All the Exotic Pets That are Illegal to Own in Canada

A number of exotic animals are illegal to own in Canada and can vary from province to province.

Looking for an animal companion that’s a bit more outside of the mainstream compared to cats, dogs and goldfish? There are certain animals that should not be considered when looking for a pet due to animal welfare and cruelty, environmental impact and public health and safety.

It’s important to do your research and learn what’s allowed before bringing home any pet. With this in mind, here are some exotic animals that may be illegal to own in your province or city in Canada.

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Cassowaries

These exotic birds are banned in BC. Cassowaries are large birds originally found in New Guinea and Australia. They're the third largest bird, after ostriches and emus. They might look pretty, but these birds can be violent when provoked, and have caused fatal injuries to dogs and humans. No wonder they're thought to be one of the world's most dangerous birds.

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Canada Geese

Despite seeing these geese everywhere, you can't take one home with you. Canada's Migratory Birds Convention Act prohibits anyone from keeping wild birds, including these geese. Plus, they're not the cleanest animals and their feces is known for spreading bacteria, so it's likely better that you don't keep them as pets.

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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.

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 requires between 200 to 600 pounds of food per day. In fact, there are only four zoos in Canada that still have elephants. 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 they're not allowed as a pet in many places in Canada. In Ontario, pit bulls (including pit bull terriers, Staffordshire bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers and American pit bull terriers) are currently banned.

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Killer Whales

The killer whale is another animal that's banned province-wide in Ontario. It absolutely cannot be owned as a pet — although the logistics alone should be enough to discourage anyone. According to the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, it's prohibited to breed or acquire killer whales.

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African Rock Pythons

In 2013, when two young boys in New Brunswick were strangled by an escaped 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 BC, and it's easy to see why — they make terrible pets. Hyenas cannot be trained, and aren't exactly the most docile creatures, as their natural inclination is to roam large areas in packs, attacking smaller animals and eating them raw. That kind of behaviour is definitely 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 generally legal to own as pets (though be sure to check the rules for your municipality).

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Leopards and Tigers

While tigers and leopards are illegal to own in some provinces, that isn't the case across the country. British Columbia, for example, bans leopards and tigers, while Ontario has no legislation in that regard (though they are prohibited in the city of Toronto). 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 British Columbia. Though, they are actually legal in some other provinces. While it may be legal in your province, many municipalities ban big cats like lions.

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Panda

They may look cute, but pandas are not pets. Once considered an endangered species, pandas are still a vulnerable species.

Strawberry poison-dart frog in Costa Rica

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Poison Dart Frogs

When it comes to pet ownership, Poison Dart Frogs are not allowed in some places in Canada (they are, for example, on the list of British Columbia's banned species). 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

It's illegal to keep a rattlesnake in certain Canadian provinces (in BC, for example, it's "illegal to harm, capture or kill a rattlesnake") but that isn't necessarily the case throughout the country.

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Skunks

The idea of keeping a skunk as a pet may seem unusual, and, in some places, it's not allowed. In Ontario, for instance, it's been illegal to keep a skunk as a pet since 1999.