>>5031815
according to zookeepers, komodos (at least when used to the presence of people) are actually quite gregarious and will come up to you for scratches and stuff. Even stuff like croc monitors can be tamed down, and a bite from those can be just as lethal as a komodo despite the massive size difference (for obvious reasons)
>>5032259
That's nuts I didn't realise Stumpy lizards were so valuable or sought after in some places. In my state in Australia they're the only lizard where you can have literally as many as you want as a pet without any sort of permit. But most don't bother with them as as pet. I see them in my garden sometimes, they eat my flowers but I don't mind. People here think any blue-tongues in the garden is a good omen because it's widely believed they keep snakes away.
>>5032906
Australia has a mega hard-on for keeping all their herps in-country. There are a few, select specimens of shinglebacks outside the country, but you're going to be on a waiting list and several thousands in debt just for the chance at one. None are being released from Australia for breeding populations - not for zoos, not for anyone.
>>5034513 >Be me >3 or 4 years ago >wake up in middle of night >turn around to look at clock >it's nearly 3AM >hear a rattling down stairs >sneak downstairs to investigate >see a hooded masked figure looking through drawers in the livingroom >realise it's an intruder >territorial instinct activated >feel an immense feeling of spite and rage surge through my body >creep and crawl up to intruder on hands and feet >he can't hear me because of his rummaging through my belongings >feel like a coiled spring, like I'll rip his head off at the flap of a fly's wing >at couple of metres away he looks over >leap at him as soon as he did >don't think he actually seen me, he might of actually looked back to what he was doing >grabbed his leg and bit him like a wild animal >He jumps and falls over in shock >his ankle is getting mauled by something he can't quite see >he tries to stand up but I stand up with his leg and he falls down on his ass >he gets dragged about the floor >start kicking the shit out of him >he tries to get up again kicking and crawling but I grab him in a choke before that >realise I forgot that i'm buck naked >think it would terrify him if I pretend i'm gonna rape him >whisper something deranged and creepy (don't remember what it was exactly. Something really gay anyways) >he starts bucking like a feral mustang >gets free and bolts out the door >turn the street lights on and got a glimpse of his jacket >know who it was >he knows who I am >he doesn't know that I know, or if he does he's unsure >mfw I cross paths with him
>>5032906 >in Australia
You guys have it good. Coolest reptiles all around while the rest of the world gets scraps cause Australia doesn't export shit.
The only thing easing the pain is that some monitors are common in the trade even outside of Australia.
>>5036331
It goes both ways. Australians have no tortoises or salamanders, only like 2 colubrids neither of which are common or particularly good pets, basically no frogs that aren’t tree frogs, etc
