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.
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.
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.
New South Wales provides a list of native animal species for people who want exotic pets. This regulation includes unique Australian birds, reptiles, frogs, and a few mammals. But you cannot own invasive species, crocodiles, sea turtles, or snakes.
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.
Owls are not allowed to be kept as pets in Australia as they are considered “exotic pets”.
Wolves can be beautiful animals and many people wonder if they're allowed to keep them as pets. But the short answer is, Australia does not allow wolves or dog-wolf crosses into the country. The ban on wolves extends to breeds like the: Czechoslovakian wolfdog (also called the Czechoslovakian Vlcak)
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.
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.
The Sulcata Tortoise, Leopard Tortoise and the Egyptian Tortoise are among the longest-living pets and the chances of them outliving their owners are very high.
Keeping crocodiles as pets
Both need similar conditions in captivity. To keep a crocodile you must get a permit to keep protected wildlife. You must keep the crocodile in an enclosure that follows the housing crocodiles guidelines. In urban areas, you can only keep a crocodile that is less than 60cm long.
Special permits are necessary to keep most Australian wildlife (e.g. kangaroos, possums, wombats, koalas, kookaburras, magpies, hawks, many reptiles, frogs and fish). Usually only zoos and fauna parks are given permits to hold these animals.
In all States and Territories it is illegal to kill, injure, take from the wild, hold captive, trade or band any raptor without a permit issued by the relevant Government authority, or unless "special conditions" apply.
Lions should never be kept as pets, but sadly many big cats are kept as pets by private individuals across the world. This is because legal restrictions on the trade and keeping of wild animals as pets vary significantly by country.
Marsupial lions lived on the Australian continent from about 24 million years ago up until the end of the Pleistocene era, about 30,000 years ago. MARSUPIAL LIONS weren't really lions, but an extinct species of marsupial with lengthened premolar teeth.
In Thailand and some other nations, there is a legal recognition to people for keeping tigers and lions as pets, she said, adding that the number of such animals is increasing in a surprising way in these countries.
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.
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.
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 ...
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.
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.
In addition, there are many other exotic animals found only in Australia. The egg-laying mammals or monotremes are the most unique like the river-dwelling platypus and the spiny ant-eater echidna found on Kangaroo Island. And when it comes to birds, you can find 828 bird species.
Pit bull terriers have been banned from importation into Australia for over 15 years but there are some living in Australia from before the ban. There are also many cross-breed dogs that look similar to pit bull terriers. Cross-breed dogs are not declared restricted breed dogs in Tasmania.
Australian law also does not allow the entry of domestic and non-domestic dog hybrids (such as wolf crosses) into the country. The following hybrids are not permitted to enter Australia: Czechoslovakian wolfdog or Czechoslovakian Vlcak.
From their sly personalities to their soft-looking fur, you may be tempted to get a fox of your own for a pet. The reality is they don't make great pets, and in some states it is illegal to own one. Foxes are wild animals, meaning they have not been domesticated.