Is it legal to have a pet wallaroo in the state of Illinois?

Answer 1

No. Wallaroos, like kangaroos and wallabies, are protected by Australian law, and are not permitted as pets. They should not be purchased by people overseas to satisfy a whim for an exotic pet. The Australian government has only permitted the export of kangaroos, wallaroos 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 such marsupials 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, wallaroos 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.