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Native reptiles such as lizards, snakes and turtles need special care and can only be bought from a licensed pet shop or licensed animal keeper. Find out where to buy native reptiles, how to care for them and keep records about them, and what to do if you need to rehome them.

In New South Wales, some native birds bred in captivity can be kept as pets, as long as you have a licence. Forty-one species of native birds bred in captivity can be kept as pets without a licence.

There are 41 native bird species you can keep in New South Wales without a licence. You also don’t need a licence to keep exotic (non-native) bird species.

Some native frogs bred in captivity can be kept as pets in New South Wales, as long as you have a licence.

Native frogs such as tree frogs and ground frogs need special care and can only be bought from licensed animal keepers.

Two species of native mammal can be kept as pets in New South Wales as long as they have been bred in captivity and you have a licence.

Native mammals like kangaroos, quolls and sugar gliders cannot be kept as pets in NSW. Native mammals have special needs and do not thrive in confined domestic environments.

Find out how to apply and pay for licences to keep native animals in New South Wales.

These licences allow handlers to legally catch and release reptiles (usually snakes) or possums from commercial and residential properties.

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water may grant a licence to persons or businesses to catch and release possums to mitigate damage to property.