Apparently, there is something more dangerous and life threatening than shark attacks: selfies. More people have died from taking selfies than from shark attacks this year, according to Mashable.
Recently, a Japanese tourist visiting the Taj Mahal died while attempting to take a selfie. The 66-year-old man went to the top of the stairs for a selfie, but fell down, injured his head and died. He was the 12th person reported to have died while taking a selfie this year.
There are only eight reported shark attack deaths for 2015, according to Mashable.
Selfie deaths are considered serious in some countries like Russia, where a "safe selfie" campaign was launched to warn people against the dangers of taking selfies after a string of selfie-related tragedies occurred in the country. The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs handed out pamphlets with the reminder that "a cool selfie could cost you your life," HNGN previously reported.
In the U.S., the Colorado National Park was recently closed from tourists because people couldn't seem to stop taking selfies with bears, thus endangering themselves. Acting on the advice of wildlife experts, park authorities decided to close the area temporarily for everyone's safety.
"We've actually seen people using selfie sticks to try and get as close to the bears as possible, sometimes within 10 feet of wild bears," Denver Water's recreation manager Brandon Ransom said in a statement. "The current situation is not conducive for the safety of our visitors or the well-being of the wildlife."
In Yellowstone National Park, at least five people have been gored by a bison while trying to take a selfie near the animal despite warnings from park authorities. Four of the victims were hospitalized because of injuries from the attacks, according to Reuters.
People have died while trying to take a selfie with a loaded gun (as HNGN previously reported), near speeding vehicles, near wild animals and while climbing dangerous heights, Mashable reports.
To avoid selfie deaths and accidents, the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs offers some advice: "Health and life is not worth millions of likes on social networking."
