Manticores Everywhere

Why is it when someone posts HiE and it starts with an animal attack it's always a manticore? I don't think I've seen someone use anything else for the "first encounter"
Another interesting question is why is it that when I did my first draft for my HiE BEFORE reading all these stories did I use Timber Wolves. I know I had good reasons behind my choice so why haven't I read any other stories that do the same? I can recall only ever reading one more story that even included a timber wolf scene.