The answer is no, you cannot have a penguin as a pet particularly if you live in America. That is because you will find no penguin breeders there. The bird treaty does not allow any trade of the wild birds and that also includes all species of wild penguins.
Can I have a penguin as a pet?
No, you can’t. Because all penguins are protected by laws, there is no way you’ll be able to own one. Only zoos can get permission to have a penguin.
Can you keep a penguin as a pet?
The penguin doesn’t meet the criteria for an easily domesticated animal. They are pack animals and need at least 20 or more other penguins for socialization. To keep a penguin as a pet would also take an exceptional amount of fish, freshwater, and saltwater to survive.
As a result, no one, anywhere in the world, can purchase a penguin as a pet. It just cannot be done legally in that capacity. That, however, does not mean it cannot be done legally at all. You might be able to buy a penguin without getting in trouble with the authorities if you own a zoo.
But, that does not mean there aren’t penguins in captivity.
One of the next things we wanted the answer to was; is it possible to domesticate a penguin?
Despite their cartoon-like physique, penguins are extremely difficult to domesticate. Generally speaking, they are not considered affectionate, especially not toward members of other species (humans included). So getting penguins for your zoo and hoping children could pet them and take cute photos with them is absolutely out of the question.
Are penguins the Worst Pets ever?
In this case, penguins could be one of the worst pets ever. This is due to a variety of factors, including excessive care needs, massive appetites, social needs that necessitate a pack of 20 or more birds, not to mention the insane illegality of owning a penguin.
How long do penguins live as pets?
Even if you were to have a penguin as pet, it would mature very slowly and live for up to 15 or 20 years in captivity. How much does a penguin cost? Based on ads on the internet, penguin costs from $1000 to $22,000. You’ll need a female and male as they’re monogamous.
Is it illegal to own Penguins in the US?
In the U. S there are plenty of animal species that come under the exotic animals list and still they are legal to own. However, there are certain rules, regulations, and accommodation compulsations through which you can own these exotic animals.