Interacting with pets not only brings joy and satisfaction but engaging in outdoor activities together can also improve physical health and serve as an excellent way to relieve stress and combat loneliness. While cats and dogs remain the most common companions, in recent years, an increasing number of birds, amphibians, reptiles, and various exotic animals have become beloved family pets. However, a man in Thailand has chosen a pet that most people would rather avoid - a cockroach.
According to a report by The Thaiger, a foreign man in Kamphaeng Phet province was seen strolling through town wearing a red floral shirt and a black balaclava hat. What caught everyone's attention was a live cockroach crawling on his head. Passersby were stunned, and a well-meaning woman quickly flicked the cockroach off his head to help him. To her surprise, the man became furious and angrily scolded her, causing the woman to quickly walk away.
The man then anxiously crouched down to retrieve the cockroach from the ground. He explained that the cockroach was actually his pet, and he had deliberately brought it out for a walk. He wore the hat specifically to help the cockroach cling securely to his head. This unusual pet choice and the incident quickly went viral on Thai social media, sparking lively discussions among netizens.
Comments ranged from humorous to incredulous, such as suggestions that the cockroach should wear a collar, remarks that the cockroach flicked away was lost and the man had picked up a different one, and offers from others boasting they have several species of cockroaches as pets. Some expressed frustration over the difficulty of being kind in today's world, while others questioned the man's reaction or called for his deportation.
It is worth noting that cockroach bites on humans, though rare, can occur. In 2022, a woman in Thailand was bitten by a cockroach and subsequently suffered symptoms including body aches, headaches, dizziness, and skin rashes. Medical professionals have advised caution, emphasizing that cockroach bites are uncommon and usually happen only when cockroaches detect food residues on human skin or nails.
