All the Exotic Pets That Are Illegal to Own in Canada

Exotic pets are becoming increasingly popular with those looking for an animal companion a bit more outside of the mainstream than cats, dogs and goldfish. Yet a number of exotic animals are illegal to own in Canada — although regulations can vary wildly from province to province and even from one municipality to another. Described by one expert as a “patchwork” of regulations, ownership of exotic animals is definitely not uniform throughout the country, although there are certain animals that should definitely not be considered when looking for a pet.

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Alligators and Crocodiles

Alligators and crocodiles are widely banned as pets throughout Canada — which isn't surprising, given that these reptilian predators aren't exactly the cuddliest companions. However, baby alligators are often kept as pets in aquariums, which becomes problematic as they grow to their full adult size.

Portrait of an African elephant in the grass

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Elephants

The logistics of having an elephant for a pet are daunting — a full-grown African elephant, for example, can weigh up to 12,000 pounds, and will require between 200 and 600 pounds of food per day. In fact, there are only four zoos in Canada that still have elephants, and a worldwide campaign began to free an elephant named Lucy from an Edmonton zoo.

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Pit Bulls

Pit bulls are not an uncommon breed for dog owners, yet it is one of only two animals that is banned by the Ontario government when it comes to pet ownership.

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Killer Whales

The other animal that has been banned province wide by Ontario is the killer whale, which can absolutely not be owned as a pet — although the logistics alone should be enough to discourage anyone.

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African Rock Pythons

When two young boys in New Brunswick were strangled in 2013 by an African Rock Python that was being kept as a pet, it highlighted the dangers of owning exotic pets. That particular species, in fact, was and remains illegal to own in that province.

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Primates

Monkeys, chimpanzees, orangutans, gorillas and other primates are typically illegal to own as pets in most parts of Canada. The illegality of owning monkeys was emphasized after the infamous "IKEA monkey" incident in 2014, when a Japanese macaque escaped from its owner's car and wound up running wild in a Toronto-area IKEA store.

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Giraffes

While regulations are inconsistent throughout Canada, the giraffe is one of the banned species that cannot be owned as a pet in British Columbia.

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Hyenas

Hyenas are illegal in various parts of Canada, including B.C., and it's easy to see why — because they make terrible pets. Hyenas cannot be trained, and aren't exactly the most docile creatures, whose natural inclination is to roam large areas in packs, attacking smaller animals and eating them raw — the kind of behaviour typically frowned upon at the dog park.

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Kangaroo

While kangaroos have been owned and bred in Canada, tougher regulations are preventing kangaroos being kept as pets. However, other types of Australian marsupials — such as sugar gliders — are actually legal to own as pets.

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Leopards and Tigers

While tigers and leopards are illegal to own in some provinces — including B.C. — that isn't the case everywhere. In fact, the legality of owning a big cat in Canada comes down to where you happen to be, with B.C. banning leopards and tigers, while Ontario having no legislation in that regard. Chances are, however, that if you speak with your local municipality about keeping a tiger in your backyard, you're bound to run into some issues.

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Lions

Much like leopards and tigers, lions are not permitted to be owned as pets in B.C. but are actually legal in Ontario and some other provinces. In fact, it's estimated that there are 500 privately owned lions and tigers in Ontario.

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Panda

Because pandas are endangered species, importing one of these Chinese bears requires permission from the Canadian government. Don't expect to get it.

Strawberry poison-dart frog in Costa Rica

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Poison Dart Frogs

Poison Dart Frogs are on the list of British Columbia's banned species when it comes to pet ownership, and are also illegal to own in Alberta. However, amphibian aficianados have been trying to change that, pointing out that these frogs are not as toxic as their name would lead you to believe.

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Rattlesnake

B.C. and Alberta are two provinces where it is illegal to keep a rattlesnake, but that isn't necessarily the case throughout the country — although it's easy to make the argument that keeping venomous snakes as pets is a ticking time bomb.