You are here: Home > Wildlife licences > Keeping native animals as pets > Mammal keepers licence > Native mammal rehabilitation

Native mammal rehabilitation

If you find an injured, sick or orphaned native mammal you are not allowed to keep it as a pet. The NPWS grants licences to specialist wildlife rehabilitation groups throughout the state. These groups train and assist people to provide optimum care for temporarily disadvantaged native animals and to return them to the wild.

The NPWS generally will not allow people who don't belong to a wildlife rehabilitation group to care for injured native animals. The animals usually need trained expertise and specialised housing and care if they are to be returned to the wild and be able to fend for themselves.

More information

• Get contact details for wildlife rehabilitation groups in NSW
• See the policy on the rehabilitation of protected fauna.