Can You Keep a Macaw as a Private Pet? How to Legally Own One
Keeping a macaw as a private pet is not straightforward. It requires a wildlife domestication and breeding license, and the seller must provide proof of breeding to ensure legal ownership. Macaws and Their Protected Status Macaws are classified as a nationally protected species, encompassing 17 species within 6 genera. All of these species are listed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species (ver 3.1) since 2012. Private individuals are prohibited from owning macaws without the necessary wildlife domestication and breeding permit. This is primarily to protect the wild populations and to discourage illegal trading of these vulnerable birds. Legal Restrictions on Macaw Ownership Generally, keeping macaws as pets is restricted. They are categorized as a second-class national protected wild animal. Buying and owning a macaw without authorization constitutes an unlawful act. A domestication and breeding license is required, but these are cha...