When I was 12 or 13, my parents had friends that had a male and a female lion. I was standing by the cage petting the female and that thing bit my finger. I will tell you first hand, even if you think they are tame, they are not. The will attack you and it will hurt.
My Grandmother raised monkeys. She had the squirrel and capuchin monkeys. Those things are mean and strong, especially the capuchin. After being bit and scratched by them, I don't like monkeys to this day.