July 24, 2017
The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries is reminding residents it is illegal to keep monkeys as pets in Queensland, following advertisements for baby marmosets appearing online at the weekend.
Marmosets were advertised for sale in Kingaroy, Bargara, Dalby and Emerald.
A spokesperson confirmed that marmoset monkeys are prohibited in Queensland unless the owner has obtained a licence or permit under the Exhibited Animals Act 2015 to exhibit the animal.
All introduced mammals are prohibited as pets except (subject to local government by-laws): dogs, cats, horses, goats, donkeys, guinea pigs, black/brown rats, house mice, pigs and deer (farmed species as long as these deer are kept within a deer-proof enclosure).
All other exotic mammals are illegal including foxes, squirrels, ferrets/polecats/stoats, rabbits, hamsters, monkeys/marmosets, gerbils and weasels.
The Department spokesman said the Animal Biosecurity and Welfare team would “look into” the advertisements.
- External link: Biosecurity Queensland information sheet (1.08Mb PDF)
