacuated and brought to hospital for serious, but non life-threatening wounds. He lived to tell the tale. 
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  (#5) Wife Saves Husband By Stabbing Cougar With Ball Point Pen

  Hikers who frequent trails in California frequently see signs warning them of cougars, also known as mountain lions, in the area. 

  Jim and Nell Hamm, both in their seventies, were enjoying their walk on a trail near Fortuna, CA in 2007 when Jim was suddenly attacked by a cougar. It lunged toward him, biting his head. 

  While he struggled with the cougar, Nell found a large tree limb and began beating and jabbing the animal in the sides with it. When that did no good, she took out a ballpoint pen from her husband's pocket and stabbed the cougar right in the eye, breaking the pen off inside. 

  Nell took one more shot with the tree limb, practically breaking it over the cougars head, causing the cougar to let go of Jim. As it backed away, Nell waved the limb around in the air while shouting and the cougar retreated into the woods. 

  Jim and Nell were both rushed to a hospital in San Francisco where Jim was treated. Nell apparently walked away without a scratch. The two survived the ordeal and the cougar was later tracked down and shot. 
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  (#2) Farmer Bites A Python Slowly Strangling Him

  In what feels like a movie plot come to life,  one man survived being killed by a giant python by biting it on the tail. 

  In April 2009, Ben Nyaumbe, a manager of a farm in Kenya, was at work one day when he accidentally stepped on a 13-foot python that proceeded to wrap around him and drag him up a tree. Large snakes are known to slowly suffocate their prey to ready it for digestion. 

  Unable to free himself, and not wanting to be crushed to death by the powerful snake, Nyuambe calmly waited nearly three hours until the snake’s tail was close enough to his face and bit down. 

  The snake loosened its grip, which was all Nyuambe needed to reach into his pocket for his cell phone. He called for help and the police arrived shortly afterwards.

  After Nyuambe was freed the python was put into a bag, though it later escaped. It wasn’t seen again. 
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  (#6) A Group Of Divers Fights Off Komodo Dragons For Days

  Komodo dragons are one of the scariest animals in the world, and their aggressive antics toward humans prove it. 

  In 2008, a group of divers were forced ashore Rinca Island by strong currents. Among the group stranded on the remote island was a 38-year-old Swedish woman named Helena Nevalainen.

  After swimming in rough water and evading sharks, the group had to then contend with deadly komodo dragons, a species of giant lizard with nasty bites that cause serious bacterial infections. 

  As the reptiles closed in, Nevalainen and her diving companions resorted to using their lead-weighted diving belts to beat them and fend off their advances. For more than 10 hours, the group had to stay awake on a sandy beach, keeping constant lookout for more komodo dragons. 

  Finally a rescue boat, part of a larger search and rescue effort, spotted the group and picked them up. The entire group was hospitalized and monitored. Miraculously, not one person was bitten by a komodo dragon.
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  (#9) Man Slits A Cougar's Throat

  Sometimes surviving an animal take just takes some quick thinking - and a pocket knife.

  In August 2002, Canadian David Parker was walking on Victoria Island enjoying a nice evening walk.

  Rain began to pour, and while running for cover Parker was attacked by a mountain lion. According to him, the animal first bit him on the head and then began to scratch his face. Keeping calm, Parker reached into his pocket, flipped open a knife, and slashed open the mountain lion's throat, killing it fairly quickly. 

  Parker, with his scalp shredded, slowly made his way to Jeune Landing, a nearby town. He was rushed to a hospital and spent nearly 10 hours in surgery. 

  Proving that he’s tough as nails, Parker resumed his evening walks. 
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  (#4) A Pennsylvania Couple Tussles With A Bear Inside Their House

  Most dramatic animal encounters take place in the wild. For Richard and Angela Moyer of Oliver Township, Pennsylvania, it happened inside their own house

  In October 2011, the Moyer’s dog, Brindy, was let outside to pee. She was chased back into the house by a bear, who also walked inside. Richard, who was getting ready for work, was attacked by the bear in his living room. The yelling and growling woke up Richard’s wife, Angela, who began shouting at the bear to distract it from mauling Richard. The bear turned on her and bit her several times. Richard came to his wife’s aid and distracted the bear towards himself, once again. 

  Suddenly, according to the Moyers, the bear just stopped attacking, left the house, and eventually took off into the woods. 

  The police and paramedics were called to the scene. Both Richard and Angela suffered serious injuries, but spent less than a day in the hospital. In the end, the couple, Brindy, and their son - who slept through the entire event - were fine.

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