WE ALL LOVE AUSTRALIA'S UNIQUE WILDLIFE

Most of us want to see our native animals in the bush enjoying a wild life. Yet a small, but noisy group of enthusiasts continually pressure governmnents to allow people to keep wildlife in suburban enclosures. 

Every established animal welfare and conservation organisation in NSW opposes keeping our native mammals as pets because the real facts are real ugly.
​

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE 30-SECOND "I AM NOT YOUR PET" VIDEO

NOT PETS!

Studies show that some species may have a gene that pre-disposes them to domestication - a process that takes thousands of years. Just keeping native species and hoping they will truly domesticate is not only  cruel, it is unscientific.

FREEDOM

Whether or not people could make native mammals into  "good" pets - the question is should we?   Do we really want to rob them of their freedom to climb, glide, fly or bound across the Australian landscape - and lock them away in cages?

ESCAPES!

When native 'pets' escape, most will suffer and die from malnutrition, dehydration or predators. Those that live can introduce diseases to the wild, interbreed or otherwise harm local wildlife. This is true of birds, reptiles and mammals.

Some say keeping native mammal pets is good for the environment - but it isn't 
They will tell you the animals won't suffer - but they will
They will say they can be released back into the wild - but they can't

A QUESTION OF BALANCE
​-
See our pages for and against native mammal keeping:
There are no benefits,
​only risks 

The welfare of wildlife must take precedence over the profit and amusement of hobbyists, who despite their claims, have done ​nothing to contribute to wildlilfe conservation

Disease

Native animals are susceptible to a range of ailments & diseases beyond those we know with traditional pets, making them more expensive and more likely to suffer and die. Some may carry novel diseases that can infect humans.

Welfare

Some people claim there are no welfare issues - but every animal welfare organisation in NSW without exception says these animals will be subject to neglect, abandonment and mistreatment
Image: suzsugargliders.com

Home Range

Many native mammals and bird species  have huge natural ranges - some hundreds of kilometres. This is their natural state.  Some people want to confine these animals to live in urban houses and backyards. 

There is no conservation benefit to allowing more native animals to be kept as pets.
But some people prefer willidfe in captivity rather than living a natural wild life.
And some profit from the expoitation of wildlife as pets,
​oblivious to the cruelty and misery this causes.