Wild Animals as Pets

Wild Animal Captivity Permit

The keeping of wild animals requires you to have a permit in accordance with the Western Cape Nature Conservation Laws Amendment Act, 2000.

If you are interested in keeping any wild animal as a pet, you must apply at the CapeNature head office or any regional office for a Wild Animal Captivity Permit.

When applying for the permit to keep wild animals in captivity, you would have to submit the following:

• A fully completed signed and dated application form
• The application form must be accompanied by at least two clear, colour photographs of a) the enclosure in which the wild animal is being kept and b) the wild animal(s)
• The application form must have the proof of payment of the administration fee and legal origin of the animal. (If there is no proof of legal origin then a sworn affidavit can be submitted.)
• You can either email a completed application form to permits.fax@capenature.co.za, or you can apply online through the CapeNature permits portal at https://www.capenature.co.za/permits-information.

Application form

Application, License and Permit Fees

No person may keep any wild animal(s) in captivity without a permit. Birds in captivity only need a permit if the bird species is classified as protected or endangered.

For information on permits, please click on the link here:
https://www.capenature.co.za/permits-information/

You can also contact the Permit Office:
Email: permits.fax@capenature.co.za