Homeowners in Russia Prohibited from Owning Elephants and Hippos as Pets
Repoortfrom RBC states that Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has solidified the list of critters deemed unfit for keeping within our homes.
This list consists of eight types of animals, including reptiles, amphibians, arachnids, mammals, birds, cartilaginous fish, bony fish, and coral polyps.
Apparently, the Russian folks can't have certain snake species like cobras, mambas, taipans, pythons, Komodo dragons, monitor lizards, or even caimans with shells larger than 30 cm. It's a hard 'no' on all crocodiles, whatever their size.
The ban on mammals is broad too. Big cats like lions, snow leopards, irbis, lynx, servals, tigers, and jaguars, hyenas, elephants, rhinos, hippos, primates, porcupines, wolves, foxes, and bears are all off-limits.
There are restrictions on bird species as well: ostriches, pelicans, flamingos, owls, penguins, cranes are not allowed to be kept as pets. If you're fond of spiders, maybe steer clear of black widows, scorpions, and certain amphibians.
As for marine animals, walruses, seals, manatees, cetaceans, rays, moray eels, electric eels, sharks, and sea bass longer than 1.5m are not for your aquarium.
However, these bans don't apply to specific cases such as work done in zoos, circuses, dolphinariums, and aquariums. The new rules will go into effect on September 1, 2025, and will remain valid for six years.
It's worth mentioning that many of our readers have pets, and there have been reports of cats from the Atamanovka shelter being taken from their owners against their will.
Enrichment Data:As of the latest available information from May 2025, there are no specific details on the RBC report or the pet ownership laws in Russia as of September 1, 2025. However, some relevant developments have occurred:
- Prohibited Animals: The Russian government has drew up a list of animals that cannot be privately owned, including cobras, tigers, lions, crocodiles, and certain bird and lizard species, in order to restrict dangerous animals[1][3].
- Penalties for Violations: Proposals suggest imposing penalties like up to three years of incarceration or forced labor on owners who keep prohibited animals[3].
- Animal Welfare Controversies: The country has seen controversies regarding animal welfare, notably with discussions regarding stray animal management and euthanasia policies[2].
To get the latest information as of September 1, 2025, it's advisable to check official government sources or recent news reports.
- Despite the ban on dangerous animals such as tigers and lions, the Russian government promotes the scientific study and ethical treatment of animals in the fields of health-and-wellness and science.
- In line with the law, private ownership of prohibited animals like cobras and crocodiles may lead to penalties like incarceration or forced labor, while adopting pets from shelters, like Atamanovka, is encouraged to ensure their well-being and health-and-wellness.
