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.
Native mammals like kangaroos, quolls and sugar gliders cannot be kept as pets in NSW. The best place for native animals is in the bush where they can live in their natural environment. Native mammals have special needs and do not thrive in confined domestic environments.
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.
However, the species is prohibited throughout Australia for a number of reasons including its potential to introduce exotic animal diseases and because the species has the ability to become a serious invasive pest in Australia.
In NSW you need a licence to keep most native animals as pets. Not all native animals can be kept as pets, but some species which have been bred in captivity can be kept. None of these animals may be caught in the wild.
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.
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”.
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. Here's why ...
Gecko Licensing
All native reptiles are protected in NSW and a Reptile Keeper's licence must be obtained from the Office of Environment and Heritage to own one as a pet.
Legal requirements
The ferret is a prohibited invasive animal under the Biosecurity Act 2014. You must not keep, move, give away, sell or release into the environment. Penalties may apply. You must not take any action reasonably likely to exacerbate the biosecurity threat posed by ferrets.
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.
It is illegal to keep exotic (non-Australian) reptiles in captivity. They must be acquired by a licensed keeper or supplier and cannot be taken from the wild. To keep a reptile as a private keeper you will need to acquire a license of the state or territory wildlife authority.
Ducks and geese are other kinds of domestic poultry that can be kept along with or instead of chickens. These poultry also require a permit.
In Illinois, Idaho, Maine, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin it is legal to keep a kangaroo as a pet, while in the rest of the US it is completely illegal. A very small number of these allow kangaroos to be kept without permits.
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.
Sugar gliders can make wonderful pets and bond closely with their human families if given the specific care, enrichment, and socialization they require. Gliders can live up to 15 years old, so they are a lengthy time commitment as a pet parent. They are very social and live in groups of 5-12 in the wild.
It is illegal to capture reptiles from the wild to keep them as pets — all reptile pets in Australia must have been bred in captivity.
In Australia it is against the law to keep exotic reptiles (non native to Australia). This is to ensure the protection and safety of our amazing native species of reptiles. Some illegal exotics include: Chameleons, Iguanas, Red eared Slider turtles, Corn snakes and Ball Pythons.
It is illegal to import, keep, breed or sell any type of iguana, including green or common iguana. Iguanas are not native to Australia and have the potential to become a pest if they escape or are released into the wild.
They are soft and playful, but can also be quite shy. Chinchillas could not survive in the wild in Australia, as they are very sensitive to a lot of foods, bedding, and temperatures. They would not be able to breed like rabbits or Guinea Pigs, as there simply wouldn't be enough of them alive in the wild.
They may be adorable, but wombats do not make good pets.
Currently, it is illegal to own a wombat in Australia, and it's illegal to export them out of Australia. Wombats might seem like cute, cuddly options for pets, but there are many reasons (aside from the legal) that make them a bad choice for a housemate.
Two species of native mammal can be kept as pets in NSW as long as they have been bred in captivity and you have a licence. All native mammals, including marsupials like kangaroos, possums and quolls, are protected by law in New South Wales.
Native birds are protected by law so if you want to keep a native bird as a pet you'll need a biodiversity conservation licence granted under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 from the Department of Planning and Environment (National Parks and Wildlife Service).
Can You Legally Keep Quokkas as Pets? The main reason why quokkas don't make good pets is that it's illegal to remove them from Australia. Quokkas are heavily protected by Australian law. The IUCN currently classifies them as threatened.
There is a range of national, state and local laws about keeping native animals as pets in Australia. In NSW, for instance, it is against the law to catch a kookaburra in the wild. To keep or care for a kookaburra you need a permit, but these are mostly for people who care for a bird that has been injured.