It is strictly regulated.
Owning a pet fox in Brazil is not outright banned but falls under stringent federal and state-level controls. The Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) classifies native fox species (Cerdocyon thous, Lycalopex vetulus) as protected wildlife, prohibiting private ownership without special permits. Exotic species like the fennec fox (Vulpes zerda) may be kept under IBAMA’s 2024 Normative Instruction 02/2024, which mandates microchipping, veterinary certificates, and proof of legal acquisition. Non-compliance risks confiscation, fines up to R$100,000, or criminal charges under Law 9.605/1998 (Environmental Crimes Act). Municipal ordinances, such as São Paulo’s Decreto 57.693/2017, further restrict exotic pet ownership in urban areas.
Key Regulations for Owning a Pet Fox in Brazil
- IBAMA Authorization: Native foxes require a Termo de Autorização de Uso e Manutenção (TAUM) for scientific or educational purposes only; pets are typically denied. Exotic species need an Autorização de Manejo (AM), valid for 2 years and renewable.
- Microchipping & Traceability: All exotic foxes must be implanted with ISO-compliant microchips registered in the Sistema Nacional de Gestão de Fauna Silvestre (SINFAUNA) by a licensed veterinarian.
- State-Specific Bans: Rio de Janeiro’s Lei Estadual 8.918/2020 and Paraná’s Resolução SEMA 001/2023 prohibit exotic pet ownership in residential zones, classifying foxes as “high-risk” species due to zoonotic disease transmission risks.