New South Wales

Native animals as pets

In NSW you need a licence to keep most native animals as pets.

Not all native animals can be kept as pets, but some species which have been bred in captivity can be kept. None of these animals may be caught in the wild.

For most native animals you require a biodiversity conservation licence under Part 2 of the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 to keep them as pets. You must obtain your licence before you start keeping any native animals as a pet.

Some native birds, like budgerigars, can be kept without a licence.

Licences help us protect and maintain healthy native animal populations and make sure pet owners have enough experience to safely care for their animals. You must be at least 16 years old to hold a licence.

Before you apply for a licence, you’ll need to decide what animal you want to keep.

The most common native animals kept as pets are snakes, lizards, frogs and birds.

See the NSW Native Animal Keepers' Species List to find out which native animal you can keep as a pet.

 

Apply for a native animal keeper licence

Information about how to apply and pay for licences to keep native animals.

To keep a native reptile, bird, frog or mammal as a pet you need to first have a biodiversity conservation licence granted under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (National Parks and Wildlife Service). The type of biodiversity conservation licence needed depends on the species and number of animals you want to keep.

You must be at least 16 years old to apply for a licence to keep native animals. If you are under 16 years of age the licence application must be in the name of your legal parent/guardian.

Some animals are only available to people who hold an advanced licence. These animal keepers have many years of experience keeping species that may be difficult and dangerous to maintain, or are of a higher conservation significance.

There are 41 native bird species you can keep without a licence.

https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/licences-and-permits/wildlife-licences/native-animals-as-pets