When Exotic Pets Turn on Owners

In 2015, a Texas rancher was killed when his pet camel knocked him down and trampled him to death. Authorities believe the camel became aggressive after the owner denied it a bucket of Coca-Cola, which he regularly gave as a treat.

The massive animal pinned him against a fence and continued stomping until another worker intervened. While camels are often seen as calm and even comical, they can turn lethal in seconds—especially when they’ve been treated like giant pets instead of unpredictable livestock.