Fatal Attractions

A man who lived with seven large Nile monitor lizards and a woman who kept several species of venomous snakes have fatal run-ins with their pets. Their fascination with a potentially deadly hobby ultimately led to their demise.

People who keep dangerous big cats such as tigers, lions and leopards as pets learn how small mistakes can have devastating consequences. A misinterpreted mood or an open cage door can lead to disaster.

Our closet animal relatives are six times as strong as an average adult man, but have the temperament of a five-year-old child. Despite chimps' strength and wild tendencies, some people believe they make loving companions.

Two families are torn apart by the consequences of keeping big cats close at hand, as they make the mistake of assuming that the animals are domesticated and could never pose any threat to them.