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Owning a dangerous animal as a pet can be complicated. It implies taking huge safety risks. In addition to the possible harm that could be done to the wild animal who is adapting to a new environment, taking deadly animals as pets will also disturb the environment while being dangerous for human beings.
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1. Hanging out with crocodiles
Who thought crocodiles were easy to train? Despite the size of the animals’ teeth, this trainer gets up close and personal with a crocodile. Together, they actually look like besties.
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2. The lion man
Kevin Richardson is a South African zookeeper who has worked extensively with animals. He’s been featured in many documentaries feeding, sleeping or playing with very dangerous lions. He says that he prefers lions to any other type of animal.
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3. The snake that keeps the house safe
Uorn Sambath, who lives in the village of Setbo in Cambodia, loves to play with his 16-foot-long python. He sleeps with the female python and even kisses it sometimes. “People sometimes call the boy and the snake husband and wife,” says a neighbor. The little boy’s mum believes that the snake has a magical spirit that protects the family from sickness. Police officials once tried to take the snake to a zoo, but they relented after seeing the snake and the boy cuddling.
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4. The snake specialist
Speaking about snakes, Krista loves them. She lives with a 30 reptiles, including anacondas and a 12ft python. She was first introduced to snakes by her father Jamie, 33, who is a snake specialist. She has been bitten a few times but since none of the snakes are venomous, Krista says the bites didn’t hurt her!
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5. Jessica and her 3/4-ton hippopotamus
A game ranger found a dying baby hippo on his lawn after a flood. He adopted the baby hippo and named it Jessica. After a few years later, the animal gained a few pounds and now weighs three-quarters of a ton. Contrary to what you would think, the “pet” owner is worried about releasing Jessica into her natural environment. He believes that she will either be attacked and killed by other hippos, or shot by local farmers trying to protect their animals and crops. He prefers seeing her wander around his home, drink coffee on the veranda, and hangs out with the dogs.
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6. Another snake
Snake Manu, like he likes to be called, is a 27-year-old man who inserts thin snakes through his nostrils and pulls them out through his mouth. He currently holds the Guinness Book of Records for “most worms eaten in 30 seconds” after eating 200 live worms. He once had a snake stuck in this throat and had to choose between being bit or biting it. He took the obvious decision of biting it. He says that his favorite snakes are the baby cobras because they are fast and poisonous…weird.
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7. Bengali tigers
Mike Tyson once owned several Bengal tigers. He used to get in their cage and play with them. Each tiger costs $70,000 to own, and another $200,000 to feed. You can recognize one of them in the movie Hangover.
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8. Public threat?
A Brazilian man called Ary Borges rescued two tigers from a travelling circus and fell in love with them. He is currently in a legal battle after officials told him to give up the animals claiming they pose a public threat. Ary lets the tigers sleep with his daughters and his other pets.
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9. A Buffalo BFF
The African buffalo kills more than 200 people every year. It is considered as one of the most dangerous animals to hunt. Luke Michaelides, a South African teenager from Limpopo, South Africa, chose two buffalos as best friends. He plays with them every day, and his parents are terrified each time they see him hanging out with them. Luke’s mother says a prayer so that her son stays safe.
SEE ALSO: 8 People Who Changed Their Appearance To Look Like Animals.
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