Photos: Frenchman shares home with 400 scaly, scary reptiles | Hindustan Times
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Photos: Frenchman shares home with 400 scaly, scary reptiles

Updated On Sep 22, 2018 01:20 PM IST

In an unassuming house on France's River Loire, a cobra lives on the coffee table, a 50 kg tortoise roams the garden and a seven-foot alligator sleeps in the owner's bed while another keeps watch at the door. Over two decades, 67-year-old reptile enthusiast Philippe Gillet has amassed a collection of more than 400 phobia-inducing animals, including rattlesnakes, tarantulas and lizards in his home in western France near the city of Nantes.

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67-year-old Philippe Gillet feeds chicken to his alligator Ali in his living room in Coueron near Nantes, France. Gillet said his two alligators, named Ali and Gator, were rescued from a leather farm but most of the animals he keeps are pets that outstayed their welcome elsewhere and have been abandoned or donated. (Stephane Mahe / REUTERS) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Sep 22, 2018 01:20 PM IST

67-year-old Philippe Gillet feeds chicken to his alligator Ali in his living room in Coueron near Nantes, France. Gillet said his two alligators, named Ali and Gator, were rescued from a leather farm but most of the animals he keeps are pets that outstayed their welcome elsewhere and have been abandoned or donated. (Stephane Mahe / REUTERS)

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Gillet looks at his King Cobra in his living room. Over two decades, the 67-year-old has amassed a collection of more than 400 phobia-inducing animals, including rattlesnakes, tarantulas and lizards in his home in western France. (Stephane Mahe / REUTERS) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Sep 22, 2018 01:20 PM IST

Gillet looks at his King Cobra in his living room. Over two decades, the 67-year-old has amassed a collection of more than 400 phobia-inducing animals, including rattlesnakes, tarantulas and lizards in his home in western France. (Stephane Mahe / REUTERS)

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Gillet feeds his Northern caiman lizard in his house. “I think it’s unfair to treat these animals the way we do because we don’t understand them,” he said. (Stephane Mahe / REUTERS) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Sep 22, 2018 01:20 PM IST

Gillet feeds his Northern caiman lizard in his house. “I think it’s unfair to treat these animals the way we do because we don’t understand them,” he said. (Stephane Mahe / REUTERS)

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Gillet looks at his Cuvier’s dwarf caiman. “We don’t understand them, we hate them, we think they’re horrible. But when we get to know them, you can call them over, tell them to come and eat something for example,” he said. (Stephane Mahe / REUTERS) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Sep 22, 2018 01:20 PM IST

Gillet looks at his Cuvier’s dwarf caiman. “We don’t understand them, we hate them, we think they’re horrible. But when we get to know them, you can call them over, tell them to come and eat something for example,” he said. (Stephane Mahe / REUTERS)

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Gillet looks at a tarantula in his house. He said that he has all the necessary permits to keep and transport the animals for roadshows which he runs to raise awareness about reptiles. (Stephane Mahe / REUTERS) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Sep 22, 2018 01:20 PM IST

Gillet looks at a tarantula in his house. He said that he has all the necessary permits to keep and transport the animals for roadshows which he runs to raise awareness about reptiles. (Stephane Mahe / REUTERS)

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Gillet poses with a python in his house. He insists that locals do not mind their unusual neighbours and regularly pop in for coffee, safe in the knowledge that the most dangerous snakes are kept in a room behind two sets of doors. (Stephane Mahe / REUTERS) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Sep 22, 2018 01:20 PM IST

Gillet poses with a python in his house. He insists that locals do not mind their unusual neighbours and regularly pop in for coffee, safe in the knowledge that the most dangerous snakes are kept in a room behind two sets of doors. (Stephane Mahe / REUTERS)

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Gillet feeds his Iguana a banana in his garden. While he personally feels completely at ease surrounded by hundreds of reptiles, the local fire department is a bit more cautious --they are under instructions not to enter his house even in an emergency. (Stephane Mahe / REUTERS) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Sep 22, 2018 01:20 PM IST

Gillet feeds his Iguana a banana in his garden. While he personally feels completely at ease surrounded by hundreds of reptiles, the local fire department is a bit more cautious --they are under instructions not to enter his house even in an emergency. (Stephane Mahe / REUTERS)

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