This prompt got me thinking back to my secondary school days. I attended a boarding school, and since it was international, people from some other parts of the world came there. I had a female classmate who had managed to come into the hostel with a pet snake. She called it "Kelly". The students were terrified of it, including myself, but she claimed it was not poisonous, and she had lived with it for years. According to her, she grew up with the snake, and it has never done any harm before. Probably because she wasn't Nigerian, and with the influence of her parents, the hostel mistresses concealed this, until one Tuesday night, Kelly went missing.
That night was one of the most terrifying nights I have ever had. Nobody knew how Kelly escaped her glass jar, but luckily for us, after school security got involved, it was found at a corner inside the refectory, and we were just about to eat dinner before we learnt that it was gone. Students protested and Kelly was killed. The girl was too sad and depressed, that her parents had to withdraw her from the school. But then, why on earth would you even own a snake for a pet? Or even bring it to school?
These animals are called wild because they are almost untameable. Even the professionals that handle them are always careful not to get caught up in dangerous situations. So why would someone else who isn't a professional own a Lion? Or a tiger for that matter? I still find it hard to accept huge dogs like German shepherds as pets, let alone having a Lion or a tiger, or a bear, or even a snake just like my one time classmate had, as a pet.
From the definition I know, pets are supposed to be friendly. And these aforementioned animals ain't friendly at all. Even if they somehow manage to evolve and care for their owners, what happens when a surprise visitor comes? Lions would most likely snack on them. I can't even imagine that.
The truth is that some of us still find it hard and almost difficult to cope with the domestic animals that are meant to be kept as pets. So please, Lions and the rest that have originally be known to be wild animals, should be restricted to the zoos or the jungle. If one has the need to see them, the person can visit the zoo. Owning such wild animals will not only endanger one's life; it will endanger the lives of others as well.
Imagine we never found out that kelly was missing, and had proceeded to the refectory to eat. Despite their claims that it was harmless, I wonder till this day what would've happened if it had suddenly wrapped itself around someone.
In conclusion, wild animals are called wild because they do not belong at home. One can decide to sponsor their optimal care, but don't bring them home. There's no need going through all that trouble. Let's manage our pet cats and dogs.
