The consequences of keeping exotic animals as pets became tragically apparent after authorities killed 48 such animals who were set free from their owner's zoo in Ohio prior to his suicide. The practice of owning unusual pets has often been glamorized, whether it be in books, movies -- or by celebrities who have kept them in their homes.

Whether the Ohio tragedy has any impact on practice remains to be seen, but here are a few celebrities who've made headlines with their nontraditional -- and sometimes dangerous -- companions.

Mike Tyson and his tigers: Tyson's penchant for pet tigers became a punch line in The Hangover. However, by the time the film was released in 2009, Mike had already parted ways with his three white Bengals. Before the boxer declared bankruptcy in 2003, he was reportedly spending $4,000 a month to care for the animals, but has since moved on to a new collection of less expensive, and less dangerous, pets -- pigeons.



Hugh Hefner and his zoo: The monkey business at the Playboy mansion isn't limited to the action in the bedrooms. The more literal behavior takes place on the grounds, a portion of which Hugh Hefner turned into an official zoo. Hef's rotating number one girl generally develops a special kinship with the primates (Spider Monkeys, Tamarins, Squirrel Monkeys and Capuchins) and birds (peacocks, flamingos), or so it appears on The Girls Next Door.



Michael Jackson and Bubbles, the Chimp: The late singer was often mocked for his attachment to the chimp, who he adopted from a Texas research facility in the early 1980s. Bubbles lived with Jackson at his Neverland Ranch, where he reportedly slept in a crib in Jackson's bedroom, used the singer's toilet, and ate candy in the Neverland movie theater. As Bubbles grew older and became more aggressive, Jackson was forced to send him to an animal sanctuary. In 2009, People magazine reported that he was living at the Center For Great Apes in Florida, which is home to forty-two chimpanzees and orangutans.



George Clooney and Max, the pig: George Clooney's longest relationship was with a pot-bellied pig named Max, who died in 2006 after 18 years with the notorious bachelor. When asked to recall his fondest memory of Max -- who used to be featured with the actor in interviews -- Clooney said, "Oh, there are plenty of them. He got me in a lot of trouble that pig, in general, (and) scared the hell out of a lot of delivery people, too."