Penguins have always been inaccessible to most of us, and that isn’t much of a surprise given the locations they live. Then, most who are kept within reach of humans are guarded closely by their handlers for their protection.
Most of us have only seen penguins on TV, movies, and maybe at the zoo. So, one might wonder, is someone somewhere keeping a penguin as a pet? Is it even legal to do so?
Let’s find out.
Here’s Why Penguins Cannot Be Pets:
So, can penguins be pets? Nope. You will not be able to create the environment they need to live the wonderful penguin life they deserve! Also, penguins are exotic animals. While that doesn’t automatically qualify them as something illegal to own, they are indeed illegal to keep as pets in the US and in many other places in the world.
Penguins are also not very ideal to own as pets because they are high-maintenance and costly to keep. Lastly, you would disrupt their very nature if you choose to keep one as a pet. Most penguins live in colonies, and being isolated from their group is not ideal.
Would a Penguin Make a Good Pet?
Let’s expound further on the reasons we’ve already established why penguins are not ideal pets.
You might be able to come up with a few exotic animals that are kept by people privately. Let’s say turtles, tarantulas, and certain fish are among the most popular species usually owned by exotic animal enthusiasts.
But, not penguins. Keeping them as pets in the US is outlawed because of certain special conditions. Some species of penguins are already considered endangered, as for centuries, they’ve been hunted for their meat. That’s one of the reasons why penguin trade around the world is highly regulated.
Many powerful countries have even agreed on a treaty to set the standards for treating penguins globally. This treaty is called the Antarctic Treaty. As part of the treaty, penguins are protected from being kept as pets, and it includes various other protection clauses.
Penguins have also struggled to keep up with the effects of climate change. Their unique habitat, behavior, and personalities make them unsuitable for being someone’s pets.
Can Penguins Be Domesticated?
It’s simply not in the nature of penguins to be domesticated. Sure, some penguins are kept and bred in captivity, but that’s an entirely different story. These penguins are either born and raised in aquariums, sanctuaries, ocean parks, or zoos, and these places are fully equipped to take good care of them.
These penguins grow to be dependent on their handlers and even friendly towards humans. But domesticate them as pets? Not a good idea and not ideal for penguins themselves.
Penguins live in colonies. They are used to hunting in groups, protecting their young by committee, and relying on their colony for a lot of different aspects.
Although aloof from humans, Penguins are very social animals (or birds) within their society. Take that away from them, and that could mean bad news for their welfare.
Besides, although they look cute and cuddly, they are still known to be nonchalant birds. They are also not as reliant and interested in humans as typically domesticated animals are.
Penguins aren’t like your pet dog that will come to you and let you pet it casually. And take note, they are not as fluffy as one would think. They have a very solid body, strong wings, and sharp hooked beaks.
They won’t feel squishy when hugged, even though they can be adorable to look at.
Are You Allowed To Own a Penguin? Is It Legal?
As mentioned, it’s not legal to own penguins as pets in the US. If it is legal in your country to do so (which is probably not the case), think of the blockades you’re going to have to go through to just own one. It is unhealthy and unfair to penguins to be in captivity, unlike their natural environment.
Let us give you a different perspective. Penguins are one of the most high-maintenance animals to own or manage on the planet. First off, most penguin species can be considered pack animals.
This means you can’t just own one. You’re going to need to at least own 20 of them. You’re going to have to have at least an Olympic-sized pool to give them a place to swim in and keep them somewhat happy. In reality, they will need even more space than that. Penguins are one of the most adept swimmers in the world because they hunt their food at sea.
Speaking of food, penguins eat about 2000 pounds of fish per year on average across all species. That’s 40,000 pounds of fish for all 20 you’re going to own. And, we’re not done yet.
Penguins often need extra care and attention to grow healthy and stay happy. Penguins also live in colder regions, so there’s a need to always keep their artificial habitat at the ideal temperature, or their health will deteriorate.
And boy, do they need their habitat clean for them to thrive.
We’re pretty sure that we’ve successfully got our point across about keeping penguins as pets.
It’s going to be challenging for you and not ideal for them. Even if you’re wealthy enough to maintain their needs and keep hundreds of them, we have got to respect the nature of these unique birds.
Allow them to live their best lives in the wild, where they belong, and where they are happiest!
There are a lot of cute animals to choose from and keep as pets. Besides, you can always visit and see penguins in person in zoos and ocean parks. Or you can plan a trip to Antarctica or one of the regions they live in and see them from a distance in the wild.
Final Thoughts
It’s actually pretty understandable why someone would love to have penguins as pets. Look at them. They are one of the most adorable creatures on the planet.
But, there are just some things that we as humans have to set boundaries on for the sake of coexistence. We share this planet with many other creatures, and while some are ideal as pets, others are not meant to be domesticated.
Please turn your attention somewhere else. There are hundreds if not thousands of animals that need it.
