Exotic Animal Guide

Department of the Environment and Heritage, April 2004

How do I know if an exotic animal is illegally imported?

Image generously supplied by the Australian Picture Library

The list below has been created to help you avoid taking risks when buying exotic animals. As a general rule, if the exotic animal in question is in the red or amber groups and you cannot obtain proof that the animal or its ancestors were imported into Australia legally, you should avoid buying it.

Red - Watch out for these!

Australian Government records indicate that these groups of exotic animals have never been imported legally into Australia for the purpose of being kept by individuals for private purposes.

Primates such as gorillas, chimpanzees and monkeys
Exotic Reptiles such as snakes, lizards, geckoes, alligators, crocodiles, turtles, tortoise
Exotic Birds not included in the Green or Amber lists
Exotic Arachnids such as scorpions and spiders
Exotic insects such as butterflies, beetles, millipedes and giant cockroaches
Skunks, Stoats, Otters and their relatives
Exotic Echidna, Anteaters and their relatives
Exotic Bats and their relatives
Exotic coral (live)
Exotic fish not included in the Green or Amber lists
Exotic molluscs
Moles, hedgehogs, shrews
Exotic Rodents other than Domestic Guinea Pig Cavia porcellus, Domestic (House) Mouse Mus musculus, Brown Rat Rattus norvegicus and Black Rat Rattus rattus and other rodents listed on the Amber list
Exotic Amphibians such as salamanders, frogs and newts not included in the Amber list

Amber - Check if legal or illegal

Exotic fish species listed on Part 2 of the live import list
Exotic bird species listed on Part 2 of the live import list and/or bird species that are included on the inventory of exotic (non-native) bird species known to be in Australia
Exotic Amphibians such as salamanders, frogs, toads and newts listed on Part 2 of the live import list
Llama and Alpaca
Ferrets
Golden Hamsters

Green - Probably legal

Domesticated exotic mammals such as dogs, cats, pigs, cattle, goats, horses, mules, ass, sheep, rabbits, hares, mice, rats, deer and camel
Exotic fish species listed on Part 1 of the live import list
Exotic bird species listed on Part 1 of the live import list and/or species that were exempt from registration under NEBRS

Note: This list is intended for use as a guide only.

Be sure. Don't break the law.

Remember. You must meet all relevant laws. Make sure that you can keep the animal legally in your State or Territory before you buy it.

Please, don't release your exotic animals

Releasing exotic animals into the wild isn't good for the animal and may damage the environment. The animal is likely to die from exposure or starvation and it could introduce an exotic disease or pathogen or become a pest itself. The reality is that exotic animals threaten our unique environment, agriculture and the tourism industry.

For further information contact:

Community Information Unit
GPO Box 787, Canberra ACT 2601
Telephone: 02 6274 1221, 1800 803 772
Facsimile: 02 6274 1970
Email: ciu@environment.gov.au

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