Industry - Australian native animals as pets

Australian native animals as pets

Australia is home to an abundance of native wildlife – but should they be kept as pets?

-Words Bob Croucher

KEEPING AUSTRALIAN native animals, including mammals, as pets has been a controversial subject for many years. There is a small part of the population that believes we shouldn’t own any pets, that they are not chattels to be bought and sold but to have all the rights and benefits of humans.

Central netted dragon

This sounds all warm and fuzzy but, the reality is that it is not something that would work in our society.

Published views in past years are varied. During a 1999 Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) Conference in Hobart, high profile vet, Dr George Wilson, said that in his view, “It is far better to kill young joeys and wombats than let them be owned privately”.

What do we do if we want to have a native animal as a pet? What we don’t do is take one from the wild.

While in 2021, renowned biologist, Mike Archer, told Cosmos Magazine 2 : “I’ve had so many wonderful native animals that have shared my house and my backyard. I think we’re nuts for just feeling we have to stick with the introduced alien species as pets.”

Over the years, we have been happy to import our pets such as cats and dogs, now bred in Australia. While there is nothing wrong with that, there are many animals that have been in Australia for hundreds of years. They have evolved to our natural environment and climate.

A tree-dwelling Australian sugar glider

In Australia, where most of our mammals are endemic (found nowhere else), we’ve managed to eliminate more than 30 species since the arrival of Europeans – the highest mammalian extinction rate in the world, with another 86 animal species that are considered critically endangered. Many more species are endangered 1 .

It has been said that keeping and breeding in itself is not going to save all the animals, and that’s probably right, but with eradicating feral cats and foxes and keeping cats indoors we would have a great chance of saving our animals.

So, what do we do if we want to have a native animal as a pet? What we don’t do is take one from the wild. Not only would that contribute to the extinction of the animal but keeping an animal that was born in the wild does not make a good pet.

A little girl holds an Australia Coastal Carpet Python

In this discussion, we assume you are a member of the public, or a pet shop, not a zoo. You first must decide what animal you would like to have. If you wanted a cuddly koala or a wombat – forget it, you can’t have one of those. But there are many more you can keep. Each state has its own rules and conditions – you should check what is allowable in your state.

Check whether your state requires a licence for the animal you choose. If your local pet shop has the animal, then read as much as you can about its keeping. A reputable shop should have material to read while some shops run masterclasses.

Pet Shops

Over the years the Pet Industry Association of Australia (PIAA) has fought for the right to be able to sell native animals, mainly reptiles, through pet shops.

NSW became the last state that was able to sell a limited number of reptiles in shops.

A talkative palm cockatoo

It’s important to understand that a lot of native animals are nocturnal and sleep most of the day, so is that a pet that you would like to keep? If you decide to go down this path, you must have a thorough knowledge of that animal, be prepared to teach your customers, or supply them with material that enables them to care for the animal.

You also need to ensure your customer has the facility to keep that animal in good health, including an appropriate enclosure, heat source where required, and the correct lighting.

Australian native resources for pet retailers

Below are websites from each state to get further information and obtain the correct licences:

NSW

https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/licences-and-permits/wildlife-licences/trading-in-native-animals/licences-to-commercially-trade-in-native-animals

Queensland

https://www.awrc.org.au/uploads/5/8/6/6/5866843/gamble_pets.pdf

South Australia

https://www.environment.sa.gov.au/licences-and-permits/wildlife-permits/permit-types/keep-sell-display-native-animals/native-animals-pet

Western Australia

https://www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/plants-and-animals/licences-andauthorities?showall=&start=4

Victoria

https://www.vic.gov.au/keeping-and-trading-wildlife

Northern Territory

https://nt.gov.au/environment/animals/wildlife-permits

Tasmania

https://nre.tas.gov.au/wildlife-management/forms-permits-and-fees/licenceand-permit-fees