Welcome to a fun exploration of some unusual animals that people have tried to keep as pets. While these animals might sound cool, remember that many of them aren’t really meant to live in our homes. Let’s dive into the world of exotic pets!
Did you know that some people keep skunks as pets? It’s illegal in most places in the U.S., but in Florida, Dawn and Brenda Hawk have 15 rescued skunks. In South Africa, Sony Zubair has a hippo named Jessica. He saved her from a flood when she was a baby, and now she drinks 10 liters of coffee a day and hangs out with the family dogs!
Flying squirrels have been pets for a long time. They’re known for being affectionate. There’s even a wrestler named Ellis Coleman who got the nickname “Flying Squirrel” because of his moves. If you want something even more exotic, sugar gliders from Australia might be your thing. They love being in groups and are super social.
Chinchillas are fluffy and popular pets. Actor Tom Felton had one named Stanley. Hedgehogs are also common in the U.S. and have even run for office in New Zealand! In a wild story, two men in Michigan were arrested for taking their pet alligator into a store on a leash. Even past U.S. presidents like John Quincy Adams and Theodore Roosevelt had exotic pets like alligators and bears.
Salvador Dali had an ocelot named Babou, and Lord Byron brought a bear to college. Tycho Brahe, a famous astronomer, had a pet moose. Tippi Hedren had a lion, and Audrey Hepburn had a deer named Pippin that slept in her bathtub. Steven Tyler from Aerosmith takes his pet raccoon fishing, and President Calvin Coolidge had raccoons too.
Paris Hilton had a kinkajou named “Baby Love,” while Charlie Sheen owned a Chinese water dragon. Vanilla Ice has a kangaroo named Bucky Buckaroo. Both Elvis and Michael Jackson had chimpanzees. Mike Tyson had a tiger, and Nicolas Cage owns a cobra and once bought an octopus for $150,000!
Leonardo DiCaprio has a tortoise, and Kristen Stewart has a wolf-dog hybrid. Tori Spelling owns a chicken named Coco, and celebrities like George Clooney and Megan Fox have pet pigs. The Gaboon viper is a dangerous pet choice due to its long fangs.
Alice Cooper’s albino python had a mishap with a heating pad. In Russia, scientists have been breeding foxes to be more like dogs since the 1950s. The Savannah cat is a mix of a domestic cat and an African serval. In California, a dad gave his daughter a zebra for her birthday, which later escaped and had to be caught by the police.
If you’re looking for a legal exotic pet, consider a bearded dragon. There are even conjoined twin bearded dragons named Chang and Eng. While it’s illegal in the U.S., some people keep penguins as pets. The Rothschild family in Kenya has eight giraffes at their hotel, Giraffe Manor. In the 1940s, Life magazine featured a squirrel named Tommy with 30 custom-made outfits!
Thanks for joining this wild journey through the world of exotic pets. Remember, while these animals are fascinating, they belong in the wild or with experts who can care for them properly!
Research one of the exotic animals mentioned in the article, such as a sugar glider or a chinchilla. Create a colorful poster that includes interesting facts about the animal, its natural habitat, and why it might not be suitable as a pet. Share your poster with the class to educate your peers about the challenges of keeping exotic animals.
Divide into two groups and prepare for a debate on whether exotic animals should be kept as pets. Use information from the article and additional research to support your arguments. Present your points to the class and engage in a respectful discussion about the ethical and practical considerations of owning exotic pets.
Choose one of the exotic animals from the article and write a creative story from the perspective of that animal. Describe a typical day in its life, including interactions with humans and other animals. Share your story with the class and discuss how the animal’s needs might differ from those of traditional pets.
Select a famous person mentioned in the article who owned an exotic pet. Research more about their life and the pet they owned. Create a short presentation or report detailing your findings, and explain how the pet influenced or reflected the owner’s lifestyle and personality.
Imagine you are responsible for caring for one of the exotic animals mentioned in the article. Design a detailed care plan that includes the animal’s dietary needs, habitat requirements, and social interactions. Present your care plan to the class and discuss the challenges and responsibilities involved in caring for such a pet.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Hi, I’m that guy. Welcome to my salon. This is Mental Floss, and today we’re going to discuss 39 exotic animals that have been kept as pets. However, many of them are not truly domesticated, so please don’t try this at home. This is just an acknowledgment.
Gunks are often kept as pets, although it is illegal in most states in the U.S. and not a good idea. Surprisingly, they are allowed in Florida, where Dawn and Brenda Hawk live with their 15 rescued pet skunks. Sony Zubair from South Africa owns a 10-year-old hippo named Jessica, whom he rescued from a flood when she was a baby. Jessica drinks 10 liters of coffee a day and gets along with the family’s dogs.
Flying squirrels have been kept as pets for hundreds of years, and many owners claim they are very loving and affectionate. Fun fact: wrestler Ellis Coleman, who competed for the U.S. Olympic wrestling team, got the nickname “Flying Squirrel” for his signature moves. When people started calling Gabby Douglas “Flying Squirrel” during her rise to fame as a gymnast, Coleman bought a $500 flying squirrel and named it Rocky to prove he was the original.
If flying squirrels aren’t exotic enough for you, consider getting sugar gliders, which are marsupials from Australia. They are happiest in groups.
Chinchillas are also popular pets. Tom Felton had a pet chinchilla named Stanley. Hedgehogs are fairly common pets in the U.S. and have even been political candidates in New Zealand.
In 2006, two men were arrested in Michigan for bringing their pet alligator into a store on a leash. President John Quincy Adams had a pet alligator, and Theodore Roosevelt had a variety of exotic pets, including bears and snakes. Salvador Dali had an ocelot named Babou, and Lord Byron brought a bear to Trinity College.
Famous astronomer Tycho Brahe owned a pet moose, and Tippi Hedren had a pet lion. Audrey Hepburn had a deer named Pippin that slept in her bathtub. Steven Tyler of Aerosmith has a raccoon that he takes fishing, and President Calvin Coolidge also had raccoons.
Paris Hilton had a kinkajou named “Baby Love.” Charlie Sheen owned a Chinese water dragon, and Vanilla Ice has a kangaroo named Bucky Buckaroo. Both Elvis and Michael Jackson had chimpanzees.
Mike Tyson had a tiger, and Nicolas Cage owns a cobra, which he claims helped him with a movie role. He also bought an octopus for $150,000. Leonardo DiCaprio has a pet tortoise, and Kristen Stewart has a wolf-dog hybrid.
Tori Spelling owns a pet chicken named Coco, and many celebrities, including George Clooney and Megan Fox, have pet pigs. The Gaboon viper is a popular but dangerous pet choice due to its long fangs and potential for fatal bites.
Alice Cooper’s albino python had an unusual incident involving a heating pad. In Russia, scientists have been domesticating foxes since the 1950s to breed those that show dog-like qualities.
The Savannah cat is a recognized breed that is part domestic cat and part African serval. In California, a father gave his daughter a zebra for her birthday, and two escaped zebras had to be tracked down by police.
If you’re looking for a more legal exotic pet, consider a bearded dragon. Conjoined twin bearded dragons named Chang and Eng are also notable.
Lastly, while it is illegal in the U.S., some people keep penguins as pets. The Rothschild family in Nairobi, Kenya, owns eight giraffes at their hotel, Giraffe Manor. In the 1940s, Life magazine featured a domesticated squirrel named Tommy, who had 30 custom-made outfits.
Thanks for watching Mental Floss! If you have a question you’d like answered, please leave it in the comments.
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Let me know if you need any further modifications!
Animals – Living organisms that can move and consume organic material for energy. – In biology class, we learned that animals have different adaptations to survive in their environments.
Pets – Animals kept for companionship and enjoyment. – Many people have pets like dogs and cats, which can help reduce stress and provide companionship.
Exotic – Referring to animals that are not native to a specific area and are often unusual or rare. – The zoo has an exotic animal exhibit featuring creatures from tropical rainforests.
Skunks – Small mammals known for their ability to spray a strong-smelling liquid as a defense mechanism. – Skunks are nocturnal animals and are often found in forests and grasslands.
Squirrels – Small rodents with bushy tails, known for their agility and habit of storing food. – Squirrels are often seen in parks, gathering nuts and seeds to prepare for winter.
Hedgehogs – Small mammals with spiny backs, known for curling into a ball when threatened. – Hedgehogs are insectivores and play a role in controlling insect populations.
Alligators – Large reptiles found in freshwater environments, known for their powerful jaws and armored bodies. – Alligators are apex predators and play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of their ecosystems.
Tortoise – A land-dwelling reptile with a hard shell, known for its slow movement and long lifespan. – The Galápagos tortoise is one of the largest tortoise species and can live for over a hundred years.
Giraffes – Large African mammals known for their long necks and legs, which help them reach high foliage. – Giraffes are the tallest land animals and have a unique way of walking, moving both legs on one side of their body at the same time.
Penguins – Flightless birds adapted to life in the water, known for their distinctive black and white coloring. – Penguins are excellent swimmers and use their flippers to propel themselves through the water while hunting for fish.
