Can you have a pet wallaby in North Carolina?

Answer 1

No.

Kangaroos and wallabies are protected by Australian law, and are not permitted as pets in Australia. They should not be purchased by people overseas to satisfy a whim for an exotic pet. These animals cannot be domesticated. Within Australia, they may only be kept by a registered wildlife carer who has a licence.

The Australian government has only permitted the export of kangaroos and wallabies overseas for non-commercial purposes. This means that smaller, private zoos have been permitted to have them. Unfortunately, this has resulted in numerous kangaroos and wallabies escaping from their enclosures (due to mismananagement and lack of understanding of the animals' needs), causing the development of feral populations overseas.

Despite permitting the export of these animals, this still does not mean that kangaroos or wallabies may be kept as pets. Anyone who sells kangaroos or wallabies overseas is, in effect, flouting Australian law by exploiting them for commercial purposes. It also increases the likelihood of abuse. Regardless of local laws In the USA, it is illegal to have wallabies as pets, according to Australian laws.

Wallabies and kangaroos are not sold commercially in Australia as pets. Apart from registered and regulated animal sanctuaries and some research institutions, only registered wildlife carers may tend ill or wounded native animals for a time. Many unregistered people will take in injured wildlife and call them their "pets": while this is a marvellous caring gesture, it is still illegal, and the animals are required by Australian law to be released as soon as they are able to fend for themselves. Animals which are injured or distressed (e.g. during bushfires or floods, or orphaned when the mother is hit by a car) should always be rescued. For the good of the animal it is better to notify the wildlife authorities as soon as possible.