Ban on Keeping Raccoons and Other High-Risk Animals from May; Taipei City Registration Stats Released
Starting May 1, Taiwan's Ministry of Agriculture bans the private ownership of highly dangerous animals, including raccoons and venomous snakes. Existing owners must register to keep them.
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- 📰 Published: April 24, 2026 at 19:43
- 🔍 Collected: April 24, 2026 at 20:01 (18 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 24, 2026 at 22:23 (2h 21m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(CNA Reporter Liu Chien-pang, Taipei 24th) Starting May 1, the keeping of highly dangerous animals such as raccoons by general households is prohibited. Existing owners must complete registration by April 30 of next year. The Taipei City Animal Protection Office stated today that one raccoon has completed pet registration, and another owner has applied for recordation of one raccoon as a banned animal.
In addition, the Taipei City Animal Protection Office responded in text that besides the aforementioned two raccoons, the Taipei Zoo has also applied for recordation of 3 raccoons, 4 elapid snakes, and 4 viperid snakes as banned animals. Starting in May, they will conduct on-site inspections along with experts and scholars commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture.
The Ministry of Agriculture announced the amendment to the 'Animals Designated as Prohibited from Keeping, Importing, or Exporting' on March 10. Starting May 1, the keeping of highly dangerous animals such as raccoons, saltwater crocodiles, viperid snakes, and elapid snakes by general households is prohibited.
The Ministry of Agriculture stated that the primary consideration is that these animals are highly venomous or highly aggressive. Their escape or abandonment would pose a serious threat to animal welfare and public safety, hence the ban on private ownership.
The Ministry of Agriculture issued a press release today stating that owners who have already kept raccoons, saltwater crocodiles, viperid snakes, and elapid snakes before May 1 of this year should go to the Ministry of Agriculture's 'Pet Registration Management Information Network - Banned Animal Registration System' to complete the registration before April 30, 2027. Afterwards, personnel sent by the county or city government where the animal is located will confirm the animal's condition on-site. After completing the recordation, the owner can legally continue to keep the animal until its natural death.
The Ministry of Agriculture stated that those who fail to register by the deadline and privately keep or breed these animals can be fined between NT$50,000 and NT$250,000 according to the law. (Editor: Hsieh Ya-chu) 1150424
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(CNA Reporter Liu Chien-pang, Taipei 24th) Starting May 1, the keeping of highly dangerous animals such as raccoons by general households is prohibited. Existing owners must complete registration by April 30 of next year. The Taipei City Animal Protection Office stated today that one raccoon has completed pet registration, and another owner has applied for recordation of one raccoon as a banned animal.
In addition, the Taipei City Animal Protection Office responded in text that besides the aforementioned two raccoons, the Taipei Zoo has also applied for recordation of 3 raccoons, 4 elapid snakes, and 4 viperid snakes as banned animals. Starting in May, they will conduct on-site inspections along with experts and scholars commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture.
The Ministry of Agriculture announced the amendment to the 'Animals Designated as Prohibited from Keeping, Importing, or Exporting' on March 10. Starting May 1, the keeping of highly dangerous animals such as raccoons, saltwater crocodiles, viperid snakes, and elapid snakes by general households is prohibited.
The Ministry of Agriculture stated that the primary consideration is that these animals are highly venomous or highly aggressive. Their escape or abandonment would pose a serious threat to animal welfare and public safety, hence the ban on private ownership.
The Ministry of Agriculture issued a press release today stating that owners who have already kept raccoons, saltwater crocodiles, viperid snakes, and elapid snakes before May 1 of this year should go to the Ministry of Agriculture's 'Pet Registration Management Information Network - Banned Animal Registration System' to complete the registration before April 30, 2027. Afterwards, personnel sent by the county or city government where the animal is located will confirm the animal's condition on-site. After completing the recordation, the owner can legally continue to keep the animal until its natural death.
The Ministry of Agriculture stated that those who fail to register by the deadline and privately keep or breed these animals can be fined between NT$50,000 and NT$250,000 according to the law. (Editor: Hsieh Ya-chu) 1150424
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Download the CNA 'First-hand News' APP to grasp the latest news instantly.
The text, images, and audio/video on this website are not to be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and utilized without authorization.