What are the states that you can have a pet kangaroo in?

Answer 1

There is no state in any country where you may legally keep a pet kangaroo without a licence. There is no state anywhere in the United States where you may legally keep a kangaroo. Most people do not realise this, but the reasons are detailed further down in the answer. There is a limited number of states in Australia where a kangaroo may be kept, with a rigorous process of obtaining a licence.

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 properly 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 generally 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.