<div>Move over cats and dogs. Time to make space for pygmy monkeys and giant parrots. If you have the moolah, get yourself an exotic and expensive pet. However, unlike Mike Tyson, you cannot keep a tiger as one as the Indian Wildlife Act 1972 makes it illegal to own species found in the wild. But the Act does not prohibit you from domesticating species originating anywhere else in the world. So, technically, you can keep a pet cheetah, but we won’t recommend it. Here are some exotic animals that you can keep as pets without raising the hackles of either the wildlife authorities or neighbours. <br /><br /><strong>Falabella</strong><br />If you are looking for something straight out of a fairytale, get yourself a falabella. It is one of the smallest and rarest breeds of horses — at 32-36 inches, it is barely taller than a Great Dane. It has a thick tail and a mane you can spend hours grooming. Falabellas are cleverer than Shetland ponies and can be trained to perform several tasks. However, they are not meant to be ridden, though small children can go for a couple of rounds on them. Falabellas have a long lifespan — close to 18-20 years. You can gift one to your child on his/her first birthday and he/she can have it as a pet till he/she goes to college. They can be imported from the UK for Rs 4-6 lakh.<br /><br /><strong>Marmoset Monkey</strong><br />Not satisfied with miniature horses? How about tiny monkeys? At 20 cm, the marmoset monkey from South America is the smallest in the world. You can carry one in your pocket or have him grasp your finger and be a constant companion. Affectionate, naughty and playful, they make lovely pets. They are intelligent enough to be toilet trained and can, hence, be let loose around the house. If you are keeping one in a cage, pick a large one with a play area. They live on a fuss-free diet of fruits, nuts and milk and don’t need many vaccinations. Marmoset monkeys have a lifespan of 6-8 years and pet shops can import one for Rs 1.5-2 lakh.<br /><br /> </div><table cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="3" align="center" width="600"><tbody><tr><td><img align="middle" width="640" height="400" src="/image/image_gallery?uuid=5029a030-9f6c-41d6-91c7-91bef80c5435&groupId=520986&t=1416907113682" alt="" /></td></tr><tr><td>CUTE COMPANIONS: (Clockwise from left) A falabella, llama and marmoset monkey — all excellent pets (Photographs: Shutterstock)</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /><strong>Llama</strong><br />If you prefer larger pets, a llama may just be the companion you are looking for. The South American cousin of the camel is a popular pet in the US. At close to 6 ft, with a short woolly tail, a llama is gentle and affectionate, and does not take a lot of work to look after. What’s more, like a dog a llama looks at you with droopy eyes and ears perked up as if it understands everything you are saying, making it irresistible. Llamas are sociable and tend to get lonely on their own, so make sure you keep at least a couple. They have a long life of nearly 15 years and can be imported for around Rs 4 lakh from the US.<br /><br /><strong>Hyacinth Macaw</strong><br />This cobalt blue bird, with a wingspan of over 4 ft, is the world’s largest parrot. A native of central South America, it has a powerful beak that can even snap metal. So it is best to house it in a large stainless steel cage. It is playful and loves to cuddle. Hyacinth macaws are intelligent and can be taught several tricks. See them sing, hop, roll a wheel and screech in excitement when you applaud. They require a diet of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, pellets and Macadamia nuts. The hyacinth macaw lives for over 60 years and can truly be a pet for life. Depending upon its size, colour and age, the bird can cost you between Rs 7 lakh and Rs 11 lakh at leading pet shops across the country. <br /> <br />smita@businessworld.in <br />Twitter: @smitabw<br /><br />(This story was published in BW | Businessworld Issue Dated 15-12-2014)</div>