Animals Australia and conservation groups strongly disagree, arguing that it would merely make it even harder to detect illegal trafficking and increase the scale of suffering of exported species. Australia has a wide variety of beautiful and unique native avian and fauna species. Most recently, we have observed an example of such legislative relaxation in Victoria. In 1992, wildlife regulations were amended to allow the keeping of many species of wild animal as pets by private individuals. Although they may not be taken from the wild legally, captive-bred animals may be purchased from appropriately licensed pet shops.
Some species continue to be taken from the wild illegally for the pet trade.
Animals Australia , its member societies, many wildlife carers and some veterinarians express deep concern that our sensitive wildlife, who have such specific needs, are not suited to a captive environment. More covert but possibly more influential are the economic aims of many involved parties. And although the legal trading of captive animals is to discourage the illegal trading of animals from the wild, we maintain that native animals will continue to be taken from the wild, and suffer in captivity. Do not purchase live Australian native birds. View animals in the wild - not in zoos.