Can kangaroos be kept as pets in Australia?

Answer 1

In most locations it's not legal to keep wild animals as pets; you would need to check with your state (or country) wildlife department to know what the rules are in your area.

Answer 2

"Many kangaroo rat species are endangered, and these species cannot be kept as pets." Yet still, fish and game tells you to put the baby out and hope it's mom finds it before a predator.... I would think it safer to raise it till old enough to fend for itself and take it to an area designated for their preservation. At least then it has a chance....

Answer 3

No. It is illegal to have a koala as a pet. They are protected, native animals. It does not matter which country of the world you are in: you may not have a pet koala.

In some places, people have koalas living in or regularly wandering through their backyards, but they are not house-friendly animals, and attempts should not be made to interfere with their natural, native activities.

Quite simply, koalas are a protected species. This means it is illegal to have a koala. Few people understand the needs of a koala, and opening up native animals to being owned as pets leads the way to abuse.

Such abuse of exotic animals has happened far too often overseas, where pet sugar gliders are subject to abuse. Notice how Australia does not allow ownership of sugar gliders, even though they are native to the country, so pet shops and animal shelters here are not filled with abused and neglected native animals.

Answer 4

Kangaroos and wallabies are protected by Australian law, and are not permitted as pets in Australia, except for the state of Victoria. They should not be purchased by people overseas to satisfy a whim for an exotic pet. These animals cannot be domesticated. Within Australia, they may only be kept by a registered wildlife carer who has a licence.

The Australian government has only permitted the export of kangaroos and wallabies overseas for non-commercial purposes. This means that smaller, private zoos have been permitted to have them. Unfortunately, this has resulted in numerous kangaroos and wallabies escaping from their enclosures (due to mismananagement and lack of understanding of the animals' needs), causing the development of feral populations overseas.

Despite permitting the export of these animals, this still does not mean that kangaroos or wallabies may be kept as pets. Anyone who sells kangaroos or wallabies overseas is, in effect, flouting Australian law by exploiting them for commercial purposes. It also increases the likelihood of abuse. Reports coming back to the RSPCA in Australia indicate that some of these animals have ended up in shelters.

Australians were outraged when, in March 2010, it was reported that a circus act in Texas involved goading a kangaroo into "boxing" with people. This was a clear case of blatant cruelty, and an example of the abuse to which exotic animals are often subjected.

Wallabies and kangaroos are not sold commercially in Australia as pets. Apart from registered and regulated animal sanctuaries and some research institutions, only registered wildlife carers may tend ill or wounded native animals for a time. Many unregistered people will take in injured wildlife and call them their "pets": while this is a marvellous caring gesture, it is still illegal, and the animals are required by Australian law to be released as soon as they are able to fend for themselves. Animals which are injured or distressed (e.g. during bushfires or floods, or orphaned when the mother is hit by a car) should always be rescued. For the good of the animal it is better to notify the wildlife authorities as soon as possible.

For information on which species may be kept legally in Australia without a licence, see the related link. Note that kangaroos and wallabies are not among them.

Answer 5

No.

Kangaroos and wallabies are protected by Australian law, and are not permitted as pets in Australia. They also should not be purchased by people overseas to satisfy a whim for an exotic pet. These animals cannot be domesticated. Within Australia, they may only be kept by a registered wildlife carer who has a licence.

The Australian government has only permitted the export of kangaroos and wallabies overseas for non-commercial purposes. This means that smaller, private zoos have been permitted to have them. Unfortunately, this has resulted in numerous kangaroos and wallabies escaping from their enclosures (due to mismananagement and lack of understanding of the animals' needs), causing the development of feral populations overseas.

Wallabies and kangaroos are not sold commercially in Australia as pets. Apart from registered and regulated animal sanctuaries and some research institutions, only registered wildlife carers may tend ill or wounded native animals for a time. Many unregistered people will take in injured wildlife and call them their "pets": while this is a marvellous caring gesture, it is still illegal, and the animals are required by Australian law to be released as soon as they are able to fend for themselves. Animals which are injured or distressed (e.g. during bushfires or floods, or orphaned when the mother is hit by a car) should always be rescued. For the good of the animal it is better to notify the wildlife authorities as soon as possible.

Answer 6

Kangaroos and wallabies can only be kept as pets in Australia in the state of Victoria, if one purchases a Department of Sustainability and Environment Wildlife Licence.

These animals must be obtained from a captive source, such as an Owner / Breeder or Wildlife Park who has the appropriate Wildlife Licence. It is illegal to obtain these animals from the wild.

It is important to note that pet shops do not stock these animals, as they do other native creatures such as budgies and cockatiels. Whilst the licences may be relatively easy to purchase, it is not encouraged for the general population to keep these native creatures.

It is also significant that, on the accompanying "Marsupial Society of Victoria" link, it is clearly stated that ..." the Marsupial Society actively encourages the keeping and breeding of Marsupials in captivity but generally NOT as pets in the true sense of the word". This means they discourage the keeping of these animals in suburban backyards - and it would be irresponsible to consider doing so. The animals do not fit into a household the same way as dogs and cats do. They are essentially wild animals that cannot be domesticated in the true sense of the word. There is also a large danger of diseases being transmitted from domestic pets.

Answer 7

Kangaroos are protected by Australian law, and are not permitted as pets in Australia. They should not be purchased by people overseas to satisfy a whim for an exotic pet. These animals cannot be domesticated. Within Australia, they may only be kept by a registered wildlife carer who has a licence.

The Australian government has only permitted the export of kangaroos overseas for non-commercial purposes. This means that smaller, private zoos have been permitted to have them. Unfortunately, this has resulted in numerous kangaroos escaping from their enclosures (due to mismananagement and lack of understanding of the animals' needs), causing the development of feral populations overseas.

Despite permitting the export of these animals, this still does not mean that kangaroos may be kept as pets. Anyone who sells kangaroos overseas is, in effect, flouting Australian law by exploiting them for commercial purposes. It also increases the likelihood of abuse. Reports coming back to the RSPCA in Australia indicate that some of these animals have ended up in shelters.

Australians were outraged when, in March 2010, it was reported that a circus act in Texas involved goading a kangaroo into "boxing" with people. This was a clear case of blatant cruelty, and an example of the abuse to which exotic animals are often subjected.

Kangaroos are not sold commercially in Australia as pets. Apart from registered and regulated animal sanctuaries and some research institutions, only registered wildlife carers may tend ill or wounded native animals for a time. Many unregistered people will take in injured wildlife and call them their "pets": while this is a marvellous caring gesture, it is still illegal, and the animals are required by Australian law to be released as soon as they are able to fend for themselves. Animals which are injured or distressed (e.g. during bushfires or floods, or orphaned when the mother is hit by a car) should always be rescued. For the good of the animal it is better to notify the wildlife authorities as soon as possible.

For information on which species may be kept legally in Australia without a licence, see the related link. Note that kangaroos are not among them.

Answer 8

No. To begin with, it is illegal to keep a kangaroo as a pet anywhere in e world except for the Australian state of Victoria. Kangaroos have special needs, and they cannot be trained or domesticated.

Regarding the legalities of keeping kangaroos, The Australian government has only permitted the export of kangaroos and wallabies overseas for non-commercial purposes. This means that smaller, private zoos have been permitted to have them.

Despite permitting the export of these animals, this still does not mean that kangaroos or wallabies may be kept as pets. Anyone who sells kangaroos or wallabies overseas is, in effect, flouting Australian law by exploiting them for commercial purposes. It also increases the likelihood of abuse. Reports coming back to the RSPCA in Australia indicate that some of these animals have ended up in shelters, because people simply do not understand their needs.

Answer 9

no