In this world, we come across so many different kinds of people—those who keep animals as pets, those who display them in circuses or museums, those who fear them, and those who boast after seeing them in museums. As for those who eat animals… let’s set them aside for the sake of this article.I often wonder… what exactly do people who deliberately keep pets like dogs, cats, rabbits, turtles, fish, and insects actually do? Okay, they got a pet; what next? They feed them when they’re hungry or thirsty, play with them, take them for walks, care for them like little children, take their photos, and praise them… fine. But then what? Those people might say, “What more is there to do?” Well, that’s true… but sometimes I feel like—remember those stories in children’s magazine? The ones about Montu the monkey and Skippy the frog fighting, or the famous race between Tom the tortoise and Ron the rabbit? Maybe some people even spend their free time creating little arenas at home to reenact those stories! Well, let them be… As for us, we find contentment simply by watching animals in a museum! We fit perfectly into the second category mentioned above—truly timid and unbelievably boastful, visiting animal museums a year and freely offering all kinds of expert commentary on animals!
But! This *but* never lets a person live happily in life, I swear! I usually stay away even from humans who keep pets. If I see a dog coming down the street, I immediately cross the road. I can’t even tolerate the smell of a cat, so how can I even think of being around one? If I spot a cockroach in the house, my scream can probably be heard two houses away. Even the suspicion of a mouse in the house makes me hide under the blanket at night, leaving just enough space to breathe. Now imagine if someone told such a scared person that a lizard would be their pet—what state would they be in? Well, that’s exactly the pitiful state I was in… when I first met my slithering little friend, in my stay in Gainsville, Florida. I know very well how pathetic my use of the word friend sounds. But some relationships are formed without asking, and this was one of them.
Brown Anole
The setting is Florida, a subtropical region. Due to its climate and vegetation, a species of brown lizard called the Brown Anole has been multiplying rapidly. Even tourists visiting for just a few hours inevitably encounter this lizard because they casually lounge around on streets, sidewalks, fences, and bushes.
Interestingly, these lizards originally came from across the sea. Their population began to grow around the time America’s coastlines were being developed and British traders started arriving. Only the British know what all they brought and took across the world! Anyway, today this small 6–7 inch, ground-dwelling species has grown in such massive numbers that it has even outcompeted the native Green Anole species.
The difference between the two species is that the native green lizards still live in forests, usually found on tall tree trunks, and are sometimes compared to chameleons because of their ability to change color. In contrast, the brown lizards boldly roam openly on the ground. Their bravery is unmatched—they follow you step by step from your house to your destination. They jump out of nowhere, startling you, and they scurry endlessly through leaves, rustling around morning and evening. With pale brown sides and a darker back, these lizards stretch their necks in alertness, constantly surveying their territory.
Sometimes, they flare out the fan beneath their necks to assert their dominance. These cold-blooded creatures fiercely attack insects, embodying the very essence of their reptilian lineage. They live for just six or seven years, with or without tails, leading whatever life they have—much like a king ruling his land!
Looking back, this turned out to be a surprisingly good memory. No matter how much one praised the greatness of lizards, it had always been hard for me to shake off the feeling of disgust and discomfort around them. There were moments when I thought I could easily crush one if it came under my foot while walking, but in that instant, I would realize how much quicker and more agile they were than me. Even the thought of attempting something like that used to make my heart race, only to be followed by a deep sigh as I moved on.
This last pic is a three toed skink I found her in Pune, Maharashtra… I think our friendship is unbreakable, all I am doing is … remembering those moments… Which brought a strange sense of amusement and warmth, turning what once felt unsettling is now a cherished memory, and me… oddly intrested in these creatures…
words panorama 