Crystal Hefner Claims the Playboy Mansion Animals Were Treated Horrifically

In addition to beautiful women and celebrity-filled parties, Hugh Hefner's Playboy Mansion also had a zoo on the grounds, where monkeys, cockatoos, peacocks, African cranes, parrots, toucans, pelicans, and doves resided.

In her latest book, Only Say Good Things: Surviving Playboy and Finding Myself, Hugh Hefner's widow Crystal Hefner said the animals were treated horribly.

People Magazine reports, “So sad, those little birds,” Crystal said in an interview with PEOPLE. “Yeah, I feel like I was constantly crying for everything and everybody there. It was so sad.”

She went on to say that there was a zoo in the mansion (“Hef had a zoo license"), but claimed that the animals had not been paid attention to — similar to some of the women living at the home." “All those animals were so depressed and sad looking, you walk by the cages and you're just, none of them were happy,” Crystal said.

Related: Tiger King's' Carole Baskin Is Making a Huge Move with Big Cat Rescue

Daren Metropoulos of Metropoulos & Co. bought the Playboy compound in for $100 million in August 2016 and Page Six reports that he decided to keep the animals. Metropoulos would keep the animals despite the major renovations he plans on undertaking to merge his former property — the house next door — and the Playboy Mansion to form a massive 7.3-acre property. “Daren loves animals and the zoo and the animals will stay under his ownership,” Metropoulos’ rep told us.

Let's hope the animals have been better cared for by Metropoulus. 

Celebrities That have Owned Exotic Animals

Hugh Hefner is not the only celebrity to keep exotic animals, and Hollywood stars have been keeping pets other than cats and dogs since, well, probably since they realized having an exotic pet would get them a lot of media attention.

Michael Jackson had a private zoo at his Neverland Ranch, which included various exotic animals such as elephants, giraffes, and chimpanzees.

Justin Bieber had a pet capuchin monkey named Mally, which he received as a gift.  Bieber got in trouble for taking this tiny monkey on tour without a permit, and now the monkey is living at Serengeti Park in Copenhagen.

Socialite and media personality Paris Hilton has been associated with owning exotic pets, including a kinkajou named Baby Luv who bit her on the arm in 2006.

Tracy Morgan had a giant Pacific octopus that he had to build a $400,000 tank for.

Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos. Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips.