At least reptiles kept as pets are harmless.
Colorado man died from pet Gila monster’s venomous bite, autopsy shows
But Dave, that's just a gun accident - Gila keeping is protected by the Second Amendment!
Seriously, the guy had pre-conditions and Gilas aren't "monsters" and generally very peaceful. Generally. A toxic bite from a reptile is no laughing matter - painful even to a healthy person. There are two types of reptile toxins, the neurotoxic ones that will impair your breathing system and the ones that will give you an immediate septic shock as they begin to pre-digest the bitten part for later reptile devouring. My four monitors are very tame and good-natured, but once a year or so I am reminded of their razor-sharp micro-teeth when I am distracted for a moment while feeding them pieces of fresh meat - their sense of differentiation between the meat and my fingers - ouch! - isn't great you know. And once bitten they don't let go either, that tasty warm mammal blood ...
Do I believe I'm friends with them?
I believe to them I am a "
non-threatening alien life form that brings food with it" which I guess gives me sort of a deity status with them.
But you know how there have always been uprisings against perceived gods too.
I myself wouldn't wanna keep a seriously toxic animal - if you do, my pet theeory (in a literal sense!) is that you get a kick out of controlling something dangerous ... If the environment was right and affordable, I wouldn't be above keeping an alligator or two (I hear Edith saying: "
Over my dead body which you can then conveniently feed to them!"
) I've been fascinated by reptiles since I was a child and the Africa stay only exacerbated things.
