The Elephant in the Living Room (2010) User Reviews

These people are nuts!!

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 10 February 2012]

Normally I wouldn't be quite so blunt in my summary, but wow--the people featured in this film who owned these incredibly dangerous 'pets' were crazy!! While I knew there were a lot of sick folks who owned big cats and chimps, I didn't realize the problem was that bad. The documentary folks do two things--travel with people who are trying to get these animals away from irresponsible owners as well as show the owners themselves. While the film is clearly against most folks having these animals as pets, it equivocated a bit from time to time--such as Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation officials saying that they were NOT in favor of banning the owning of these animals and the film portrayed the owners rather decently.

Overall, a very bizarre but important film--important because crocodiles, tigers, chimps and the like are quite probably living near you! In fact, the Dayton, Ohio locale for some of the film was a bit scary, as I used to live between Dayton and Cincinnati--and there are apparently LOTS of insanely dangerous animals in that area.

Also, the film apparently came out just before the biggest and scariest story about insane people with exotics--the man near Zanesville, Ohio who deliberately released his dangerous managerie (which included 18 tigers) and then killed himself!! Wow...

Horrifying!

[jz-rcsw · 7/10 · 20 February 2012]

Unlike many of the reviewers, I felt nothing but anger and contempt for Terry, the jailer of these poor animals. Although he professed his "love" for his lions, he was barely able to take care of himself, much less these magnificent creatures. He preferred to confine them to a horse trailer rather than find a sanctuary which would give them a better life. Watching Lambert's agonizing and unnecessary death in his squalid cage will give me nightmares for many nights to come.

The true hero of this film is the officer who has no legal recourse to remove these animals and tries in every way to make their lives bearable. The true villains are the state legislatures which have refused to ban the sale and keeping of exotic pets. Even the footnote at the end of the film has its ironies. While Governor Strickland signed a law banning the sale and keeping of exotics in Ohio, his unworthy successor, John Kasich has taken much of the teeth from the law.

Well done

[asc85 · 7/10 · 4 March 2012]

As someone in America who frequently watches Animal Planet and the National Geographic channel with my wife, this is not a subject that I was unfamiliar with. And I must say it was a very well done story. The fact that it takes place primarily in the Dayton, OH area was an excellent choice, because if stuff like this happens so frequently in a non-major market like Dayton (no offense to Dayton intended), this kind of thing must truly be happening all over the United States.

Before I saw this film I thought it would show multiple stories of people having exotic animals. It really focuses on just one story, about a guy with two (then six) lions, and the story is such an interesting one that I was glad that's what they did. You do see news clips about other exotic animal attacks, some shows/supermarkets where exotic animals are sold (all legal, by the way), and some wacky people from Nevada (one couple, and one "professor") who defend ownership of exotic animals. As they say in the movie, this is a disaster waiting to happen

The truth may be hard to take, but it needs to be swallowed!

[lori-19-277396 · 10/10 · 21 September 2011]

I for one will back Tim Harrison 150% on his claims in this film. Having been the person answering the phone for more than five years at a non-profit exotic animal sanctuary whose mission is to provide permanent 'end of life' care to captive-raised, non-domestic animals like those depicted in the film, I know what he says to be true! We, too, field more than 100 requests each year to 'adopt', or graciously accept private owners' "donations" (such a grand term for dumping their burdens on us) of their grown-up big cats, monkeys, iguanas, pythons, giant tortoises, bears, and other non-domestic 'pets'. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE for having living beings caged in this way? There is no valid reason other than to satisfy human ego, curiosity, and for profit. Period. If the general public doesn't know that's the case, then this film is a great starting point to become informed! It is not a horror-fest, so don't be afraid!! It is not purely a "message movie", either. This film is a piece of excellence in filmmaking, an extraordinary story-telling feat, and one every single American should see.

Very informative documentary about the horrors of the exotic pet trade and the tragic lives of the animals involved.

[missdawnann · 10/10 · 2 April 2011]

This movie will shock and astound you. It follows the work of a county officer/firefighter/paramedic, Tim Harrison, who takes the calls concerning loose large cats, poisonous snakes, or anything else of the sort that are released by owners or escape from their enclosures. He works to remedy dangerous and unhealthy situations for these animals by serving as a placement coordinator where he can. During the film we meet an owner who loves his pet lions, but keeps them in extremely confined conditions that become progressively worse after one escapes and chases cars down the highway. We see the tragedies unfold until he decides it is no longer feasible to keep the remaining lions and permits Tim to assist rehome them. You get a peek into some of the exotic pet auctions that will leave you with haunting images of primates, hyenas, and bears being sold like cattle to people with no sort of permit or certification. The reptiles people have access to is unbelievable. After seeing this film one realizes the importance of having laws in place to control this trade.

Incredible, eye-opening film!

[kimberlylcurtis · 10/10 · 2 April 2011]

This is a must-see for anyone concerned about animal welfare or the welfare of their community (which includes almost everyone!). We see exotic animal incidents from all over the country and closely follow a heart-breaking story of a man and his lions. Most people (including me until I saw this film) have no idea how easy it is to purchase exotic animals and simply keep them in your home as if they were no different from a dog or a cat. How is it possible that you need a license to keep a dog, but not an elephant? This film shows why it shouldn't be possible, and blows the lid off an industry that turns a blind eye to human and animal suffering.

The Elephant In the Living Room

[Saganlewis · 27 December 2009]

This film contains absolutely fascinating information.Its a story that hasn't been told and everyone in the U.S. should know about it.I watched the film twice and each time I was mesmerized. Tim is a character who is charismatic, devoted to his mission and sincere. He's a modern American hero and should probably have his own TV show on this subject. Terry is a little tough to watch.I wondered at his naive stance. If the content of this film is true (and I think it is)it should be required viewing at zoos, schools,and pet stores. We have an alarming epidemic in America and nobody is talking about it. Maybe THE ELEPHANT IN THE LIVING ROOM will help uninformed Americans wake up.

In a backyard near us!

[robnjeannie · 10/10 · 22 March 2010]

This is the most amazing movie we have seen on the big screen in years! We were privileged enough to see the premier of this film in Dayton, Ohio tonight. We laughed, we cried, we were on an emotional roller coaster throughout the movie. Cant wait until its available to buy! You wont be disappointed! Eye opening on the issues we have in our country. It was enlightening, heartwarming, educational, and funny. My kids enjoyed it just as much as we did. This is the first time a documentary film has impacted me in such a way that I felt the need to get involved and help with the cause. It was amazing to see many of the problems in our own back yards that we never knew existed.

Horrid and depressing

[MikeyB1793 · 3/10 · 17 June 2013]

This is about half-wits who keep tigers, lions, chimpanzees... as pets – for the same reason that normal people have normal pets as in dogs and cats. They don't seem to realize that these pets will get bigger and significantly stronger – and that essentially these are wild animals.

One feels extremely sorry for the two lions (a lion and lioness) kept in a make-shift cage by railroad tracks. Here are animals that should be roaming the savannah for miles and miles and are kept in a rusty cage forced to lie in their feces. We actually see the lion die on camera, he is electrocuted due to faulty wiring. It's so depressing.

We also get these constant news clips of people who are maimed or killed by their "pets" – crocodiles, chimpanzees, venomous snakes...I felt most of those depicted in this film should have been prosecuted for cruelty to animals. It's all so horrid and dismal.

Best Film on Human and Exotic Animal Relations Ever

[monica_karaba · 10/10 · 30 May 2010]

I have been permanently altered by this documentary, one of the best animal and human relations films I have ever seen. Even two months after seeing it at the Sonoma International Film Festival, I keep reflecting on the many beautiful and heart-wrenching stories interwoven in this compelling and unbelievable tale of the lives of exotic animals and the people who buy and own them in the United States. It will open your eyes to the true cost of allowing exotic animals to be imported into our country. And the plight is not only for the animals but for the people who buy, love, and care (or try to care) for them. Compassion, courage, and candor are what make this movie so touching and real. You get more than just a passing glimpse into the lives of people affected by exotic animal ownership. You will come to love a real American hero, Tim Harrison, as he tries to walk the fine line between caring for both the animals and the people affected by the choices they make in becoming exotic animal owners. You will also be moved by the story of Terry, a man in Ohio who was given the gift of a lion cub one fateful day. What is so great about The Elephant in the Living Room is that the director, Michael Webber, clearly followed his heart in creating this film. Instead of a superficial story, he traveled all over the country painstakingly documenting and following the lives of some unique individuals and animals that you will never forget. Lambert the Lion will stay in my heart forever. Thank you for making this film, Michael!

Very Moving!

[ah355305 · 10/10 · 31 March 2011]

This film changed my opinion about ownership of exotic animals in a way that I would have never expected. Before seeing this film I must say that I would have thought owning an exotic cat or reptile as a pet would be interesting, however now I understand that these animals need more than a private owner can give them. I was moved to tears by Terry's story and I have learned so much from watching it. Exotic animals deserve to be able to act like animals, to run on grass, to have wide open spaces to move, to interact with other animals. The unending love that Terry has for his lions shines through in his ability to make the best choices for them in the end despite his want to keep them with him. This is also a beautiful film about human nature and people who truly have a caring and loving spirit for animals and other people. Please go see this film if you have any interest in the needs and rights of these animals, or if you just want to be taken on a journey with thrills, tears, joy, sadness, and human triumph.

Shame, shame on the humans doing this

[reviews1958 · 9/10 · 5 December 2017]

What an eye-opener. I simply had no earthly idea what is going on with "exotic animals" in the United States. I mean WTF. Who in their right mind would keep wild animals as household pets? This needs to be outlawed in all 50 states. I applaud the effort made in the state of Ohio and all 49 other states need to follow suit - immediately. On top of my disbelief at the statistics of the number of lethal creatures there are in US households, I could hardly believe what the Amish are doing. They have one of the main sources for the purchase of these creatures that need to be living life in their own natural habitat. Not in homes where they can literally kill or maim a young child at any given moment because this has happened - repeatedly. Not a one time occurrence. There should be a law that if someone has this type of creature and the creature causes harm or death to a human, that person should be held liable and serve prison time. Period. I thank the producer for this documentary and opening my eyes as I plan to contact my local representatives to find out what the laws are where I live and if this practice is allowed, to petition to prohibit it. Permanently. Geesh. I wonder just how more mad humans can get. I mean mad in a mentally ill state. Good heavens people, this is what domesticated animals are for.

Absolutely Infuriating

[christineaaberg-890-758146 · 9/10 · 7 January 2014]

This is an excellent documentary about a horrific subject. It's shocking and depressing to know there's so much ignorant white trash out there who think owning deadly predators and exotic animals is in any way okay. And that our local governments allow it, despite the death toll of both humans and animals, and the often terrible living conditions and fates of the animals involved.

The lion owner, Terry, who the documentary largely focuses on...I don't think I've ever actually hated a person featured in a documentary before, but that's what I felt towards him. Pure disgust and hatred. This man chose to deal with his depression by acquiring a male lion, named Lambert, and then a lioness later on. He kept these 500-pound animals in a tiny trailer not big enough for my dog for months and months. They eventually had four cubs (one died almost immediately) and were moved to a slightly larger cage.

I just don't see how those lions weren't taken away from him the first time one escaped and was attacking cars in traffic. The conditions these creatures were kept in were heartbreaking-- a pathetically small, filthy cage. Terry says so many times throughout the documentary how much he "loves" his lions, even while those lions are lying in mud and their own feces. The situation continues to deteriorate until Lambert dies a slow, excruciating death from an electrical accident. You get to watch the lion jump around his wet cage and roar in agony, with nowhere to escape, before his body finally gives out. So that four-year-old lion spent his entire short life confined in squalor before finally dying a painful death. But his owner "loved" him so much.

That's the reality for these animals. As is stated in the documentary, there are no happy endings for these animals. The moronic people who purchase and acquire them often have no idea what they're getting into and are poorly equipped to care for the animals, so most end up being put down, abandoned or dying in some other tragic way.

I don't understand this country I live in, where cities ban entire dog breeds yet allow people to own tigers in their home. It makes absolutely no sense. I hope documentaries like this wake people up and inspire real change.

Creepy, dirty, unfit, and nutty people who own big cats.

[tcboath · 4/10 · 25 March 2023]

It's an eye opening film in the way it exposes how many people buy and sell all kinds of animals that have no place in a home. Oddly many of the owners who choose to own these exotic animals appear to be in situations where other facets of their life could use the attention and finances dedicated to these so called pets. I will say that FAR too much time is spent on one of the situations and when things go south it's no surprise. This is far from a "feel good movie". Prepared to be saddened and appalled by the exotic pet industry as a whole. For sure it makes me want to avoid the state of Ohio!

Absolutely Disgusted

[scooterreed · 10/10 · 24 February 2022]

I can barely express how disgusted I am by what I saw in this documentary. Wild animals deserve to be free. Wild animals should not be bred for captivity, picture taking, or for people who have small appendages to "own". The person who has two lions in a horse trailer deserves to be severely fined and put in jail! The lions are laying in excrement, have no water, and have no food. This is just as bad as having a wild animal in a cement environment. The Lions obviously have no veterinary Care! Otherwise, how would four Cubs magically appear? Wild animals, especially large cats and primates, have no place in private ownership. Republican lawmakers, especially in texas, need to wake up and stop the abuse! Democrats already know that this is a really ignorant practice. I am a wildlife biologist by training and I'm just abhorred by this practice. Stop abusing wildlife!

A Real Eye-Opener

[bball_cay · 10/10 · 4 December 2013]

Wow. As an animal rights enthusiast, this film was incredibly sad to watch. The viewer cannot help but side with Tim Harrison, with his compassionate and also passionate drive to help animals under all circumstances. I don't know how he was even able to restrain himself every time he tried to hold a conversation with Terry. Terry was presented in this movie as being very ignorant and selfish, and I don't doubt that this is how he was outside of filming towards the exotic animals he called his "pets". Him and thousands of other exotic pet owners are not even giving a thought to how these wild animals feel as "pets", something easily controlled and put in horrible circumstances. This, along with the public safety concerns surrounding the majority of large and/or poisonous animals, is why it is crucial that the ownership of exotic animals needs to be banned in North America. Especially considering many of these animals are put in stressful situations and are endangered. This movie really gives the viewer something to think about.

Engaging, informative and sincere

[mingsphinx · 10/10 · 29 December 2016]

It feels like your heart is getting ripped right out of you when you see what happens. Almost as if you are right there. Even though the narrative is told mostly through an animal lover's perspective -- which seeks to restrict the ownership of exotic pets -- we also hear from those who think otherwise. He may be the subject of much condemnation on these boards, but Terry's dilemma with his pet lions really does articulate the position many owners of exotic pets find themselves in: they love the animals and would defend them with their lives, but a wild and dangerous animal taken out of its natural habitat poses a threat to all.

The sincerity of everyone involved in this film really does shine through. But the central character, Tim Harrison, comes across particularly as someone who genuinely cares about animals. It was Tim's authenticity that colored much of the material and it was the trust he fostered that made it possible to gain the kind of access needed to make this film.

Well worth your time to watch this even if you disagree with the premise.

This movie broke my heart...

[debrahnava-52496 · 10/10 · 18 May 2018]

So incredibly sad! The exotic pet trade is scary if only for the animals who get caught in it's cycle. The owners - who despite their good intentions do great harm to these creatures. The story of the beautiful gentle Lambert the Lion, and his beautiful little family. How gentle he was protecting his lioness and gogeous cubs. I don't think I'll ever be the same after viewing his accidental electrocution death by freak accident. His painful groans forever etched in my mind! I love animals probably more than I do people and that's why I believe we need laws at the federal level protecting people from having them as pets. If they have a non-profit sanctuary, and are not breeding and selling them. But even these organizations need to be watched carefully for the welfare of the animals.

Documentary about those who keep exotic animals as pets.

[ltlacey · 1/10 · 17 February 2012]

My low rating for this film is just because of this one very specific scene: Where we have to watch and hear a male lion slowly get electrocuted to death. People are screaming as no one knows what happened or is still going on, the female lion won't let him into the little hut since there was no room there either, so we watch this poor lion trying to get away from whatever it is that is causing him so much pain until the poor thing finally dies. Take out this scene and make some little blurb for the audience so that we just learn about his unfortunate death and you have a very decent documentary (rating of a 9) about people who like to keep exotic animals and the reasons why we should not.

Eye Opener

[dcarroll74 · 10/10 · 15 August 2020]

I have no idea how to begin but, I know how I end so, the end is probably the beginning. I speak as an Irishman so, take what I say in your own way.

It's interesting that these people are hell bent in owning animals that start with African, Burmese, Mexican, etc. which are not native to America yet, have no problem with the virtual extinction of America's native species; Buffalo, Couger, et al.

It's also interesting that in the current American climate, Animals have more right to ingress to America, than humans; and these animals don't even have rights in the first place. Strange that.

I abhor animal captivy however, I must make exceptions with regards to Zoos. They have been around for over 200 years, most current species on show are derieved from their ancestors therefore, mass release would actually cause more harm to them than good. Thankfully, the past 20 years or so have changed attitudes regarding Zoos, it's just a pity that nothing has changed regarding human nature and wild animals.

Derogatory remarks on a postcard please, I have rolls of toilet paper.

Here Kitty Kitty

[NoDakTatum · 8/10 · 7 November 2023]

If I didn't know this film was a documentary, I would be singing its praises for being such a well-constructed fictional drama. Tim Harrison is a public safety officer, and a member of a non-profit organization called Outreach for Animals. He goes on call after call dealing with exotic animals that have escaped or were released by overwhelmed owners, animals that put Tim's and other's lives in jeopardy. What exotic location does Tim work at, where one year he had over two dozen calls about nuisance alligators and crocodiles? Ohio. Terry Brumfield was disabled in a truck accident, and found solace and comfort in a new pet- a male African lion named Lambert. Terry raised him from a cub, and added female Lacy a few months later. Terry keeps them penned up on his junk-strewn property, but Lambert managed to escape anyway, earning the duo a new holding pen- a hot old horse trailer.

Director Webber makes it evident that Tim and Terry will eventually meet, interspersing this suspenseful story with shorter vignettes from both sides of the exotic pet debate. Dozens of states have no laws restricting ownership of animals like bears, cougars, venomous snakes, and elephants- providing the film with its great metaphorical title. Watching hidden camera footage of children hauling away new "pets" from irresponsible auctions is nothing short of haunting. Burmese pythons dumped in the Florida Everglades are now breeding, and many are put down (shot) on sight because there are not enough responsible parties to take them. Webber combines the Tim/Terry battle of wills with familiar news footage showing the viewer the dangers of having these animals. The footage Webber has indicates he must be sitting on hundreds of hours of coverage. A documentary documents, and the fact that cameras (both Webber's and other's) are present during some of the life-changing events concerning Terry and the lions cannot be attributed to luck. The death of one animal near the end of the film is sad, disturbing, and frustratingly preventable, and Webber does not exploit it to prove his point. While people are finally talking about the proverbial and literal elephant in the living room, the phenomenon sparked its own cable television series, Michael Webber has put a fresh spin on a tragedy tinged with familiarity. "The Elephant in the Living Room" was one of the better, more provocative efforts I saw that year.

Don't be fooled, this is incredibly boring and poorly made

[trancesucked · 1/10 · 29 December 2014]

TL;DW caged animals are a problem.

This entire documentary is an hour and a half of two guys telling stories that you know the ending to, separated by random news clips while sad, repetitive music plays through the entire thing. It could be condensed down into about five minutes. One guy is a bunch of weepy regret with shots of him crying and shots of his caged lions, the other guy just says "I once caught this, I once caught that" over and over and over.

Ten lines of text,

Ten lines of text,

ten lines of text.

Analysis of the "Elephant in the Living Room" Documentary: Insider's Point of View

[rexanomyspace · 1/10 · 4 September 2011]

REXANO was featured in this documentary. The movie follows an Oakwood, Ohio public safety officer Tim Harrison, who is a failed former exotic animal owner. He admits giving up his pet lioness years ago, when she grew big and he couldn't handle her. It is not clear how he went from a failed pet owner to an exotic expert; it appears he is self-taught, just like most exotic animal owners.

Tim claims that over 10 years ago, he used to receive less than 10 calls a year regarding exotics, but nowadays it's over 100 calls per year.

The movie doesn't give us the breakdown of how many calls ended up with animals sighted and captured, and how many were a case of mistaken identity by liquored up house wives. The movie only offers old pictures or supposed re-enactments of old cases, Tim holding gators, or two kids supposedly playing with a Gabon viper in a garage (It is strange there is no media coverage of the Gabon story, other than Tim claiming it happened in his interviews). When it comes to the recent reports of people claiming to see big cats at large, the cat is never found. The movie revealed Tim's concerns over two lions owned by Terry Brumfield, a depressed disabled truck driver, who got the cubs without any forethought. The cubs helped him with his depression.

Even though Terry loved his lions, it is impossible not to get angry at him. After his male lion escaped his poor caging and chased cars, Terry successfully recaptured him without incident. Afterwards his two lions, were housed in a nasty horse trailer where four cubs were born, bringing the total of lions to six. Tim helped Terry rebuild the cages; the reconstructed caging was nasty, not worthy of a "king". With the continual showcasing of Terry's lions horrible living conditions and not showing responsible owners' caging, the viewer undoubtedly believed that all private captive lions live in such deplorable conditions. Tim spoke in absolutes and falsely claimed there were no "happy ends" pertaining to private exotic and wild animal ownership.

Tim browses through Animal Finder Guide (AFG), which is a publication for exotic animal owners to learn and post want/sell ads. The majority of animals currently for sale in AFG are exotic hoof stock, not big cats or apes. Tim shows few examples of big cats given away for free. Those were not exotic pet cats; those were cats from a USDA licensed facility that is closing and looking for another USDA facility to place their animals for free.

He showed AFG pages with pictures. One showed baby tigers; this is an ad for milk replacement formula, not a tiger for sale ad. Another was a cover picture of a white tiger with Christmas theme. This tiger was definitively not for sale; this is our 13 year old tigress Pepper when she was younger, and we provided this picture to AFG .We have no intention of ever selling her! Director Webber followed Tim with hidden camera to the reptile show. In one case a father and son buy a small alligator, in another case a father and son buy a 10 foot constrictor. In both cases, the film crew talked to the kid and asked if that was his new pet, in both cases kids said that it was indeed their new pet. This is the same joking that occurs when parents are buying a car, and the salesman jokes with kids if this is their new Ford Cobra, Dodge Viper, Mercury Cougar or Jaguar.

Venomous reptiles for sale were properly packaged with red tape. Tim bought a venomous Puff Adder, took it outside and did exactly what he criticizes others for: he removed the snake from the plastic container, handled it with his bare hands, while milking it with a hook. No mention of anti-venom is made in case the snake escaped and bit somebody.

If Webber wanted to only show the developing story between Terry and Tim, he should not have included all the sensational captive exotic animal attack news clips throughout the movie. He should have only featured these two men, so it would be clear to the audience there was no hidden agenda/propaganda to the story. If Webber wanted to include the sensationalized clips, he should have included more PRO exotic footage for fairness; show footage of our proper big cat cages to demonstrate how responsible exotic animal owners build quality enclosures. Instead, mostly the "bad stuff" was featured, and the viewer will unfortunately leave the theater with the wrong impression that Terry is the typical big cat irresponsible owner, which is far from the truth. Terry was a great choice for a tear-jerker documentary--a man with problems who owned dangerous animals, needed help and the hero savior Tim Harrison comes to Terry's rescue. In reality, Terry was a horrible choice, it painted exotic owners as weak, irresponsible people, who cannot responsibly handle our animals we love, and unless we get outside help, we are incapable of making it on our own. For the movie to be fair (aka boring for ratings), a strong responsible person should have been cast against Tim and Terry. Unfortunately, this movie, even if well intentioned to bring the attention to the occasional bad owner, will seriously hurt the responsible exotic animal community. Since 1990, captive big cats kill on average one person per year in USA, venomous snakes 0.9, non-venomous snakes 0.5, elephants 0.8, bears 0.25 and non-human primates 0. Those killed by exotics are owners/handlers/trainers/family.It is occupational/hobby hazard, not public safety issue. The lion owner Terry died in fall 2010, when his car collided with a train. He didn't die as a result of an animal attack; he died in traffic accident which kills up to 45,000 people each year in USA, which is approximately 123 deaths each day.

Worst documentary I have seen in many years

[ittibambagua · 1/10 · 28 June 2015]

This documentary is a fascinating exercise in selection. It makes no attempt to tell multiple points of view, but is instead solely made to promote one contention - that ownership of unusual animals is necessarily bad.

I have kept venomous snakes and am proud of my high standards and protocols in keeping these creatures, and the fact that I have never had a single dangerous incident, ever. I am also proud of the fact that I constantly strive to keep these animals to the highest standards. I am always thinking about how I can improve their welfare and health.

Some of the species I keep are in grave danger in the wild. I am proud of the fact that private keepers like me represent what may be a last chance for the survival of these species. I know zoos well and know many zookeepers... and zoos on their own do not have the resources to ensure the survival of the huge number of animal species at risk. Incidentally, none of my animals were taken from the wild - all are the result of many generations of breeding in captivity.

This documentary, however, is out to make a political case against the private keeping of unusual animals. It centres around two individuals: the first is Tim Harrison, who is presented as a noble and heroic enforcement officer. I would have preferred a film in which Tim's views and politics were compared with that of his far more knowledgeable and experienced brother, Jim, from the Kentucky Reptile Zoo.

The other individual is Terry Brumfield, an invalid man who has a child-like love of his lions and who is completely out of his depth in looking after them. While this is shocking, Terry does not represent the vast majority of animal keepers. Most keepers I know are highly experienced and can discuss animal husbandry, health, behavior, toxicology, genetics, classification and biology (to name just a few things) in great detail. I have never met anyone like Terry Brumfield; clearly he should not have been keeping big cats and there was a need to bring this to an end in his case. Of all the keepers out there, Michael Webber (the director) chose Terry Brumfield as the film's representative keeper. Dishonest and grossly unfair.

While there is a danger of people like Terry owning such animals, this film puts a case for the banning of all unusual creatures, for everyone and everywhere.

The depiction of a reptile show is particularly laughable. Tim Harrison hams it up for the cameras and engages in some extremely unsafe practices himself with a venomous snake. Webber inserts some ominous music to try and create a sinister feel to the event. Please be aware of the film-maker's tricks and selective choices in the way he presents scenes like this in the film!

This documentary was made with the support of a massive lobbyist organisation - The Humane Society US, the leader of which has some very radical ideas which go well beyond snakes and lions, and which include the end of all animal pet ownership. This organisation also has objectives which are in direct opposition to conservation aims - for example, the banning of the private keeping of endangered animals.

This film is more like a high school student English essay in which the object is to argue one side of an issue to the hilt. It might have gained a bare pass for a low achieving student in that context, but is entirely unworthy of praise or to be the centre of public discussion on an issue which has many complexities - which are never covered in the film.