Raccoon and other pet owners must register by the end of April next year, violators face a maximum fine of NT$250,000

(Central News Agency reporter Wang Shu-fen, Taipei 24th) The Ministry of Agriculture previously announced that starting May 1, the keeping of highly dangerous animals such as raccoons, estuarine crocodiles, vipers, and elapids by general households will be prohibited. The Ministry of Agriculture reminds existing owners to complete registration by April 30, 2027, and violators may be fined between NT$50,000 and NT$250,000.

The Ministry of Agriculture announced the amendment to the "Designated Prohibited Animals for Keeping, Import, or Export" on March 10, prohibiting general households from keeping highly dangerous animals such as raccoons, estuarine crocodiles, vipers, and elapids starting May 1. The main considerations are that many of these animals are highly venomous or highly aggressive, and their escape or abandonment will pose a serious threat to animal welfare and public safety, hence the prohibition of general household keeping.

The Ministry of Agriculture today issued a press release stating that owners who have already kept raccoons, estuarine crocodiles, vipers, and elapids before May 1 this year should complete registration on the Ministry of Agriculture's "Pet Registration Management Information Network - Prohibited Animal Registration System" by April 30, 2027. After registration, the local county and city governments will dispatch personnel to confirm the animal's condition on-site, and after completing the record, owners can legally continue to keep the animal until its natural end.

The Ministry of Agriculture stated that those who fail to register within the deadline and privately keep or breed animals can be fined between NT$50,000 and NT$250,000 according to the law.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture, as of April 20, 2026, 83 raccoons, 23 estuarine crocodiles, 5 elapids, and 5 vipers have completed registration. (Edited by Lin Shu-hui) 1150424

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