Keeping of Wildlife as Pets

Singapore does not allow the keeping of certain animals as pets for the following reasons:

Reason
Introduce and spread diseases	Diseases could be introduced and spread to humans and domestic animals.
Ecosystem imbalance	Collection of wild animals for trade will lead to ecosystem imbalance and threaten the survival of endangered species.
Welfare of animal compromised	Unsuitable living conditions, poor diet and pet owner's lack of knowledge of the proper care for the animal may affect animal’s welfare.
Singapore's biodiversity affected	If exotic pets, which are non-native were released in the wild, it may affect Singapore’s biodiversity.
Public safety	Animals may escape causing nuisance, fear and trauma to general public.
Examples of these animals: Hedgehogs Iguanas Tarantulas Scorpions, star tortoises, snakes, salamanders, sugar gliders, slow lorises

Under the Wildlife Act, a person must not intentionally keep or feed any wildlife in any place except with the Director-General, Wildlife Management’s written approval to do so. Subject to the conditions listed below, the following wildlife species are approved by the Director-General to be kept as pets:

• Red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans)
• All Birds except house crow (Corvus splendens), white-vented or Javan myna (Acridotheres javanicus), common myna (Acridotheres tristis), feral pigeon (Columba livia), and birds which are prescribed as protected wildlife species
• All fish except piranhas and fish which are prescribed as protected wildlife species
• Malayan box turtle (Cuora amboiensis)
• Green tree frog (Litoria caerulea)
• American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus)
• Crab-eating frog (Fejervarya cancrivora)
• All invertebrates found in Singapore, except tarantulas, scorpions, and invertebrates which are prescribed as protected wildlife species

 

Conditions for keeping the abovementioned wildlife species as pets:

• The wildlife must be accompanied by a CITES permit of Certificate of Origin in respect of the wildlife if it is a Malayan box turtle or any bird, fish or invertebrate which is listed in the CITES Appendices.
• The wildlife is strictly not for commercial sale, re-export, public display, transfer nor breeding purposes.
• The wildlife must only be kept within your residential premises and not be displayed to the public. Exceptions for public display may be granted in respect of birds which are approved as pets.
• The wildlife must be housed in a secured and escape-proof enclosure.
• The person keeping the wildlife must comply with the Code of Animal Welfare (for pet owners), including the provision of care and feeding with appropriate diet.
• The wildlife must not be released anywhere without written approval from the Director-General or any other relevant authorities.
• The person keeping the wildlife must comply with any other conditions that may be imposed from time to time by the Director-General. 

 

The person keeping the wildlife is also reminded to comply with all other relevant provisions under the Animals and Birds Act (Cap. 7), and all other relevant laws, regulations, by-laws and rules of all relevant authorities.

The conditions may be amended at any time without notice.

The approval and conditions are valid as of 1 October 2020.