When a state has newspaper headlines that read, “Avoid reptiles as a holiday gift,” then you know there’s a problem. Florida has a reputation as the number-one state in the US for invasive species. Over the past decade or so, more than 260 exotic animals (that we know of) have escaped their cages and fled into the Florida wilderness. We’re not only talking about lions and tigers and bears (oh my) but also rhinos, jaguars, wolves, orangutans, and just about any exotic creature you can imagine. Many of these escaped convicts remain at large.^[1] However, this list is concerned with the species that, as exotic pets set free in the wild, were able to stick around and multiply. As the wise Jeff Goldblum predicted in Jurassic Park, life will always find a way . . .

Many of us dream of having an exotic pet, like Frida Kahlo with her monkeys or Tippi Hedren’s pet lion. Well, in Florida, you don’t need any special license or certificate to own many types of exotic pets. At the University of Florida, researchers confirm that the pet trade is the main reason for the introduction of invasive species. Exotic animals often begin as innocent pets but are released or escape into the Florida wilderness, for one reason or another, where they can wreak some serious havoc. Kenneth Krysko, manager of the Florida Museum of Natural History, says, “It’s like some mad scientist has thrown these species together from all around the world and said, ‘hey, let’s put them all together and see what happens.’ ” He warns that if the trends continue, Florida may have more invasive species than native. A wildlife ecology professor at the University of Florida likened the situation to “a slow-burning fuse lit to an ecological bomb.” Meanwhile, the exotic pet industry in the US makes $15 billion annually, and people continue to buy that flashy, unique pet that sounds alluring but is severely dangerous to both them and society at large.

10 Burmese Python

The largest Burmese python discovered in the Florida wild was 5.4 meters (18 ft) long and weighed 58 kilograms (128 lb). The man who found it in the brush, being a run-of-the-mill Floridian, grabbed it by the neck and held it up to his friends to see how big it was. The python quickly wrapped its muscled body twice around the man’s legs and then reached his waist. The man’s quick-thinking friend handed him a 23-centimeter (9 in) blade, which the soon-to-be victim used to decapitate the python.^[2]

Now, it is illegal to buy a Burmese python in Florida and for good reason. People used to buy these tiny snakes, which would grow to be about 1.8 meters (6 ft) long in a year’s time. That’s either too much work or slightly horrifying, so the owners would release their beloved pets into the Everglades. This happened enough that the pythons started to breed and thrive in the wet, subtropical climate. In no time, the snakes, who can produce up to 100 hatchlings at once, became the apex predator in the region.

There was a glimmer of hope that native alligators would be able to control the rapid rise of Burmese pythons, but instead, the gators are actually being eaten themselves. In one famous case in 2005, a python tried to consume a 1.8-meter (6 ft) alligator whole, but the snake exploded in the attempt. These battles are becoming a common occurrence. Since the pythons have mostly killed all of the marsh rabbits, bobcats, and other small mammals, the Everglades now call upon hunters to eliminate as many pythons as they possibly can. The hunters are paid minimum wage by the state, plus $50 for every 1.2-meter (4 ft) snake and $25 for each additional foot. In about a year’s time, hunters have bagged 1,000 pythons.

9 Rhesus Macaque

Most people don’t know that you can ride an inner tube down the Silver River in Ocala, Florida, and likely see wild monkeys swinging from the trees as you float by. In the 1930s, the owner of a privately owned park had the harebrained idea to release an entire colony of rhesus macaques as a tourist attraction. The park staff, being the clever humans that they were, put the monkeys on an island in the Silver River for safekeeping. Surprise! They can swim. Now there are hundreds that are spreading like wildfire through Central Florida.

These feral troublemakers travel in large gangs, and they can be aggressive when they feel threatened. They have been terrorizing people in their own backyards, but that’s not even the worst part.^[3] Recently, it was discovered that these macaques carry a herpes virus that spreads to humans through excrement and other bodily fluids. Having feces flung at you from a primate is horrifying enough without the fear of contracting herpes, thank you very much.

On that note, above is a hilarious video of the rhesus macaques chasing down a terrified family. Enjoy.

8 Green Iguana

Iguanas are Florida’s most invasive species. This green menace creates mayhem in suburbia, from leaving gifts in swimming pools and gobbling up gardens to disrupting electrical grids and causing power outages. People discard iguanas as pets because they are more work than expected, as they grow up to 1.8 meters (6 ft) long and require a ton of food. During mating season, they become increasingly hostile and lash out at their owners by biting them. On top of that, they may just try to escape through the doggie door.

Sadly, Floridians have resorted to combating this pest problem they created by using blunt-force trauma. In other words, people are paid to sneak up on them in the dead of night while they sleep and bash in their skulls. Jenny Ketterlin, a wildlife biologist who works for this $63,000 project commissioned by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, ensures the public that swiftly smashing their brains open is actually the most humane way to kill them.^[4] Well, it’s good practice for the zombie apocalypse, I suppose.

7 Nile Monitor: Largest Lizard In Africa

The Nile monitor is yet another escapee from the pet trade that is now calling Florida home, sweet home. Instead of soaking in the sun along the Nile Delta, where they belong, they have wormed their way through Cape Coral’s extensive canal system since the 1990s. These skilled swimmers can reach a gruesome 2.1 meters (7 ft) long. They consume whatever they can get, whether that’s a wasp nest, poisonous cane toad, or venomous rattlesnake. Like wolves, they hunt in packs. Occasionally, they pop up from the canals to make a surprise appearance in someone’s backyard. Hopefully they aren’t hungry because they’ve been known to snack on cats and dogs.

It is incredibly difficult to eradicate them, as nobody has ever found a single monitor lizard nest. There are estimated to be at least 1,000 of these giant beasts currently roaming the Florida canals, tidal creeks, and mangroves. These giant lizards may also be seen if you happen to look up, as they are expert tree-climbers, so beware.^[5]

6 Capybara

Do you know what doesn’t sound like an ideal pet? The largest rodent in the world. A capybara is basically like a 45-kilogram (100 lb) guinea pig that’s semiaquatic. It turns out, that’s not as cute as some pet owners thought it would be. Go figure! As of 2016, there were about 50 capybaras running amok in Florida. In its South American home, it has predators like the puma and jaguar, but in Florida, there are no coyotes or dogs big enough to take down a capybara.

It doesn’t help matters that they are social animals, traveling in groups through thick forest.^[6] As if Florida hunters didn’t have enough game to contend with, let’s throw a giant guinea pig in the mix.

5 ‘Testicle-Eating’ Pacu Fish

The South American pacu fish has an unusual bite because of its eerie, humanlike set of teeth. They are a cousin to the flesh-eating piranha, but instead of the razor-sharp teeth of their cousins, they have teeth that are blunt like our molars. The pacu also grows to be much, much larger. They typically reach about 22.7 kilograms (50 lb) throughout South-Central Florida.

Even though the pacu is normally not an imminent threat to men’s genitalia, it did receive the moniker of “testicle-eating” fish for a good reason. According to Henrik Carl, a fish expert at the National History Museum of Denmark, “There have been incidents in other countries, such as Papua New Guinea, where some men have had their testicles bitten off. They bite because they’re hungry, and testicles sit nicely in their mouth.”^[7] It’s no wonder why owners released these exotic fish! Suddenly, the bizarre allure of a human smile on a fish feels a bit more sinister.

4 Giant African Land Snails

The giant African land snail is not to be confused with any meager snail of small proportions. It is, in fact, the world’s largest terrestrial mollusk. We’re talking a 20-centimeter-long (8 in) snail that’s 10 centimeters (4 in) in diameter. This destructive little creature carries a parasitic worm that burrows into humans and spreads meningitis. It consumes at least 500 types of plants and causes permanent damage to the plaster and stucco of buildings. An adult lays up to 1,200 eggs in a single year, and with no natural predators in Florida, there’s no end in sight for its infestation.

It’s a bit of a mystery why giant African land snails populate South Florida. They are illegal to import into the United States without a permit, and no permits have ever been issued. While no one is positive, it seems the pet trade is to blame for the giant snail takeover. The last known invasion was in 1966, when a young boy smuggled three snails into the country as his secret pets. When his grandma found out, she made him set them free in the garden. It cost more than $1 million to eradicate the 18,000 snails that this incident created.

Another suspicion is that the current infestation of hundreds of thousands of giant African land snails in South Florida has been the result of religious ritual. Santeria is an Afro-Caribbean religion steeped in traditions that developed from the Cuban slave trade. Some of the religious rituals put emphasis on the juice of these snails. It’s suspected that they are smuggled into the country for this purpose.^[8]

3 Wild Boars

Wild boars have been roaming free throughout the Sunshine State since the 1500s, when Hernando de Soto brought them to Florida, not as a beloved pet but as a food source. Now, it has been over 500 years, and these feral pigs are nowhere near domesticated. Four million wild boars have spread across the United States, but in Florida alone, there are half a million.

They are an aggressive, tusked, 91-kilogram (200 pound) Old World swine that carry up to 24 diseases, from tuberculosis to cholera, and constantly consume farmers’ feed and even livestock. They are difficult to control, to say the least, as they are basically one giant muscle. There are also all the usual unpleasantries of invasive species, like damaging native plants and competing with native species. It basically messes up the proper chain of events that lets an ecosystem flourish.

As a result of their continued population growth, Florida hunters have trained bloodhounds to track them down at night. There are no rules that limit hunting to a certain season. There are no size, bag, or gender restrictions. Behind the white-tailed deer, the wild boar is the second most popular animal to hunt in Florida. Some inventive entrepreneurs are even flipping the boar problem on its head, making profit by serving them up on a platter and calling them prime pork.^[9] Bacon anyone?

2 African Clawed Frog

Before modern-day pregnancy tests were invented, doctors used an African clawed frog to assess the situation. The procedure involved exposing the frog to a woman’s urine, commonly via injection, and waiting for hours to see what would happen. If the frog laid eggs, it meant the woman was having a baby. This method of pregnancy detection remained popular until the 1970s, when modern pregnancy kits went on the market.

Needless to say, there was a high demand for African clawed frogs until this time. Thousands of these little critters were shipped from South Africa to labs and hospitals, not only in the US but all over the world. To supply the high demand, they were bred in captivity. They were easy to care for, so a pet trade developed around them in the 1950s and 1960s. From unwanted pets and escapees to doctors releasing them from their labs due to technology advancements, they multiplied fast. These frogs with clawed toes live for up to 15 years in the wild, and females create 27,000 eggs per reproductive cycle.^[10] Their growing numbers are alarming, to say the least.

1 ‘Man-Eater’ Nile Crocodile

The Nile crocodile can grow over 6 meters (20 ft) long and weigh as much as a small car. They eat whatever they can get hold of, including the occasional human (hence its description of “man-eater”). From sub-Saharan Africa, they were introduced to South Florida, presumably via the pet trade, even though whoever thought that a crocodile would make a great pet clearly didn’t have a permit.

Nile crocodiles are much more dangerous than the native alligator population in Florida. In six years, American alligators and crocodiles were the cause of 33 human fatalities, but in the same time period, the Nile crocodile killed 268 people. As far as we know, they have been surviving and breeding for at least six years in the Florida swamps.^[11] As if Floridians didn’t have enough monsters lurking in the water.

Our world is full of breathtaking sights, from natural wonders to man-made landmarks. Each corner of the planet is unique and worth a visit. It’s too bad we’ll never get to see most of it. There’s not enough time, and some places are simply out of our reach. Precious few of us will ever travel to Antarctica, climb Mount Everest, or get to see Earth from space.

But what if we told you that you could do all of that? Right now, this very second? While the miracle of teleportation is still some years away, the Internet offers the next best thing: live webcams. Just one click of a button can instantly take you almost anywhere you can imagine.

So why not visit . . . 

10International Space Station

One of humanity’s greatest achievements to date is sending objects into Earth’s orbit and beyond. Yuri Gagarin became the first person to go to space in 1961. Many others have followed in his footsteps since. On top of that, we’ve launched an increasing number of man-made objects up there, including no fewer than 2,500 satellites.

By far the largest artificial object orbiting our planet is the International Space Station (ISS). Launched on November 20, 1998, the ISS is a true testament to what we can achieve when we bring together technological and scientific expertise from across the globe. The ISS functions mainly as a microgravity science lab. It can be manned by up to six people at any given time.

Only a few chosen ones will ever get to step aboard the ISS. These lucky few will get to see the planet in all its glory from up above. The rest of us? We’ll just have to make do with the high-definition streaming webcams, won’t we? One of these is dedicated exclusively to broadcasting superb, high-quality views of Earth as seen from the ISS. Another one lets you listen in on the crew’s chatter and even see them working when they’re on duty. Whichever one you pick, you won’t be disappointed. It’s quite likely as close as can ever get to living among the astronauts.

Watch the webcams here.

9Coral Reefs

Coral reefs are nothing short of spectacular. These “rain forests of the ocean” house and feed as many as 25 percent of all ocean species, sustaining an impressive biodiversity of life. Coral reefs are typically found in tropical and subtropical waters. The largest and most famous of them—the Great Barrier Reef—has taken an astonishing 20,000 years to take its current shape.

But that’s not why most of us find the reefs so fascinating, is it? No, we simply like their pretty colors and the fact that the protagonist of Finding Nemo lives there. We like them so much, in fact, that the coral reefs generate almost $10 billion in tourism and recreation value each year. The flip side is that tourists are contributing to a potentially irreversible destruction of the reefs. That’s what happens when an excited snorkeler snags a piece of the coral to take home as a souvenir. A single second is all it takes to ruin something that’s taken millennia to form.

So if you ever do visit the reefs, remember to leave them intact for future generations. Or you could go for a bit of virtual tourism and simply check out the many high-definition reef cams online.

Watch the webcams here.

8Antarctica

Antarctica is so remote that only the most dedicated among us will ever travel to the interior of this icy continent. There are permanent research bases in Antarctica, but they’re manned by as few as 1,100 people during the harsh winter months, rising to about 4,400 in the summer.

While humans haven’t established a significant presence in Antarctica, millions of penguins call it home. Just one species of these cute creatures—Adelie penguins—number around 3.8 million breeding pairs. Everyone loves penguins, but most people will only get to see them outside their natural habitats—in zoos and sea parks around the world.

At least that used to be the case. Now, thanks to a partnership between the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a few science foundations, you can watch the Antarctic penguins online from the comfort of your home. The penguin cam itself is only operational during the warmer Antarctic months, from October to end of February. The good news is that the webcam of the Palmer Station—the only US research facility on the Antarctic Peninsula—is online at all times. And it’s just one of the Antarctic exploration cams available. So you are free to observe either the penguins or US researchers braving subzero temperatures.

Watch the webcams here.

7African Safari

Those who prefer a warmer climate are often fascinated by the idea of getting close to the wild animals of Africa. African safaris tend to be at the top of “things to do before you die” lists. The continent teems with species not found elsewhere on Earth.

An African safari is easily the trip of a lifetime for many people. Nothing will ever compare to the feeling of actually being there and seeing the elephants, giraffes, and cheetahs in their natural environment. If you’re lucky enough to have the time, money, and energy to take a safari trip, we’d be foolish to discourage you.

But what if you don’t have such an opportunity? Don’t fret, for there’s a South African company that specializes in bringing you as close as possible to these wild animals using the magic of streaming video. Africam has put up cameras in some of the busiest wildlife spots around Africa. These cameras stream live video and sound 24 hours a day. Thanks to night vision, these feeds aren’t entirely useless—and are perhaps even more exciting—after darkness falls.

Watch the webcams here.

6The Northern Lights

Another bucket list favorite is the aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights. Northern lights are formed by charged particles colliding with the atmosphere and bursting into different colors. These range from bright green to deep blue to ruby red, depending on the altitude. The different colors mingle and paint curious patterns in the night sky—a sort of nighttime rainbow.

The aurora is one of the most incredible and mesmerizing sights around. To see it, you usually need to travel to regions near the Arctic, like Canada, Alaska, Iceland, or northern parts of Scandinavia. The best time to catch the northern lights is from September to April. Many tour operators offer packages specifically for those chasing this elusive occurrence.

Not up for traveling? Then you don’t have to. Thanks to modern technology, you can not only predict when and where the northern lights will occur but witness this phenomenon without having to tear yourself away from the computer.

Watch the webcams here.

5Prague City Center

The capital of the Czech Republic is one of the oldest and most beautiful places in Europe. Every year, no fewer than four million tourists flock to Prague, making it the 22nd-most-visited city in the world. The center of Prague is filled to the brim with noteworthy old architecture, from the 14th-century Charles Bridge to the Prague Castle—the biggest medieval castle in Europe.

The quaint Old Town district offers many unique sights of its own. It’s also the location of the oldest functioning astronomical clock in the world, hanging on the wall of the Old Town City Hall. Every hour, two square windows above the clock face open, and a procession of figurines makes its way through, popping in and out of the open windows. This brief show is called “The Walk of the Apostles” and draws crowds of gawking onlookers.

All of these sights and many others are available to anyone with access to the Internet. The camera across the astronomical clock even lets you control the viewing angle and zoom in on the action. So why not catch the apostles doing their thing?

Watch the webcams here.

4Jokulsarlon Glacial Lake

Jokulsarlon is as tranquil as it is tough to pronounce. Jokulsarlon literally translates as “glacial river lagoon,” and it’s pretty much exactly that: a charming glacial lake located close to Europe’s largest glacier—Vatnajokull, in Iceland. It is one of Iceland’s must-sees, and numerous operators offer boating tours to the lagoon. As many of these operators won’t stop reminding you, the lake was also used as a filming location for multiple Hollywood movies, including Batman Begins and Die Another Day.

While it’s truly an awe-inspiring natural wonder, Jokulsarlon’s presence is somewhat bittersweet. Its very existence is the result—and continued evidence—of global climate change. The lake formed in mid-1930s, when the tongue-twisting Breidamerkurjokull glacier started to melt and lose chunks of ice. Since then, the retreating glacier supplied more and more ice to the lagoon. As the glacier disappears, Jokulsarlon grows.

A lone webcam bears witness to this gradual transformation. So tune in and watch live streaming video that tells the tale of disappearing glaciers and thriving glacial lagoons.

Watch the webcam here.

3Tokyo Skyline & Skytree Tower

Tokyo is a dazzling, eclectic clash of hyper-modern architecture, high-speed lifestyle, and traditional Japanese culture. It’s the most populated metropolis in the world with 38 million residents. Each year, millions of foreigners visit Tokyo to absorb its unique fusion of the old and the new.

The city’s skyline is dotted with imposing skyscrapers, including the tallest structures in all of Japan. For decades, the Japanese height record belonged to the 333-meter (1,100 ft) Tokyo Tower. As of 2012, that is no longer the case. The recently completed Tokyo Skytree now absolutely dwarfs the Tokyo Tower, standing a staggering 634 meters (2,080 ft) tall. Tokyo Skytree is the world’s highest self-supporting tower and second-tallest building, losing out only to Burj Khalifa in Dubai.

Skytree’s primary function is as a communications tower, but it doubles as an eerie, blinking Eye of Sauron at night, looming over the city. Think we’re making that up? Then wait until it gets dark in Japan and see the Tokyo skyline and the Skytree Tower for yourself from a conveniently placed webcam. (On some nights, visibility may be limited, but it’s worth coming back for.)

Watch the webcam here.

2Niagara Falls

Three separate waterfalls on the Canada-US border form the Voltron of waterfalls known as Niagara Falls. Two of these—American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls—are on the US side. The one in Canada is called Horseshoe Falls but is sometimes referred to as Canadian Falls to make sure there’s little doubt as to its location.

Niagara Falls was once the go-to destination for newlyweds, as portrayed in the Niagara movie starring Marilyn Monroe. It is still enormously popular with tourists: About 12 million people come here every year. Not only is it a prominent tourist attraction, but Niagara Falls also serves a more practical purpose: supplying a significant amount of hydroelectric power to US and Canadian homes.

A whopping 3,160 tons of water run over Niagara falls every second—90 percent of that over Horseshoe Falls alone. If you wonder what that amount of sheer force looks like, head on over to the three webcams covering the waterfalls and the Niagara River itself, and see it with your own eyes.

Watch the webcams here.

1Mount Everest

Mount Everest is the highest mountain on the planet and a temporary home to hundreds of brave climbers each year. Since it was first conquered in 1953, an estimated 4,000 people have reached the mountain’s 8.8-kilometer (5.5 mi) summit.

Over recent years, the constant stream of ambitious hopefuls has become a bit of a problem. Some days, there are legitimate traffic jams as dozens of people await their turn to continue the climb. On top of that, the ever-increasing crowds leave behind trash that requires separate expeditions to clean up. As one experienced climber described it, “It isn’t a wilderness experience—it’s a McDonald’s experience.”

With the once-pristine peak setting tourist saturation records, there’s some debate as to what should be done about it. Some suggest limiting the number of climbing permits, while others have proposed installing special ropes to make the climb easier and faster for amateurs.

In the meantime, the rest of us can enjoy the view from a webcam aimed directly at the mountain’s summit. It’s operational from 6:30 AM to 5:30 PM Nepal Standard time.

Watch the webcam here.

Daniel’s humor blog may not be particularly exotic, but you can certainly visit it from your couch.

Have you ever dreamed of owning an exotic pet? Some people have lived that fantasy, keeping wild animals as companions. We’ve already told you some uncomfortably odd stories involving some of the strangest pets on the planet.

But the weird and wacky can give way to nightmares in the waking world. Unfortunately for you, if you have ever dreamed of riding around on the back of an unusual creature, this list reveals 10 times when those cherished companions have turned deadly.

10 Cassowary

The world’s most dangerous bird is the cassowary, edging out both the emu and the ostrich for the win. Although a cassowary is as tall as a person, the real threat is closer to the ground.

The bird has 10-centimeter (4 in) swords for claws on the end of its ridiculously powerful legs. A kick from a cassowary can kill you both by blunt force trauma and blood loss. So naturally, they are sometimes sought out by exotic animal collectors as pets.

In Florida, a 75-year-old man was a breeder of these birds until one of them attacked him in 2019. According to officials, he fell to the ground by accident and then the bird struck. The man was probably doomed from the moment he hit the ground as a cassowary can run up to 50 kilometers per hour (31 mph) and jump 2.1 meters (7 ft) into the air despite being flightless.^[1]

This isn’t the first time that a cassowary attack has made headlines. In 2012, a man was chased by a cassowary and cornered on a cliff above a pool of water in Australia. The bird then kicked him in the back, sending him rolling down the embankment into the water below.

He survived but with bruises and a ripped shirt. He hadn’t done anything to upset the cassowary other than being nearby, but it decided to attack anyway.

9 A Red Deer And Elk Hybrid

On his farm in Australia, Paul McDonald was killed by a hybrid of a red deer and an elk (aka a wapiti). His family had kept the normally docile animal for years before it attacked Paul in 2019.

The deciding factor in the sudden mood shift appeared to be mating season. The animal’s hormones were acting up. Red deer stags live as social animals for 10 months of the year, but for two months, they enter a period of “rutting” in which they display more aggression and other sexual behaviors.

According to research on wild populations of deer, violence is connected to changes in testosterone. So, both castration and social isolation are useful in preventing dangerous outbursts in the animals during mating season. Unfortunately, this animal became unexpectedly violent despite its relative isolation from other deer.

One morning, Paul had gone to feed the hybrid breakfast when his wife and son heard a commotion coming from the animal’s area as the beast attacked. His wife attempted to intervene, but she was injured by the animal.

Their son went to get help. After paramedics and police arrived, they treated the injuries and shot the hybrid. Paul died from his injuries, but his wife survived. She was moved to a hospital where she eventually recovered after several operations.^[2]

8 Hippo

In 2011, headlines were made when a South African man named Marius Els was killed by his pet hippopotamus, which he called Humphrey. The death was notable because Els and Humphrey had appeared in media and videos together demonstrating their seemingly friendly bond.

A video called “My Pet Hippo: I Love Humphrey” was uploaded to YouTube earlier in the year that Els was killed. He had rescued Humphrey as a calf from a flood. Around six years later, Humphrey killed Els by repeatedly biting and gouging him.

It was not the first time that Humphrey, the 1,179-kilogram (2,600 lb) mammal, had killed. He had previously destroyed multiple cows that had been owned by a business partner of Els.^[3]

Friends of Els reportedly knew that it was only a matter of time before the deadliest animal in Africa would off a person. Hippos kill more people each year than several more dangerous-sounding species combined, including elephants, lions, leopards, and rhinos.

Els was known for performing dangerous stunts with Humphrey, especially posing for photographs while riding on the animal’s back. At one point before Els’s death, Humphrey had attacked two canoers who passed too close to him on the river, forcing them to climb a tree for safety and remain there for hours.

7 Southern Pig-Tailed Macaque Monkey

Monkeys may not sound like the most dangerous animals in the world. We often associate them with funny behaviors like eating bananas and throwing feces. But the bites of monkeys can be deadly—especially in this case from Malaysia in 2019 when the monkey bit through a major artery.

A 72-year-old man and his son were both attacked by their pet monkey as they were attempting to get it to climb trees and retrieve fruit. It was the older man who died, although the son received an injury to his neck.

The monkey had been trained to gather coconuts from palm trees by going to something called a monkey school. In Malaysia, monkey schools teach a species called the southern pig-tailed macaque to retrieve these fruits to assist the local economy.

The monkeys have been trained this way for at least 100 years, and each one is typically taught at a school for 2–3 weeks before getting a job as a coconut picker. The training begins by creating an interest in coconuts by encouraging the monkey to play with them. Then it proceeds in stages during which the monkey is taught movements and command words.^[4]

The murdering monkey in question was older than the ideal age for these animals to begin their training, which may be why the schooling did not turn out so well for this monkey. The son discovered that his father was lying in their coconut grove and so went to investigate when he was attacked by the monkey as well.

A neighbor heard the screaming, and the son was rescued. But it was too late for the father. It is unknown whether the monkey mistook their heads for coconuts in need of harvest or if it was in a neck-biting mood for some other reason.

6 Black Bear

In 2009, a pet black bear named Teddy killed one of its owners. Despite the animal’s soft-sounding name, this was not a particularly cuddly murder. Kelly Ann and Michael Walz lived in Pennsylvania, and Michael had previously held a license as an exotic pet dealer. That license had expired by the time that his bear killed his wife.

Earlier, the Walzes had kept various animals in cages on their property. These included a lion, a tiger, a jaguar, a leopard, some relatively small savanna cats called servals, and the bear.

But even though Michael had received the animal permit, it was Kelly Ann who was cleaning the black bear cage one Sunday night when the accident occurred. To keep the bear occupied, she tossed a shovelful of dog food to one side of the cage while she cleaned the other side. The bear attacked her while she was cleaning.^[5]

Kelly Ann had been raising the bear for nine years—ever since it was a cub. Bear cubs are relatively easy to handle. But according to experts, any relationships that may be formed with a cub are destroyed when the bear reaches about four years old and reveals violent outbursts of behavior.

Bears have never been successfully domesticated despite attempts (especially in Russia). They are considered wild and unpredictable animals even if they have lived among humans for long periods of time.

5 Camel

Hypothetically, what would you give your wife for her 60th birthday? Jewelry? Flowers? How about a baby camel?

That was the birthday present that Pam Weaver’s husband gave her in 2007. Living in Australia, Weaver was an animal lover who had previously raised goats, kangaroos, emus, and rabbits.

Having a camel in Australia is not as strange as it may sound. Many wild camels have lived on the continent since they were brought there in the 1800s as pack animals. In fact, there are well over a million feral single-humped camels roaming the wilds of Australia as an unusual invasive species. They cause millions in damages to property each year and are a general nuisance.

The pet camel is believed to have knocked Pam Weaver to the ground and then straddled her body, killing her. Pam had raised the camel almost from birth, and it was just 10 months old when the tragedy happened. Reportedly, the camel had displayed erratic behavior before—such as straddling Weaver’s pet goat.^[6]

One expert stated that the strange behaviors were undoubtedly sexual in nature and that the young camel was attempting to engage in some type of mating behavior. Of course, the headlines wasted no time with their insensitive puns, declaring that the woman had been humped to death.

4 Crocodile

In January 2019, an Indonesian woman fell into an outdoor enclosure containing an illegally kept crocodile named Merry. The woman’s name was Deasy Tuwo, and she was the head of a pearl farm laboratory that produced beauty products. It was unknown what a crocodile was doing on the laboratory property because these creatures are not known for their beauty. But apparently, it was being fed like a pet.

It is believed that Tuwo fell into the enclosure by accident or the crocodile was able to leap far enough up the 2.4-meter (8 ft) concrete wall of the enclosure to snatch her. Crocodiles make powerful leaps using their tails to propel them almost entirely out of the water in which they are swimming.

In some places, taunting crocodiles by holding meat above the water and forcing them to jump to grab it is a popular tourist attraction called a “jumping crocodile cruise.”^[7]

By the time that Tuwo’s body was found, Merry had eaten one of her hands and most of her abdomen. To remove the dangerous and illegal reptile from the property, the police, the army, and conservation officials all pitched in.

It took dozens of people to organize and complete the three-hour operation to evict Merry the crocodile. She was then strapped to a flatbed truck and driven away to a wildlife rescue center.

3 Elephant

A man named Ram Lakhan Verma was a politician affiliated with a political party in India called the Bahujan Samaj Party. The official symbol of the party is the elephant. As a gimmick of sorts, Verma kept an elephant as a pet that he would use during political campaigns.

In 2003, the elephant began behaving wildly. So Verma brought him to the outskirts of the village and tried to calm him down. At first, it seemed to be working, but then the elephant became enraged again.

At that point, Verma lashed out and tried to strike the animal on the forehead with a sharp iron rod. Eyewitnesses reported that the weapon ended up lodged in the elephant’s ear. Verma then lost his balance and fell to the ground.

The panicked elephant crushed him to death and then ran back toward the village. Unfortunately for the skittish animal, the villagers were ready. They opened fire on the elephant with their guns and shot him over 200 times in total.^[8]

Did the massacre of their mascot hurt the chances of the political party?

Not so much. In the next countrywide election held in India after the death of the elephant and its owner, the Bahujan Samaj Party won the state assembly election with a non-coalition majority, the likes of which had not been seen in well over a decade.

2 Wildebeest

The gnu, a species of African antelope often called a wildebeest, weighs hundreds of pounds, and both the males and females grow large and intimidating horns. This did not deter one man in Indiana from keeping three wildebeests as pets: an adult male, an adult female, and a calf born to the adults.^[9]

In 2004, Klaus “Dick” Radandt was trampled to death by one of his wildebeests behind his home. The animal had been made safer to handle by cutting off most of its horns, but that turned out not to matter in the end. The coroner declared that the wildebeest had inflicted blunt force trauma to its owner’s head and chest, probably first by ramming him and then by trampling him.

What most likely set the wildebeest off on its murderous rampage? It was the beginning of the mating season. He may have been extra aggressive to prevent Radandt from being around his mate. Radandt and his wife also kept emus, reindeer, and other exotic animals on the farm where he was killed.

His wife discovered Radandt’s body after realizing that he had not come back from the barnyard for quite some time. Presumably, she did not react well when she discovered his body among their implausibility of gnus. Yes, a herd of gnus is called an implausibility. At least you got that fun fact out of this sad story!

1 Black Mamba Snake

In Putnam, New York, a couple was keeping around 75 snakes, including a black mamba, in their home. The black mamba is considered the second-deadliest snake in the world based on its venom’s neurotoxin power.

The snakes were not just roaming free among the cabinets and furniture, of course. They were contained in various glass aquariums and acrylic snake pens. Unfortunately, the locks on the black mamba’s enclosure were mysteriously open one day.

In 2011, the 1.5-meter (5 ft) venomous reptile bit owner Aleta Stacey on her forearm. The snake is known for its venom because nearly 100 percent of bite victims will die within 20 minutes if not treated.

Stacey died from the bite, and it appeared that she had not tried to call for help of any kind. There was some discussion that the death may have been intentional, but proof of this was not found. Her boyfriend discovered her body and then found that the snake’s cage was unlocked.^[10]

The possession of some of the snakes was illegal, especially because over half of them had venom known to be harmful to people (such as the cobra they also owned). In the end, the pile of snakes, including the black mamba, were turned over to the Bronx Zoo.

Alexander R. Toftness runs a science and history channel at https://www.youtube.com/artexplains and can be found on Twitter @ARTexplains for more strange facts.

Whether you want to be that guy at a party with an iguana on your shoulder, or you just can’t live without an adorable little monkey, odds are, you’re into exotic pets! The exotic pet trade is global, and it includes many cute and interesting animals.

Of course, not everything available is necessarily a good pet. Some are incredibly difficult to care for, while others are just plain dangerous. These ten critters may have seemed like a good idea at first, and there are places where you can own them, but you absolutely shouldn’t.

Top 10 Exotic Pets That Killed Their Owners

10 Prairie Dogs

Prairie dogs are adorable rodents found throughout the Great Plains of the United States. They are often seen standing outside their burrows as lookouts for predators. Prairie dogs are a type of ground squirrel, though they don’t have long bushy tails. Regardless, they are cute little critters, so many people have taken them in as pets.

This is probably the worst thing you can do, but not because of potential damage to your home. Prairie dogs are social creatures that live in family groups of between 15 and 26 individuals. These groups are called “towns,” and they can span a large area. Inside their groups, prairie dogs engage in grooming and oral contact called “kissing.”

Depriving a prairie dog of its social grouping means you will have to take the place of dozens of prairie dogs. Taking one as a pet means you’ll have to spend several hours each day grooming and caring for your prairie dog. This may be fun at first, but eventually, the little furball will see less and less of you (in most situations).

Some people have taken in prairie dogs and managed to care for them properly. However, it’s recommended you take in more than one. Caring for them is difficult and time-consuming, so keeping these critters is a responsibility few can fulfill. Ultimately, it’s far better to leave them alone and watch them from afar.

9 Fennec Foxes

Fennec foxes are one of the few foxes taken in as pets, and they are best known for their large ears. They are the smallest of all the canids, weighing less than 3 lbs. (1.3 kg) at most. Their large ears, small size, and adorable features make them desirable as pets (They look like Pokémon). Still, you need to know what you’re getting into if you adopt one.

Fennec foxes are crepuscular by nature, so they are most active at twilight. Even if they are tamed, this isn’t likely to change, so you’re getting a pet that would undoubtedly wake you early in the morning or keep you up at night. They also love to dig and have been known to create large holes, looking for insects to eat.

It is illegal to own Fennec foxes in most places, so you’ll want to check with your local laws to make sure you can have one. If you cross that hurdle, you’ll need to feed your pet properly, and regular dog food won’t cut it. It can become a large part of their diet, but they’ll need more.

You have to supplement their diet with fresh fruit, vegetables, and freshly killed rodents. They will live longer in captivity (14 years instead of 10), but they require a lot of specialized attention and accommodation. They should not be adopted lightly, so do your research and prepare accordingly if you insist on having one.

8 Servals

A serval is a species of wild cat found throughout the non-rainforest regions of Africa. They evolved to have the longest legs of any cat (relative to body size) and are often spotted with a golden-yellow coat. They are gorgeous animals, and while they look somewhat like a domesticated cat, that’s not what they are.

Some serval cats have been tamed, but they aren’t a domesticated species. Despite this, they have held a place in human history for quite some time. Their representation has been found in 4,000-year-old Egyptian art. They were often given as gifts from Nubia, but today, they’re a part of the exotic pet trade.

Servals are illegal to own in many places, but some parts of the world welcome them as pets. The biggest problem with keeping them as pets is that people think of them as a sort of exotic cat. In a way, they are, and they aren’t, but the biggest difference between the two is the Serval’s need for a large area to explore and hunt.

They aren’t going to be content sitting on a bed in your apartment — these animals need to stretch those long legs! They require special (expensive) diets and often need specialized veterinary care. They also mark their territory and don’t adjust to litter boxes well. Ultimately, it’s far better to adopt a standard-issue housecat and leave servals to their natural environment.

7 Capybara

The capybara is the largest rodent species, and it looks a lot like a giant guinea pig. Like everything on this list, they are cute and fascinating animals, which can be adopted as pets. Of course, they’re on this list, and you should avoid adopting them for various reasons.

Like prairie dogs, capybara are social creatures, and they usually move about in groups of 100 individuals. Some live in smaller groups, but they are never alone, and they should never be left alone. They’re rather large, but saying these are the largest rodent species may not paint the right picture.

When they think of rodents, people tend to picture mice or other small animals, but these guys can grow to two feet in height (0.6 meters) and weigh in at 170 lbs. (77 kg). That’s significantly larger than most dogs, and because these are social animals, you can’t keep only one… you’re going to need to get several.

Capybara are legal to own in very few places, and if you do keep them, you’re going to need ample space. They will need a pool of standing water and around 12 feet by 20 feet (3.6 to 6 meters) of space per pair of capybara. They may be cute, but keeping them as pets is costly, challenging, and inadvisable.

6 Kinkajous

Kinkajous, also known as “Honey Bears,” are small frugivorous mammals native to Central and South America. They are related to raccoons, and while they look a bit like primates, they aren’t related to them. They live in the trees and are nocturnal, so they don’t interact with people in the wild.

They are hunted in their natural habitat for the exotic pet industry, though it can be difficult to purchase one. Still, you can get kinkajous as pets in some parts of the world, but like everything on this list, you shouldn’t unless you have a lot of time, money, and space.

Kinkajous may be kept as pets, but they are rarely considered tame. They tend to scratch and bite their keepers in zoos and in homes, so they don’t make for great pets. Their saliva carries dangerous bacteria, which can cause severe and potentially deadly reactions in some people if they are bitten.

Aside from the potential danger, it’s difficult to house a kinkajou in an environment suitable for them. They live in dark rainforests, so they have light, humidity, and flora requirements that can be difficult to maintain. You can get them as pets, but it’s best to leave these creatures in their native habitat.

5 Sloths

Sloths have become popular critters, thanks to the plethora of photographs and videos shared online. They are adorable little slow-moving animals, and pretty much anyone who sees one immediately wants to adopt it as a pet. They are actually legal to own in many places, leading people to believe they could be good family pets. Of course, they’re on this list, so they aren’t!

Sloths may seem cute, so they don’t seem threatening, but they are wild animals. Sloths haven’t been domesticated, and they need to remain in their natural habitat. They thrive in the canopy of tropical rainforests and don’t do well in captivity, even if you take great care of them.

Despite appearances, sloths can be dangerous to people. They have large sharp teeth, and they aren’t afraid to use them. A bite can deliver a bacterial danger to a human, but more than that, they are strong. Pound for pound, a sloth is three times stronger than an average person, so an aggressive sloth can be dangerous.

For the most part, a sloth makes for a lousy pet because it’s stressful for the animal. These aren’t creatures accustomed to humans, so they don’t adapt well to captivity. While it’s true they will live longer if well cared for, they are best left to trained keepers or their natural habitat.

4 Monkeys

There’s no denying that monkeys are adorable. They look like furry little babies you can play with and enjoy. Even Ross had one on Friends for a little while, though David Schwimmer said how much he hated working with it. Monkeys are cute, but they don’t make great pets.

It is legal (in some places) to adopt a monkey, and there are several options. You can legally adopt a capuchin, guenon, tamarin, marmoset, macaque, or squirrel monkey. Ross had a capuchin, which is the most common monkey pet. They are also often used as animal actors, so you’ve probably seen them acting cute on TV.

The reality of owning a small monkey is far different than whatever makes it out of the editing process on a TV show. They can be expensive to buy (around $7,000 and up), and caring for them is also costly. They require diapers, special food, specialized veterinary care, and a lot of attention.

Monkeys can become aggressive and dangerous to you and your family. They can’t be kept in a small home either, as they require a large area to jump and climb. Keeping them in the house is often seen as cruel, so if you want to see a monkey, the best thing you could do is head to your local zoo.

3 Chimpanzees

If your interest in primates extends beyond monkeys, you may decide to bring a chimpanzee into your home. These members of the Great Ape family are our closest animal relatives, so they would make excellent pets, right? No, no, and a thousand more noes! Unfortunately, keeping a chimp is not a good idea.

Regardless, you can keep them in pets in some areas of the world, though it’s illegal in most places. Like monkeys, they require diapers outside their enclosures, as they’ve yet to master toilets. If that doesn’t dissuade you from getting one, they can live for up to 60 years in captivity and require a massive amount of time, money, and attention.

If you’re still on the fence about getting a chimpanzee as a pet, you need to understand that these creatures are unpredictable and incredibly strong. A chimp can weigh up to 154 lbs. (70 kg) and stand as much as 4 feet 11 inches (150 cm). They are also around 1.5 times stronger than a human.

Chimps have been known to become enraged and maul humans. They have the strength to rip a person’s face off. Literally. They are dangerous to strangers and their caregivers, so do as the good Dame Jane Goodall advises, and do not try to keep a chimpanzee as a pet!

2 Tigers

If you watched Tiger King, you’re probably aware of the sad fact that there are more tigers in captivity in the United States than there are in the wild. It’s unfortunate but true, and the numbers are staggering. Around 5,000 of the big cats reside in the U.S., while only an estimated 3,900 are in the wild.

Despite being the largest cats in the world and an apex predator, people have been keeping tigers as pets for centuries. Tigers are, in no way, domesticated animals. They can be kept as pets in loving environments, but at the end of the day, you’re bringing a 600 lb. (272 kg), 11 foot (3.3 meters) monster of teeth and muscle into your home.

While many tigers live in the States, they are illegal to keep in most places. The biggest problem with keeping a tiger is that they need a large area and a lot of food to remain healthy. You can’t take them to the local vet either, so you’re looking at a massive expense that is always hungry.

Captive tigers eat around 9-18 lbs. (4-8 kg) of raw meat five days a week. On top of that, they need to roam in a territory of up to 40 miles (64 km) for males. Females can work with a smaller area, but most people can’t accommodate either. They can be incredibly dangerous, and they can and will eat you should they choose to do so — there’s not a lot you can do to stop that.

1 Bears

Bears are the largest land carnivore roaming the world today. While they do look adorable, they are insanely dangerous. Depending on the species, some bears can grow to massive proportions, and their claws are like small blades attached to all of their paws (which are huge). Despite this, there are plenty of people who have kept them as pets over the years.

Caring for a bear is as difficult as it sounds, but some people do it. They can very rarely make good pets, but only to certain people in very specific situations. Most countries do not allow their citizens to keep bears as pets, but some areas permit special licenses. Still, it’s not advised to take a bear home with you if you’re not a professional keeper… even then, it’s inadvisable.

Bears are large animals weighing up to 1,500 lbs. (680 kg), and they grow quickly. A bear cub can grow into an adult in very short order, and caring for them is not easy. They require a lot of food and a large enough place for them to roam about. They aren’t going to be happy in a small enclosure.

If your pet bear decides it doesn’t like you anymore, that’s pretty much it. In the war between human and bear, the human doesn’t come out on top. These are massive beasts with sharp claws, huge teeth, and the strength to tear a person apart.

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