5 protected species you didn't know you can keep as pets in Malaysia

For some people, it’s kinda nice having a pet to come to sometimes. There’s probably no better feeling than having a dog wagging their tails when they see you, or have a cat sit on your keyboard as you try to finish a game of Call of Duty. But for those who like living on the wild side, a cat or dog may not be enough. 

Well for those who’d prefer a pet that’s more exotic, they probably can consider keeping a protected species as a pet. Under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1976 and the Wildlife Conservation (Licence, Permit and Special Licence Fees) Regulation 2013, there are actually a list of protected animals you can keep as pets.

But, before you rush to the closest pet store to get one of them crawlies, note that some of these animals require quite a bit of experience and lots of care. Also, there’s some legal requirements you need to follow. First you must get the animal from a licensed pet store, get a receipt and bring to the nearest PERHILITAN office, pay the appropriate fees for the appropriate licence.

So if you’re willing to follow those steps, the first protected pet you can keep is 

Malayan porcupine a.k.a landak raya

This prickly animal can be found in our local jungles and quite a few regions in Asia. They’re bigger and have longer quills than a hedgehog. They require a lot of care, and proper handling, since you know they have long sharp quills that can stab you and cause quite a bit of pain. If you get one, the licence would cost you about RM 20

Serval cat

Don’t let the word “cat” fool you, because this furry creature is sometimes categorised as a big cat. Don’t expect an easy transition from your house cat to a serval, because this animal is not for the feint hearted and inexperienced. Their sharp claws and teeth, can be danger to both visitors and owner itself.

A licence for the kitty cat is RM 20 as well, but the price for buying this animal from a licensed dealer can range from RM15000 to RM40000

Asian palm civet

This furry cutie is pretty common around the country and even common in residential areas, Petaling Jaya for example. They’re commonly bred because they make kopi luwak (the most expensive coffee in the world), but they also can be kept as pets. The licence for this animal is RM10.

Gila monster

Pronounced as “hee-la” not “gi-la” this scaly creature hails from North America. But before you get all gila about owning one of these reptiles, know that it is a venomous species. Although it’s venom is not enough to kill a healthy human being, it’s still probably dangerous for you to keep one as a pet, so you probably better think twice before getting one. If you’re brave enough to get one, the fee for a licence is RM 5.

Reticulated python

Probably the longest snake species in the world, the reticulated python can grow up to 21feet  (6 metres) and weigh up to 60kgs. They have been kept as pets for quite a while now because they’re relatively docile, but due to it’s sheer size and strength it’s best to only keep this pet if you’ve had experience dealing with big snakes before.

But if you really are keen on getting a snake, you can probably consider getting a ball python. They’re smaller (up to 6ft) and is usually described as docile

The fee for both these type of snakes is RM 5.