5 Surprising Exotic Pets That Are Legal in Nevada

From Komodo dragons to camels, here’s a closer look at five exotic pets you can legally own in Nevada.

The only thing looser than Nevada’s slots might be our pet laws. 

As one of only three U.S. states that doesn’t directly control the private ownership of exotic pets, the Silver State has some of the loosest pet laws in the country. 

Leopards, tigers, wolves, elephants, bison, komodo dragons, and primates are all legal to own in Nevada, though many of the state’s counties and cities have stricter regulations. Clark and Washoe counties, for instance, have a comprehensive application and inspection process for private ownership of exotic animals. 

Look before you leap

Just because you can adopt an exotic pet doesn’t mean you should. Tempting as it may be, the National Humane Society explains it isn’t worth the inherent challenges, ethical concerns, and potential dangers.

According to the Las Vegas Animal Foundation, many of the exotic animals adopted by private owners in Nevada become homeless and end up in a shelter. The Animal Foundation has experienced a huge spike in surrendered exotic animals since the COVID-19 pandemic, ranging from pigs to peacocks.

With regulations, permitting requirements, and concerns about owning an exotic animal in mind, here’s a closer look at five animals you can legally own as pets in Nevada.

1. Komodo Dragon

A Komodo dragon doesn’t breathe fire or fly like the dragons of film and fantasy, but it’s still a precarious and potentially dangerous bedfellow for pet owners. 

One of two animals known as dragons, the Komodo dragon is a lizard. In fact, it’s the largest living lizard in the world, reaching upwards of 10 feet and 150 pounds. In addition to its large size, a Komodo dragon bite is potentially venomous. According to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, this predatory, carnivorous, and cannibalistic lizard eats animals ranging in size from a small rat to a large water buffalo. 

The Komodo dragon’s lifespan of 30 years means it will be in your life for quite some time. The Komodo dragon living at Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas turned 26 this month. 

But remember, the Shark Reef has accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Your home does not.

The other lizard known as a dragon, a bearded dragon, is more manageable as a pet. It’s smaller, easier to care for, allergy-friendly, and pretty cool-looking. A woman who owns a bearded dragon as a pet told USA Today that “beardies” are like “the golden retriever of the reptile world.”

While komodo dragons are legal to own in Nevada, they are prohibited in Washoe County.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images/Unsplash.

2. Camels

Nevada has a long history with camels dating back to the 19th century. In fact, if it weren’t for these humped animals in the 1860s, Nevada’s famous Comstock Lode might not have been so successful.

According to the Intermountain Histories website, camels played a heavy role in the state’s mining history. The camels carried salts across the desert to help process gold and silver in the mines around Virginia City until the cyanide reduction process eliminated the need for salt.

Nevada pays tribute to camels at the International Camel Races annually on Labor Day in Virginia City. The race originated as a prank by the local “Territorial Enterprises” newspaper in 1959. That’s the same paper where Mark Twain, the well-known teller of tall tales, originated his byline in the 19th century.

You can get cozy with camels (and even ride one) in Nevada at the 176-acre, Zoological Association of America-accredited Camel Safari Zoo, located one hour north of Las Vegas in Bunkerville. 

Camels are considered good pets with dog-like personalities, but that doesn’t mean you should run out and adopt one. Camels require specialized care and an appropriate living space. And while it’s legal to own a camel as a pet, Las Vegas attorneys Shook & Stone warn that it’s illegal to go for a ride on that camel on a public highway. It’s a law that has remained on the Silver State’s books since 1875.

Photo courtesy of Mary Serphos/Unsplash.

3. Elephants

Though owning an elephant is legal in Nevada, a life of captivity for the pachyderm is widely considered unethical. The largest land mammal in the world, elephants are highly intelligent and have complex social structures. They are not domesticated and require tons of space and resources

This is such a passionate cause that in Colorado, an animal rights group is suing to release a local zoo’s elephants through a process used by prisoners disputing their detention. In 2022, the same group unsuccessfully sued on behalf of an elephant at the Bronx Zoo.

In 2021, the “Tiger King” bill made it illegal for circuses to offer elephant rides in Nevada. The bill also bans public contact with elephants and other animals, such as big cats, primates, wolves, bears, and hyenas. 

If you’re considering adopting an elephant our advice is “don’t.” Instead, go to Valley of Fire State Park, hike to Elephant Rock, and take a photo with the elephant-shaped rock. Everyone, including all living elephants, will be better off.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images/Unsplash.

4. Primates

Like elephants, primates don’t belong in captivity. However, Nevada does not have any laws prohibiting private ownership. 

According to the Animal Legal & Historical Center, monkeys and other primates can be sold without a permit. State law also allows the use of great apes and other wild animals in zoological displays, sans any standards of care.

While primates can be kept as pets, they’re still wild animals and are unsuitable for private ownership, according to the vet-reviewed Spruce Pets. They’re potentially dangerous to humans, especially the bigger ones, and demand a long-term commitment due to their lifespan of up to 40 years. They also need space, friends,  mental stimulation, and specialty vet care. 

In 2020, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that Mr. Las Vegas himself, Wayne Newton, was sued by a 2018 visitor to his home who alleged she was bitten by the singer’s pet monkey, Boo—the second such suit he faced. 

In 2021, a pet monkey got loose in a Reno neighborhood and bit four people, according to KRNV News 4.

5. Ostriches

Remember the International Camel Races mentioned earlier? As it turns out, it also includes an ostrich race. While an ostrich won’t fly away (it can’t), it can run up to 43 miles per hour with a single stride covering 10 to 16 feet.

The ostrich is an African bird that lives in savannas and deserts. These heat-tolerant birds were kept as exotic pets in ancient Mesopotamia, but private ownership may have disadvantages in modern times.

Partially domesticated, per ThoughtCo., ostriches start as cute little puffy balls of fluff, but they don’t stay little. The world’s largest birds grow up to 9 feet tall and 350 pounds with a lifespan of 40 years. With two sharply-clawed toes on each foot, PangoVet warns, one swift kick from an ostrich could kill you.

If you want to see an ostrich in person, check out the Lion Habitat Ranch in Las Vegas. The animal rescue is home to rescued ostriches and emus (also legal pets in Nevada). 

Photo courtesy of
Paris Bilal/Unsplash.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.