20. Killed after trying to honor a tiger

Tigers are worth every inch of respect they deserve. But in India, Tigers are not just respected. They are also worshiped. At a Calcutta Zoo, tiger worshippers Prakesh Tiwari and Suresh Rai were determined to honor Shiva, a 13-year-old Bengal tiger. Shiva was named after the Hindu god Shiva the Destroyer, and rightfully so. Rai went too close to the male tiger to honor him by throwing a marigold garland around his neck.

Instead of being grateful, the tiger promptly attacked Rai. Tiwari went in for the rescue by kicking the beast in the face with all his strength. The tiger turned to Tiwari and ferociously mauled him to death. Rai, on the other hand, managed to survive the harrowing incident and turned to offer his tribute to other gods, instead.