When Exotic Pets Turn on Owners

In 2020, a Florida man was killed while trying to feed a friend’s 600-pound pet tiger housed in a backyard enclosure. He entered the cage without permission—just to “pet it,” according to reports—and the tiger instantly pounced.

First responders found him unresponsive with a crushed skull and massive bite wounds. The owner, who held a license, claimed the tiger was “usually calm.” But wildlife officials didn’t buy it. The attack reignited fierce debate about whether big cats belong anywhere near suburbia.