8 Documentaries Which Will Change The Way You See The World

4. The Elephant In The Living Room

Most people are probably aware of how endangered some of the planet's most exotic species have become in recent years, although few will realise just how many of these creatures can be found dotted throughout American homes. From lions and tigers to Burmese pythons and puff adders, beautiful yet deadly animals living in private hands in the US often outnumber their wild equivalents. The Elephant in the Living Room goes behind the scenes of these exotic "pet" owners and examines the long-term negative consequences €“ and the growing problem €“ America is facing. As well as offering a broad overview of the exotic pet market in America (secret filming reveals, among other things, a young boy excitedly buying a baby puff adder, carrying around this most deadly of snakes in a plastic box sealed with sellotape) it focuses on Ohio police officer Tim Harrison who heads a special division dealing with exotic pets, and Terry Brumfield, an ailing man struggling to cope with his two African lions. While you can't help but think how foolish some of these people are to allow deadly animals into their homes, there is an undercurrent of sympathy to be had, especially for the big cat owners, who love their animals every bit as much as other people care for their regular cats and dogs. That said, the sight of an escaped lion on the freeway "playing" with passing cars is enough to make anyone question the sanity of moving such animals into populated areas. The fact that some States have stricter guidelines for regular domesticated dogs than they do for deadly snakes and poisonous insects will have you scratching your head in disbelief.