Stopping pets becoming pests | NZ Government

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Pet escapes a major pest source

Globally, pet escapes are a major source of pest species. New Zealand is no different. Several pet species have gone on to form wild populations in New Zealand, including:

The risks of pets going wild

Once a pet species becomes established in the wild it can:

spread diseases or parasites to native animals, plants and people
cause harm to New Zealand’s agricultural, horticultural, forestry, aquaculture or fishing industries
destroy habitats for native wildlife
kill or compete with native animals or plants
negatively affect the recreational environments that we enjoy.

Unwanted organisms that have been known to be kept as pets or in aquaria

Common name	Scientific name	Type	Notes
Bennett's wallaby	Macropus rufogriseus	Mammal	Restricted to Canterbury and parts of Otago.
Brush-tailed rock wallaby	Petrogale penicillata	Mammal	Restricted to Kawau Island.
Dama wallaby	Macropus eugenii	Mammal	Restricted to Kawau Island and the vicinity of Rotorua Lakes.
European alpine newt	Ichthyosaura alpestris	Amphibian	Currently under an eradication programme.
Ferret	Mustela furo	Mammal	Widespread throughout New Zealand.
Koi carp	Cyprinus carpio	Fish	Widespread in northern North Island.
Mosquito fish	Gambusia affinis	Fish	Widespread in northern North Island.
Parma wallaby	Macropus parma	Mammal	Restricted to Kawau Island.
Plague skink (rainbow skink)	Lamprophilis delicata	Reptile	Widespread in northern North Island. An elimination programme is underway in Marlborough.
Rainbow lorikeet	Trichoglossus haemotodus	Bird	Not established in the wild. General permission to breed, sell and move.
Red-vented bulbul	Pycnonotus cafer	Bird	Not established in the wild. Occasionally sighted, most likely after releases of caged birds held illegally in New Zealand or from vessels entering port.
Rose-ringed parakeet	Psittacula krameri	Bird	General permission to breed, sell and move.
Swamp wallaby	Wallabia bicolor	Mammal	Restricted to Kawau Island.

Pests in regional pest management plans known to be kept as pets (not including unwanted organisms)
Common name	Scientific name	Type	Notes/region affected
Bearded dragon	Amphibolurus barbatus	Reptile	Auckland (rules only apply when an animal is not held in secure containment).
Blue-tongue skink	Tiliqua scincoides and Tiliqua nigrolutea	Reptile	Auckland region – surveillance pest.
Chinchilla	Chinchilla laniger	Mammal	Southland.
Eastern rosella	Platycerus eximius	Bird	Bay of Plenty, Horizons.
Eastern water dragon	Physignathus lesueurii lesueurii	Reptile	Auckland (rules only apply when an animal is not held in secure containment).
Possums	Trichosurus vulpecula	Mammal	Most regions.
Red-eared slider turtle	Trachemys scripta elegans	Reptile	Auckland (rules only apply when an animal is not held in secure containment). Waikato also have rules.
Shingleback lizard	Trachydosaurus rugosus	Reptile	Auckland (rules only apply when an animal is not held in secure containment).
Sulphur-crested cockatoo	Cacatua galerita	Bird	Horizons, Canterbury and Auckland (rules only apply when an animal is not held in secure containment).

Who to contact

If you have questions about the information on this page, email nppba@mpi.govt.nz