Some people think that nature and wildlife shouldn’t have a price tag, but the most expensive animals in the world certainly go against this statement. In fact, some of the most exotic creatures on the globe sport prices so high, that their only buyers are zoos or millionaire animal lovers. But how can we determine an animal’s cost? Well, for one, breeders tend to pinpoint the rarity of a species as an important factor, although there are many other aspects that determine the exact price of an animal.
If you can’t get enough of wildlife, check out our article about 6 great jobs for animal lovers to see how you can live closer to your favourite creatures. But in the meantime, for those looking to acquire a new pet or open a home zoo with an open budget, here’s our list of the most expensive animals in the world and where to find them.
8. Palm Cockatoo
Price: $16,000
The punk-rocker amongst birds, the palm cockatoo is easy to distinguish by its large crest, the red spot on its face, and its grey-black colouring. The parrot’s species, known as Probosciger, is usually between 22 and 24 inches tall, and can weigh up to 1,200 grams.
7. Chimpanzee
Price: $60,000 – $65,000
Chimpanzees are very similar to humans in many ways and although their intelligence is astounding, this endangered species is also extremely aggressive. Found in central and western Africa, some millionaires buy them as house pets, but it’s needless to say that this is a pretty bad idea considering their wild spirit.
6. Stag beetle
Price: $89,000
It seems odd that someone would want to buy a beetle, especially this species. With its red curling mandibles and antlers, this beetle is two to three inches long, with some exceptions. As it’s difficult to find in the animal kingdom, there are very few people that own one, and even less breeders.
5. White lion cubs
Price: $138,000
With only 300 white lions living in the entire world, this species is considered extremely rare, and therefore, an exclusive purchase. For sellers wanting to capture the lion cubs, it’ll take a trip to the South African wildlife reserve in the Timbavati region and a whole lot of nerve.
4. Sir Lancelot encore
Price: $155,000
What happens when you’re incredibly wealthy and clone your dog’s DNA before he passes away from cancer? Well, you get an encore of the original animal and famous at the same time. This is exactly what Edgar and Nina Otto did back in 2008 and the result was a furry and friendly specimen that costs more than several cars.
3. Tibetan Mastiff
Price: $582,000
You won’t commonly encounter one of these rare dogs at your local pet shop, but many of the wealthiest animal lovers pride themselves on owning a Tibetan Mastiff. Not only does it exude a majestic presence, with its 32 inch height and an average weight of 150 lbs, but it’s also exempt from the body odour of the commoner’s dog. The largest dog breed worldwide can sport black, brown, red, grey, and white fur, although the latter is very rare. With strong protective instincts, these dogs are oftentimes employed as farm stock guardians and will show no mercy to intruders.
2. Miss Missy
Price: $1.2 million
The world’s most expensive cow and the runner up on our list is a white Holstein Cow, which gained her costly price tag through a competition. Back in 2009, Miss Missy won the title of North America’s Grand Champion at the Western Fall National Show, catapulting her to fame amongst farmers and animal owners. And while this cow is quite stunning for its species, she’s likely overpriced.
1. Green Monkey
Price: $16 million
The king of the most expensive animals in the world is a race horse! Descendant of Kentucky Derby champions, this gorgeous horse was purchased by Demi O’Byrne when it was merely two years old. While the owner had high hopes that his million-dollar horse would become a champion, he unfortunately never won a race and retired in 2008.
