Not so much a question of whether anyone would want to- but can you keep an emu as a pet in your state?
What about Kangaroos, dingos or other native species?- Say on a decent sized private/rural block, as opposed to a farm or proper park.


Karl.

I have seen emu farms in Victoria so there must be some sort of licence available to possess them .

If one happened to "wander" onto your property and like it so much he stayed there would that make him a pet or a captive...

I can remember the one that lived at Belmont range many years ago. Story goes somebody bought it back from a shooting trip when it was a chick, thing grew up and got too big for the back yard so they dumped it at the range.

It used to hang out with a dog and chase cars up and down the drive way.

Saw a fella stick his hat on it's head as it was running beside his car, it did cartwheels a over t, couldn't tell legs from neck, funniest thing I ever saw.

SA requires a licence to keep captive kangaroos and emus. Not sure of the criteria but believe generally it is not just as pets. Most people that have them seem to claim they run an animal shelter for orphaned animals.

I find a 2x4 a good solution for orphaned roos in the pouch.

Dingos are kept as pets in Vic, even people in the burbs are allowed them. Think you need a permit unsure of the requirements, no barking would be good just a lot of howling.
The big breeder here in Vic Bruce ??? died a few months ago he had had a few probs with fisheries and wildlife over the years.

I know a guy that on a trip around Aust bought a Galah, got told off for having a pet in national park in WA - reason the spreading of seeds when feeding the bird.

Believe it or not, there are a lot of emu's raised in the US as meat/pets as well. Even where I live, with crappy cold winter weather and snow. They thrive here. I would think they are too mean to be good pets but some people here are nuts.

Personally I would not get any and just keep my real chooks, they are easier to manage.

I just got word back from the QLD National parks and wildlife and apparently it comes down to a 'recreational wildlife licence'. For which they did not think an emu or roo fits on.
I asked about those who farm emus or run parks etc. and they directed me to ask a local ranger on the subject.

Karl.

in other words Karl the person on the phone had no idea.

Precisely, however as the issuer of licences I think he regarded any answer he could give, or fail to give, as final.
So I'll peck around some more and see what I can glean.

Karl.

I don't think you can have a dingo or a cross in QLD. Emu's who knows. There were alot of ostrich farms around Ipswich at one stage, If you can keep them I would have thought you could keep an emu. As to other animals, up here you can keep a croc (both species) till its gets to be 60cm in a tank in your house. If you have a block of land and have the right enclosure you can keep it for ever.

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Personally I would not get any and just keep my real chooks, they are easier to manage

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Ahh but Ann....think of the omelete