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. We believe this would be impossible to do in a home environment.
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.
Though they are not allowed as pets in the U.S., you can legally own a meerkat in certain parts of the United Kingdom and Japan.
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.
Horizon - $250 per year, or $20 per month. This adoption is print based and includes everything above, PLUS: A framed photo of your sponsored animals. A sticker of your sponsored animals.
We believe that meerkats don't make good pets. It's difficult to meet their complex needs in a captive environment and they're likely to develop behavioural problems. Sadly, despite this, we still often receive reports of meerkats for sale in local pet shops in unsuitable conditions.
Other Animals
The following pets are not permitted to enter Australia: chinchillas, fish, ferrets, guinea pigs, hamsters, lizards, mice, snakes, spiders, pigs and turtles. Live pigeons are permitted from any country, however, household birds are only permitted if they are entering from New Zealand.
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”.
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.
Fact#3 - Meerkats are highly intelligent
A recent study at St Andrews University – Scotland – found meerkats use complex coordinated behaviour, which rivals that of chimps, baboons, dolphins and even humans. They solve tasks with help from their mob but also a bit of independent thought.
Our meerkats, like all wild animals, do not like to be touched by strangers. Please do not put your hand on the meerkats or pet them.
Meerkat (Suricata suricatta): a small mongoose found in southern Africa. Despite what its name may suggest, a meerkat is not a member of the cat family. Meerkats are weasel-like animals that are members of the mongoose family. The mongoose family Herpestidae includes small terrestrial carnivorous mammals.
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.
You can only bring your cat or dog into Australia under strict import conditions. These safeguard our agriculture, environment, native and domestic animals, and our people. They are based on rigorous scientific analyses to manage biosecurity risks.
Your cat or dog must arrive in Australia with a microchip that can be scanned and linked to the import permit and any accompanying laboratory reports. If the microchip cannot be scanned in Australia, or the microchip number is inconsistent on any import paperwork, your cat or dog may be exported from Australia.
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)
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.
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).
Cats, dogs and other common pets
There are no restrictions on cats, dogs, guinea pigs, rats, mice and axolotl (walking fish).
If they are released or escape into the wild, hamsters and gerbils would compete with our native rodents for the same food resources. They could also pose a risk of disease introduction, with both being a significant risk to the survival of our native animals.
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.
Every year, thousands of dogs from all over the world are put into shelters or left without a home. In Australia alone, there are an estimated 80,000 homeless dogs and puppies that need a loving family to take them in. It is a heartbreaking reality that many of these animals will never find a place to call home.
Barriers to adoption in Australia
Adoption in Australia is a lengthy and difficult process. Adopting a child takes years from the time a family decides to adopt, to the time when an adoption is finalised.
We can't protect penguins without you
When you symbolically adopt a penguin, we want you to join them on their journey to a safer future. Your special adoption gift pack includes a optional cuddly penguin plush toy, pengiun fact book, adoption certificate, Living Planet magazine and WWF sticker.