(PRESS RELEASE) The world is consumed by Netflix’s new addictive series Tiger King and its star Joe Exotic. The documentary is full of bizarre takeaways, including the claim that it costs around $2,000 to purchase a tiger cub, but is that accurate and is owning an exotic pet a good idea?
A team of experts analyzed data and took a closer look at the legalities, liabilities, and costs of owning exotic pets to offer a clear understanding of what it takes to own a “cool cat and kitten.” They also gave their expert opinion on owning an exotic pet. A quick look at what they have found:
- 1 in 10 Americans owns an exotic pet. The most common types of exotic pets are reptiles, from boa constrictors to Komodo dragons.
- How much does it cost to buy a non-reptile exotic animal as a pet?
- The average cost of a lion and tiger is $2,000-$3,500
- Leopards cost $3,000-$5000
- Elephants costs $10,000+
- Being the next Tiger King isn’t possible in 20 states: 20 states, including California, Colorado, Massachusetts, and Georgia, ban the private ownership of exotic animals
- There are only 4 states with no exotic animal ban: Alabama, Wisconsin, Nevada, and North Carolina
Full findings can be found here: Exotic Pet Ownership
The sensational Tiger King docu-series has left viewers floored. Though our experts warn against it, your readers will be interested to know all the facts about owning an exotic animal.