8 celebrities who decided to get exotic pets (9 photos)

When fame and fortune grant access to the most unusual corners of the planet, some celebrities find friends not only among familiar dogs and cats, but also in the wild.





Unfortunately, keeping wild animals requires investment and effort and is rarely without consequences. But that doesn't stop the rich and famous. Here are some of the most eccentric celebrity pets who have made history alongside their famous owners.

1. Anton Chekhov and the Scoundrel Mongoose



From his trip to Sakhalin and Ceylon in 1890, Anton Chekhov brought home not only impressions but also three incredible little creatures, which he himself described in a letter to his publisher, Nikolai Leykin, as a cross between "a rat, a crocodile, a tiger, and a monkey." In reality, they were mongooses, one of which, as it later turned out, was a rare palm civet.

These cheerful pets wreaked havoc in the Chekhov household. They knocked over dishes, destroyed houseplants, and weren't shy about using their teeth. For its violent nature, the writer aptly nicknamed one of them "Bastard." But the little creature's character was rather contradictory. Besides its eagerness to hunt, it curiously explored the study, sniffed books, and busily searched guests' pockets. At night, it would crawl into someone's bed, displaying touching affection.

Chekhov sincerely loved his eccentric friend and, while away, constantly asked about him in letters home. However, the destruction eventually became unbearable, and the active little creature had to be donated to the Moscow Zoological Garden. The writer and his family visited their pet in its new home, preserving its memory as one of the most colorful and indomitable inhabitants of the Chekhov house.

2. Salvador Dalí and the Anteater





The eccentric genius Salvador Dalí walked a tightrope his entire life, and his pets matched his master's spirit. He had a particular fondness for anteaters, which appeared in his paintings. The artist was often seen strolling around Paris with an anteater on a leash. He also owned an ocelot.

3. Tippi Hedren and Neil the Lion



American actress and animal rights activist Tippi Hedren and her husband discovered their love of big cats while filming a movie in 1969. The film wasn't a hit, but the handsome, 900-pound lion, Neil, achieved fame. First a tiny lion cub, and then a majestic king of the beasts, he grew up side by side with Tippi's children in their California home, which later became the Shambhala Sanctuary.

4. George Clooney and Max the Pig



This funny piglet was bought by George Clooney in 1980 as a gift for his then-girlfriend, Kelly Preston. The romantic relationship soon ended; the actress moved on with another man and left the grunting pet with her ex. A strong friendship developed between the actor and Max. The piglet grew into a 400-kilogram pig and remained Clooney's best friend until his death in 2006 at a ripe old age, a loss the actor grieved greatly.

5. Michael Jackson and the chimpanzee Bubbles



Jackson acquired Bubbles in the 1980s from a research center in Texas. The chimpanzee often accompanied the pop idol to public events and tours, and once even drank tea with him and the mayor of Osaka, Japan. In 2003, Bubbles moved to a ranch with a trainer, and a year later he was sent to the Great Ape Center in Florida.

6. Frida Kahlo and the Fawn Graniso



The artist Frida Kahlo adored animals. Her home was home to monkeys, cockatoos, parrots, and even a Xoloitzcuintle. Among all her pets, her favorite was the fawn Graniso, which became the model for her painting "Little Doe" (Wounded Deer), painted in 1946.

7. Audrey Hepburn and Pippin the Fawn



In 1958, on the set of Green Manors, Audrey Hepburn met Pippin the fawn. The plot called for the fawn to follow the actress everywhere, so Audrey was tasked with caring for it, creating a special bond. This bond developed, and Hepburn began taking Pippin with her everywhere, from shopping to parties. After filming ended, the actress, due to life circumstances, had to return the fawn, which she was very upset about.

8. Alexander Kuprin and the Monkey Marya Ivanovna



Alexander Kuprin, who grew up in a house where animals were equal members of the family, once adopted an unusual inhabitant – the monkey Marya Ivanovna. The writer's daughter acquired her from a traveling artist. However, the cute little creature turned out to be a real vandal, tearing curtains and damaging furniture. But its main quirk was an inexplicable dislike of women. The monkey would suddenly bite any woman in the house, while remaining completely indifferent to men.

Unable to cope with such a feminist rebellion, Kuprin gave Marya Ivanovna to his friend, the famous clown Jacomino. He trained her for performances at the Ciniselli Circus. But even in the arena, the monkey's temperament made itself felt: during a performance, she suddenly leaped into a box belonging to a well-dressed lady and snatched her hat. After this scandal, Marya Ivanovna was sent to the zoo, and her turbulent life formed the basis for Kuprin's story of the same name.

Kuprin's youngest daughter, Ksenia, recounted the subsequent fate of the former pet with a strong personality in a book about her father:

When the clown Jacomino had to sell the monkey to the zoo, she remained undaunted. One day, in front of a gawking audience, remembering Jacomino's lessons, she began performing courbettes and somersaults. She was showered with candy, bananas, and buns, which she naturally enjoyed, and every time enough people gathered around the cage, Maria Ivanovna would show off her skills. Gradually, she became a favorite among the children.