20 Wild Animals That Are Simply Too Dangerous To Domesticate

Cheetahs

Image Source/ Reddit

While not as aggressive as other cats, Cheetah's can be territorial. Some people try to keep them as pets in other parts of the world, even though it's usually illegal. Cheetahs are like super rare in the US and you can mostly find them in legit zoos. These animals haven't made it to the private sector because they're super hard to breed. This is different from other cats like tigers, which are kept as pets or in captivity way more often.

Foxes

Image Source/ Reddit

So humans did tame foxes but they ended up dying out and now people are trying to domesticate them again, and it's kind of working. The fox we domesticated was called the Fuegian dog but it wasn't all that popular back in the day. But eventually we choosing cats instead of foxes because we had no idea what to do with the foxes. Foxes are really hard to tame because they're crazy stubborn.

Raccoons

Image Source/ Insider

Raccoons are prime for being domesticated; they're really good climbers and can squeeze into small spaces, which makes them a great working animal. If they're domesticated, they'd be super helpful for old folks and people who have trouble getting around. Raccoons may look cute, but they can be super aggressive and totally wreck stuff. They're naturally curious, love to move around, and can get pretty destructive when they're stuck in one place.

Moose

Image Source/ Reddit

A few centuries ago, when horse cavalries were still a thing, the king of Sweden wanted more aggressive animals to replace his horses and he picked the moose. Too bad for the king, the plan never panned out. Turns out, the moose was way too risky to get close to. It got super aggressive during mating season, like out of control. Plus, the moose is prone to getting sick and is a picky eater.

Coyotes

Image Source/ Reddit

No one has been able to tame coyotes because they just don't like hanging out with people. Breeders also have to watch out for these animals because they can get sick with nasty diseases like rabies. Wild coyotes start getting used to humans after about three generations, but they're definitely not domesticated. Actually, a bunch of tries to tame a coyote have ended with the coyote straight up attacking the person trying to do it.

The Bonobo

Image Source/ SciTechDaily

Bonobos aren't actually wild animals, they're domestic even though they weren't tamed by humans. Bonobos totally tamed themselves. Scientists aren't really sure how this happened but they think it started happening about two million years ago when the Congo River formed in Africa, splitting up the Bonobos and the Chimps. The Bonobos had plenty of food to chow down on, and there weren't any gorillas, either.

Dingoes

Image Source/ Reddit

Native to Australia, Dingoes are kinda like dogs, but they're not tamed. Aussie farmers tend to think of them as pests. It's actually pretty cool that we tamed the dingo a long time ago and then let them go back to the wild. While Dogs are like buddies, the early native Australians who tamed dingoes saw them as a tasty meal. Aussies didn't really breed the animals on purpose for their good traits.

Hippopotamuses

Image Source/ Reddit

Humans have been smart enough to steer clear of taming the hippo. Hippos actually kill more people each year than lions, elephants, leopards, buffalo, and rhinos put together. People have actually tried to domesticate hippos on their own. Back in 2011, a South African farmer named Marius Els got himself killed by a massive hippo trying to tame it. The hippo weighed a whopping 1.2 tons and was just five years old.

The Great White Shark

Image Source/ Reddit

So people have tried to domesticate the great white shark but it's been a total fail. When they catch these sharks, they usually end up dying within a few days. The captured great white sharks love bonking their heads on the aquarium's glass walls. Great white sharks don't do so great in captivity for a bunch of reasons. They're awesome travelers and they also need to have lots of water to breathe. Plus, captured sharks are like super aggressive!

Elephants

Image Source/ Reddit

Asian elephants aren't really seen as domestic animals, even though they've been caught and trained for over 3,000 years. Those that have been captured and trained aren't really seen as domestic animals because they haven't been specifically bred for that purpose."Selective breeding" means that humans get to pick which babies get to make more babies based on certain cool traits. But they're just like any wild animal, so you never know what they're gonna do.

Zebras

Image Source/ Reddit

Colonizers had some major transportation issues when travelling through Africa. Their horses were prone to different diseases, and getting new horses from Europe wasn't always a piece of cake. To solve this problem, they used zebras! Zebras are super similar to horses and are immune to a bunch of diseases that messed with horses. But no one could tame the zebra no matter how hard they tried, they're especially aggressive!

Penguins

Image Source/ Reddit

Penguins are super cool because they act like humans and waddle around, plus people love them so much that they even made movies about them, like Happy Feet in 2006. But, you can't have penguins as pets without some special permits. They're protected by the Lacey Act, so it's illegal. If you're really determined, maybe you can score one by starting a school or some kind of show-off thing.

The Bush Baby

Image Source/ Reddit

Bush babies are cool primates called prosimians and come from Africa. People have been known to keep them as pets (where it's legal). Their eyes are kinda smaller, but they're also night owls. One gross thing about these animals is that they like to rub pee on their hands to mark their territory. I guess you called always keep the Bush Baby outside, but how would you keep an eye on it?

The Pygmy Marmoset

Image Source/ Reddit

Marmosets are these tiny monkeys that look pretty cool and different. But don't be fooled by how small they look! Keeping small monkeys as pets is just as much work as keeping their bigger buddies. These little monkeys, which should totally be kept with their own kind, would need a cage that gives them enough room to do their monkey things. That would take up a lot of space.

Snowy Owls

Image Source/ Reddit

These awesome birds became super famous thanks to Harry Potter. People in India buy these birds illegally as pets because they're super popular right now. Birds of prey are super regulated in the US. If you want to keep any native owls, you've got to get a federal permit under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Snowy owls hang out in Alaska, Canada, and Eurasia.

Red Pandas

Image Source/ Reddit

The red panda is totally different from the panda bear, they're not even close relatives. The red panda is in trouble in the wild because of losing their homes. Red pandas are super cute with their cat-like faces and awesome colors, so lots of people ask if they can have them as pets. This is not gonna be a good idea for the species, and they ain't gonna be legally available anyway. There are only a few small populations in captivity in the US, and they're most likely only found in fancy zoos.

Sand Cats

Image Source/ Reddit

Sand cats are super weird-looking, tiny, and exotic cats that look like our regular house cats, but their heads are totally different. They're the only cats that live in real deserts and can be found in places like Northern Africa and Central Asia. They can only go to legit zoos and places. A seller in 2018 was selling sand cats for a whopping $20,000 for a pair. Can you believe it?

The Serval

Image Source/ Reddit

Servals are medium-sized African cats that have a cool, exotic look similar to cheetahs, but in a smaller size. Domesticating these animals would be a terrible idea, so don't even think about it. It's only a good idea for owners to have an outdoor run for them because they tend to spray and can be aggressive. Servals are illegal in almost the same number of states as cheetahs.

Tree Kangaroos

Image Source/ Reddit

Tree kangaroos like super endangered and they're all around Australia and New Guinea. They love hanging out in trees way more than being on the ground and are super cute and fluffy which is why people totally love them. But, just like other rare and endangered animals, these guys aren't available for private ownership. They're only found in accredited zoos, where they belong.

The Common Marmoset

Image Source/ Reddit

Marmosets are pretty common in the exotic pet trade. But just because these are legal in the few remaining states that haven't banned non-human primate ownership doesn't mean they should be sought out as pets by anyone other than those who are super dedicated to providing long-term (at least 20 years) high-quality care. Not to mention, any wild animal can get a little temperamental.

The Slow Loris

Image Source/ Reddit

When people talk about how bad the illegal exotic pet trade is, they often mention the slow loris. Lorises are like sloths, they look all lazy and human-like, and their weird eyes make them even more interesting. They're usually taken from the wild, their teeth painfully pulled out and sent to other countries. These animals are not easy to breed, so that's why you don't see them often in zoos.

The Wallaby

Image Source/ Reddit

Wallabies are popular among people who keep exotic mammals. The species that people keep are Bennett's wallabies and the smaller Dama wallabies. But these animals aren't indoor pets, they gotta have an outdoor run to stretch their legs and a cozy enclosure with climate control to chill in. When they're little, they want a ton of attention, so the owner's gotta carry them in a DIY pouch if they're gonna be raised alone.

Meerkats

Image Source/ Reddit

Meerkats are actually mongooses and they're not great as pets, but some folks in Asia and even Europe still keep them. Yet, these animals are sometimes sold as pets in other countries but are super regulated in the States. They're also hard to breed and take care of outside of natural-like groups, so their populations aren't high even when captive-bred animals are around.

Koala Bears

Image Source/ Reddit

These marsupials are the epitome of cuteness, even though they can be pretty savage. Most folks don't know this because these critters aren't too common, even in zoos in North America. They only eat eucalyptus, which they have to grow themselves. They wouldn't be a good pet for people, obviously. The reason you can't have one is that koala bears are super endangered, and Australia has all these rules about which animals you can bring out of the country.

Tarsiers

Image Source/ Reddit

The tarsier is an animal with ridiculously huge eyes. These little guys might seem like awesome pets because they're so small and one-of-a-kind, and they totally can be, but only for experienced people. Some of these sub-species are really endangered and they've got special feeding needs and don't really do well at breeding in captivity. Only proper zoos will house them.

Fennec Foxes

Image Source/ Reddit

Sand cats are like the feline version of the fennec fox, which is a desert dog that's pretty low-maintenance and would make super cool pets. Although, they are crazily active and annoyingly noisy, and they have these cool exotic pet tendencies that might make them a handful for folks who want a more chill cat or dog-like behavior. Just get yourself a house cat.

Prairie Dogs

Image Source/ Reddit

Prairie dogs are like meerkats, they stand on two legs and live a similar life in the wild. They've been known to attack strangers when they're kept in captivity and the animals apparently have their own unique language. They don't need deep sand boxes to satisfy their digging needs and are way more flexible for a regular pet setup, minus the aggression. Just like the jerboa, their imports are limited because of the African rodent embargo.

The Jerboa

Image Source/ Reddit

This is a cool rodent from the African deserts. They come in all sorts of sizes depending on the species, and they look a lot like a kangaroo rat, but way weirder. They're like little acrobats, zooming and bouncing all over the place. The US have rejected all African rodents coming in because of the whole monkeypox thing. And honestly, it's probably a pretty legit reason.

The Kinkajou

Image Source/ Reddit

The kinkajou is like a primate, but it's actually a procyonid. That's a fancy word for a group that includes raccoons and ringtail cats. Just like raccoons, kinkajous are super smart and they need plenty of room to do their nighttime thing. They're easier to own than primates, but don't underestimate them 'cause they can also be aggressive sometimes.

Why shouldn't animals be domesticated?

Image Source/ Reddit

Ultimately, we probably shouldn't be trying to domesticate pets anymore. We've done it for ages with dogs and cats, which is fine, as now they wouldn't be able to survive alone in the wild, but choosing more animals to do it to is beyond me. Why would you subject a wild animal to be pampered their whole life and getting everything served to them on a silver platter? Wait, yeah it does sound kinda good.

Wolves

image source: reddit.com

Okay so domesticated dogs are descended from wolves and all that, but actually trying to domesticate a wild wolf like you would a dog is a pretty dangerous thing - and despite what they tell you on Game of Thrones! Wolves tend to avoid humans, which is the safest way, but if you try to domesticate them you're up against an animal known for being extremely dangerous for livestock and humans both.

Jellyfish

image source: reddit.com

If, for any reason, you'd decide to try and keep a jellyfish to domesticate as a pet for whatever reason... it's probably best if you don't, especially if we're dealing with the Portuguese Man O' War - the most dangerous jellyfish on the planet. Most jellyfish aren't fatal - but they will dangerously hurt you - yet the Man O' War has been known for fatalities.

Tigers

image source: reddit.com

It goes without saying that you probably shouldn't try and domesticate tigers, no matter what the Tiger King says. Tigers are responsible for around 50 deaths a year, and they have taken many lives in places like India. Not only that, but there have been cases of zoo tigers still killing people as well as out in the wild, including people who have fallen into their enclosures, or circus performers working with the animals.

Bees

image source: reddit.com

Keeping bees has long since been a pastime - and a business - for many people, and whether you'd call that trying to domesticate them or not, the truth is that bees are still very dangerous. For the most part, they're not going to look to harm you, and they're important for the world around us, but one of the biggest risks with keeping bees is being stung if your allergic can be fatal.

Lions

image source: reddit.com

If tigers shouldn't be domesticated, then lions definitely shouldn't! Lions are natural predators, there's no doubt about that - so you wouldn't want a predator as a pet. They're responsible for around 100 deaths a year, and they even consider humans as prey if the opportunity presents itself (you can't blame them for that natural predator instinct!). They're hunters, not pets.

Crocodiles

image source: reddit.com

In certain places in the world, crocodiles are a serious deadly issue. Not only do they prey on livestock, but they can be responsible for many human fatalities as well - in fact, around 1,000 deaths a year can be at the hands (or teeth) of a crocodile. Their speed and aggression is what makes them so dangerous, and places living very close to crocodile waters are constantly at risk.

Scorpions

image source: reddit.com

Scorpions aren't often the first choice for pets, but some people do keep them as such. Certain scorpions are more dangerous than others, but if you get a stinging scorpion packed with venom then you're in trouble if you get caught. Of course, humans aren't their normal prey and they're easily killed if you see one - the worry is just if you don't see one coming!

Freshwater Snails

image source: reddit.com

You might never have put this on your list of most dangerous animals to try and domesticate, but hear us out! They may look harmless, but they can result in something very deadly. It's not the snail you have to worry about, but the deadly disease that it can pass onto you. Freshwater snails can transmit schistosomiasis, and you can get it even if you haven't encountered a snail directly if you've come into contact with the water they inhabit.

Dogs

image source: reddit.com

So for the most part, we know that dogs are the best domesticated animals around, loving companions and great snuggle buddies. But it's always worth mentioning - and respecting - that dogs can also pose a danger when not raised or trained correctly. Domesticated dogs have still been involved in maulings or attacks that have resulted in fatalities, and they're even more risky when you have a dog whose temperament you don't know!

Some Snakes

image source: reddit.com

While snakes are another popular pet for a lot of people, there are of course certain deadly types of snakes you should never try to domesticate! The barba amarilla pit viper native to South America is responsible for around 60,000 deaths every year, and it has some of the most dangerous venom in the world. So definitely don't be picking snakes up off the street to make as your new pet...

Here are some exotic pets you may be surprised aren't actually dangerous

image source: newsweek.com

It's not all doom and gloom if you're wanting a more exotic pet, though - as these are actually (surprisingly) legal and safe! Some exotic animals can make for great pets, and even though they're naturally wild animals, sometimes they can respond well to domesticity - and may even do better in domesticity and thrive more than they would in the wild!

Tamanduas

image source: reddit.com

If that face isn't enough to convince you, we can tell you that the tamandua - sort of like an anteater - is a great wild, exotic pet. At worst, you might catch on their teeth but the same could be said of the common household dog or cat. And with this pet, you're not going to have something running around your home like its high on sugar - it's a pet that takes it easy!

Two-Toed Sloth

image source: en.wikipedia.org

We all know sloths are extremely cute, but those long claws can put a lot of people off, whether they mean to catch you with them or not! And the pace that a sloth moves is enough to convince you they aren't going to pose much of a threat seeing as you could outrun one even at a normal walking speed! Surprisingly, though, the sloth can be a high-maintenance pet with a lot of needs, even if it's not considered a dangerous one.

Muntjac Deer

image source: reddit.com

Muntjac deer can actually be kept as house pets if you have the space, but they're not a very obvious choice for the fact that they're... well, deer. And despite how big they might look in pictures, they actually average the same size as a large house cat, so they're not going to block your view to the TV anytime soon. They're known for being rather affectionate!

Spotted Genet

image source: reddit.com

A lot of people think this strange looking exotic animal is quite intimidating - it's the sort of thing you'd expect to leap at your fact at any moment. But actually this exotic animal is fine for a pet, too. They're pretty much a mix between a cat and a ferret, both energy wise and looks wise. You just need to have the patience - and space - to be a good owner to them!

Savanah Cat

image source: reddit.com

The striking looking Savannah cat is a mix between the average domesticated cat, and the serval exotic cat. You can keep these as pets if the normal domesticated kitty doesn't quite cut it for you, but they come in with a price tag of thousands of dollars. They definitely have more in common with the domestic cat than the wild cat, and they haven't been known to pose any threat to the public.

Bobcat

image source: reddit.com

There are a lot of wild cats that you definitely should not be trying to domesticate, and the bobcat even has a reputation for being risky. The thing with bobcats is that they're definitely dangerous when it comes to their prey - as well as the risk of rabies in wild bobcats. But up to this point, there have been no cases reported of bobcats attacking humans, and they're one of the easiest types of exotic cats to keep as a pet.

Capybaras

image source: reddit.com

Capybaras are adorable, but as we know, even the cutest wild animals can often be the most dangerous. Luckily in the case of capybaras, they're cute *and* you can comfortably have them as a pet. These large rodents make great pets if you have open space that's close to water, because they'll love playing around in your garden pond or a nearby stream.

Patagonian Cavies

image source: reddit.com

In the same vein as Capybaras are the Patagonian Cavies, which are sort of like a larger version of the guinea pig. They are smaller than the capybara if you'd be looking for something at a more manageable size, and they also need enough room to roam around, so you'll want some outside space. Both the capybara and cavies are peaceful, non-threatening exotic animals!

Boa Constrictor

image source: reddit.com

We mentioned about some types of snakes definitely not being suitable for household pets, and with a name like boa 'constrictor', you might think this is one of the most dangerous. But actually, boa contrictors are perfectly safe for pets - they're actually misunderstood because a lot of people associate them with certain species of python that have been known to kill.