@bkcunningham I’d love to know what our current pets would have to say to us if we could somehow give them the human FOXP2 gene and they could talk. At least I think I’d love it. Spoony THE Cat would probably be pretty opinionated and demanding.
As to exotic animals, I think Koala’s are incredibly cute, but I have no Earthly idea what maintenance level they require. Speaking of telling us what they think, another animal I’d love to have would be a Blue and Gold Macaw, Mynah Bird, or African Grey Parrot. But they are highly social animals and without their regular flock, they want their human around 100% of the time. I’d need some support staff.
I wouldn’t even consider an exotic animal of any kind unless I knew I could easily provide the proper care and housing for the critter for the rest of its natural life.