Currently only dogs, cats, rabbits, horses and selected species of birds from approved countries may be imported as pets and only when strict conditions are met. No other vertebrate animals are approved for import into Australia as pets.
All introduced mammal species are prohibited as pets unless listed as exceptions. A sample of these prohibited mammals include: foxes • squirrels • ferrets/polecats/stoats • rabbits • hamsters • monkeys/marmosets • gerbils • weasels • dingoes.
An owner or occupier of land greater than 4,000 square metres but less than 20,000 square metres can keep up to five dogs and/or five cats without a permit. If you would like to keep more than five dogs and/or five cats you need to apply for a permit.
Exotic pets and native animals are legal in Australia, depending on state regulations. You may visit their policy website for the list of allowed exotic animals.
Can you have an owl as a pet in Australia? Owls are not allowed to be kept as pets in Australia as they are considered “exotic pets”.
Currently only dogs, cats, rabbits, horses and selected species of birds from approved countries may be imported as pets and only when strict conditions are met. No other vertebrate animals are approved for import into Australia as pets.
Four-toed hedgehogs (African Pygmy hedgehogs) may legally be kept as pets. Australia: All hedgehogs are classified as exotic pets that are illegal to import.
In Australia, sugar gliders can be kept in Victoria, South Australia, and the Northern Territory. However, they are not allowed to be kept as pets in Western Australia, New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Queensland or Tasmania.
Meerkats under the Animal Welfare Act
While it's currently legal to own a meerkat as a pet, it's also a legal requirement under the Animal Welfare Act that owners meet all their needs in a way that allows for natural behaviours.
Due to strict regulations on the animal species that can be imported into Australia, it is currently illegal to own a lion in Australia. To import an exotic animal or other animal into Australia, you will need a valid permit and will need to comply with the Department of Agriculture`s import requirements.
How Many Pets Are Too Many Pets? There is no set number of pets that works for everyone. It all comes down to how much space you have, your ability to pay for their food and vet care, and your ability to care for them. If you can not truly provide for them, you have too many.
Dogs are the most popular pet, with almost half of Australian households keeping at least one dog (48% in 2022, up from 40% in 2019).
You will need a permit if you intend to keep more than two dogs. Council is unlikely to approve a permit to keep more than four, over the age of three months, unless you are a breeder. All dogs kept under the permit must also be registered with Council.
The importation, keeping, breeding and trading of this species, without appropriate permits, is illegal and penalties apply. The house crow is not known to occur in the wild in Australia.
Up to 150,000 ferrets are kept as pets in Australia. However, ferrets are prohibited as pets in Queensland and the Northern Territory. You must not keep, feed, move, give away, sell or release into the environment. Penalties may apply.
Can You Legally Own a Meerkat? Meerkats are a highly regulated species and are not available as pets in the United States. Captive-bred populations exist in Japan and parts of the United Kingdom.
Travelling in Australia with your dog or cat is simple; if you are flying with your pet, you can check your pet in as excess baggage. Customers in Australia will need to enlist a pet relocation agent for domestic travel only if they are not travelling on the same flight as their pet dog or cat.
The most popular Australian reptiles to keep are the Blue-tongue Lizard, Tiliqua scincoides, and the Central Bearded Dragon, Pogona vitticeps, both of which are interesting and easy to care for. Turtles are also popular pets, however a lot of time and effort needs to go in to water changing and filtration.
Australia is a wonderful country for pets; it has many pet-friendly public spaces as well as a plethora of pet-friendly activities to enjoy with your furry friend. However, the country has strict biosecurity regulations that protect the local flora and fauna from exotic and introduced diseases.
Think You Can? In kangaroos native Australia the only place that it is legal to keep a one as a pet is in the state of Victoria, but even then a permit is required. However, in the Northern Territories kangaroos are classed as a protected species. In Tasmania, it is legal to hunt them, but not to own them.
Luckily, all of these are in abundance, since the internet collectively decided that sloths are the new cats, and went batsh*t crazy for them. While it's not yet possible to have a pet sloth in Australia, if that day ever does come around they might just replace dogs as the ultimate family pet.
The most important thing to remember is that a wallaby is an exotic animal and while they can be tamed and socialized, they are wild animals and are not encouraged as domestic pets. In some areas of Australia, wallabies have been trained to live indoors and show signs of affectionate with a playful spirit.
All species of chameleons are illegal as pets in Australia. In order to keep a reptile in Australia, you need to have a permit and you have to be licensed and the reptile in question must be a “native”. However, since chameleons are not native to Australia, it is a no-go.
Most native animals are protected and cannot be kept as pets. Animals that can be kept as pets include native birds such as some parrots, cockatoos, finches, quail, doves, pigeons and ducks however these must never be caught from the wild (as this is illegal).