Animals are great companions for humans. Even science backs us up, people who own pets are more likely to live longer. Take it this way, animals are less complicated than humans, they don't have many expectations, they don't judge and have the magical ability to lift up our spirits even in bad days.
While for the average individual, the desire to own a pet is often driven by empathy it is a little bit different for the rich folks. For them its about trophy, owning an exotic item as part of their admirable collection.
These are some of the animal toys, genetically manipulated, bred and populations controlled to suit the needs for the rich; and quite pricey for the average joe.
1. The green monkey - $16,000,000
Despite the name, its actually a horse that goes by the name, "The green monkey". The American racehorse was genetically bred using top of the shelf genetics. Fathered by a pure breed American racehorse called Forestry.
Green Monkey has found a home in Ocala, Florida. The stallion first got famous in 2006 at the Fasig Calder select 2- year-olds in Training scale. It became a worldwide fascination after taking a dash of an eighth of a mile in 9.4 seconds. He was auctioned the same year for $16,000000 but had an injury soon after. His duties on the tracks were delayed for about a year but when he did; he made a total of $10,440 in on track earnings before retiring.
2. Sir Lancelot - $155,000
Dogs are man's first friends. They make perfect companions and in most households are seen as part of the family. For Edgar and Nina Otto, their beloved yellow Labrador nicknamed Sir Lancelot was part of them. When Lancelot dies of cancer, the Otto's were terribly heartbroken.
The couple, fortunately, had a backup plan. The pain of losing their loved one was great and decided to retrieve Lancelot's DNA which was safely stored. With the help of science, they cloned him. According to the couple, it cost them a total of $155,000 and took years to bring him back to life. The procedure was done by a BioArts a firm based in San Fransisco in conjunction with Siam Biotech Research facility in Soth Korea. 'Lancey' as he was named as the first dog to be cloned in the world.
3. White lion cubs - $138,000
White lions are a very rare breed of animals. First potted in the wilderness of Timbavati in 1938, they have a rare genetic mutation that causes their fur to be completely white and eyes light.
Their unique looks make them desired as pets as well as very expensive. One could fetch a price of $138,000. Scientists believe the recessive genes in their parents are responsible for the white color in the cubs.
4. Lavender Albino Ball Python - $40,000
For snake enthusiasts, this rare ball python is a sight to behold. To keep them requires a controlled environment with the pets having specific requirements.
The first albino pythons were first sold in the United States for $7500 each. Today the price has more than quadrupled with a Purebred Lavender Albino Python fetching $40,000 each. The snakes have a life expectancy of 20-30 years in captivity.
5. Missy Madison - $1,200,000
Missy Madison is one of the proudest members of the Holstein Family. The breed is known for their high dairy production. Missy had already won plenty of titles and was part of an auction in 2009. While bidding for her, the actioned opened at $10,000 and was closed within two minutes when the final bid was made for 1,200,000 by a group of Canadian investors.
6. Stag Beetle - 89,000
For individuals who love the thrill of collecting bugs and crawling insects, the idea of buying a bug for $89,000 might be rational. The original idea was to help scientists to know how these bugs live in the ecosystem.
The stag beetle is considered the world's most expensive insect. Belonging to the family Lucanidae, they typically grow to two inches long. The world's most expensive stag beetle was sold by its breeder to an insect shop for 10 million yen.
7. The Bengal Cat - $4,500
These domestic felines were endowed with two different traits. While they resemble leopards in their fur patterns, they are easily domesticated, they have a happy, interactive personality and are extremely intelligent which makes them perfect pets.
There are different varieties of these cats, but most pure breeds could fetch up to $4500. As an added bonus, these cats love water.
8. Palm Cockatoo - $16,000
This remarkable species of the Australian parrot can grow up to 60 cm long. This makes them the largest parrot species in Australia and the largest cockatoo in the world.
The interesting thing about this bird is the red color patch on the cheeks that change in color with excitement. The birds are native to Queensland, Australia which perhaps makes them quite expensive.
9. Ayam Cemani chicken - $2,500
This chicken breed is only native to Indonesia. The fascinating feature about them is their unique black color which runs from their combs to the muscles and bones. There isn't a speck of white in these exotic breeds of chicken.
They are also extremely difficult to breed and are believed to have mystical powers hence their high value. Each cemani chicken can cost up to $2,500.
10. Tibetan Mastiff - $1.5 Million
The Tibetian Mastiff is an epitome of sheer size and strength. Originally bred to secure hearts of livestock, these massive dogs have some resemblance to the lion. Despite their huge size, they are very friendly and are known to be protective of their family.
The dogs first struck the limelight when a Chinese tycoon spent a whopping $500,000 to procure a purebred Tibetan Mastiff. Since then, they have become a status symbol for the rich and powerful. In 2011, al records were broken by a Chinese tycoon who spent $1.5 million dollars on an ii month Tibetan Mastiff that was named Big Splash. The humongous dog is the current title holder for the world's heaviest dog.
