Wild Animals in Morocco: Law 29-05, Tortoise, Chameleon, Goldfinch, Barbary Macaque

The Greek tortoise, the common chameleon, the African grey parrot and the Barbary macaque are listed by CITES (Species+).[1][2][3][4] In Morocco, the goldfinch is in category IV (decree 2-12-484).[5] To keep a listed animal, you need an ownership certificate, granted only if it was acquired legally (law 29-05, art. 32).[6]

Have you seen one of these animals at a souk, on a square or at someone's home? This page covers eight topics, in order: the tortoise, the chameleon, the goldfinch, the grey parrot, the macaque, the animal you find, the fines and the purchase. For each topic: what the law says, what the animal needs, or what to do. Every fact names its source.

A listed species is a species placed in one of categories I to IV of law 29-05 (law 29-05, art. 4).[6] A hamster or a canary is not in that case (law 29-05, art. 5).[6] For them, read our page on small pets in Morocco.

A tortoise for the kids? Protected species, very long life, no release without a permit

It is protected

The Greek tortoise (Testudo graeca) has been in CITES Appendix II since 2 January 2017, together with the whole family of land tortoises (Species+).[1] So it is in category II of the Moroccan law, unless Morocco has opted out of that listing (law 29-05, art. 4).[6] On the IUCN Red List, the North African Greek tortoise (western clade) is rated 'Vulnerable' (assessed in 1996, Escoriza et al. 2022).[7] In North Africa, the main threats include illegal collection for local and some international trade, overgrazing and urbanisation (Escoriza et al. 2022).[7] Adult survival is very high (over 90 percent a year in southern Spain), and the stability of a population depends mainly on it (Escoriza et al. 2022).[7]

It lives a very long time

A land tortoise takes 15 to 20 years to reach its full size (University of Illinois).[8] The longevity record for the Greek tortoise in captivity is 127 years (AnAge).[9] That is a maximum, not an average lifespan (AnAge).[9] We did not find an average lifespan in a recognised care sheet.

What the law says

To keep a tortoise of a listed species as a personal pet, you need an ownership certificate (law 29-05, art. 32).[6] For an animal of a category II species, the fine runs from 20,000 to 50,000 dirhams (law 29-05, art. 63).[6] Putting an animal of a wild species back into nature, even a tortoise from this country, requires a prior permit from the administration (law 29-05, art. 47).[6]

What it needs

All tortoises need UV light: the sun outdoors, a UV lamp above the enclosure indoors (VCA).[10] A young captive-raised animal is generally healthier than an older imported one, which may carry intestinal parasites and often suffers from the stress of captivity (VCA).[10] Before you buy, ask for the tortoise's papers.

The chameleon: what it needs, what your home must give it, what the law says

What it needs

The veterinary sheets we read mostly cover the veiled, panther, Jackson's and Meller's chameleons (VCA).[11] We did not find a care sheet for the common chameleon of Morocco.

• Chameleons, like all reptiles, need a UVB lamp to absorb the calcium in their food (VCA).[11]
• Most chameleons do well with a humidity of 60 to 90 percent in the cage (VCA).[11]
• Without proper humidity they dehydrate, which can lead to severe kidney disease (VCA).[11]
• Most species do well in a tall mesh cage; for small chameleons, the sheet gives a cage of 30 cm by 30 cm by 60 cm (VCA).[11]

Its life in captivity

The common chameleon lives alone outside the breeding season and is extremely territorial (Animal Diversity Web).[12] The longest reported stay in captivity for a common chameleon is 3.6 years (Animal Diversity Web).[12] That is a reported maximum, not an average (Animal Diversity Web).[12]

And your home?

Compare these needs with your room: do you have space for a tall cage, a UVB lamp and a humidity of 60 to 90 percent?

What the law says

The common chameleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleon) has been in CITES Appendix II since 4 February 1977, together with the whole genus Chamaeleo (Species+).[2] On the IUCN Red List, it is rated 'Least Concern' (Animal Diversity Web).[12] Without a permit or certificate, it is forbidden to sell, buy or display for commercial purposes an animal of a listed species (law 29-05, art. 5).[6] For an animal of a category II species, the fine runs from 20,000 to 50,000 dirhams (law 29-05, art. 63).[6]

You have a goldfinch: what the law asks (certificate, origin, young)

A bird loved in Morocco

The goldfinch is part of life for many families: more than 70 associations of goldfinch amateurs, grouped in three federations, exist in Morocco (ENACT, 2019).[13] This section only says what the law asks. We did not find a recognised veterinary care sheet for the goldfinch: for its health, talk to a vet.

Where it stands in the law

The species of category IV of law 29-05 are those in annex I of decree 2-12-484 (decree 2-12-484, art. 3).[5] The European goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) is on this list, among the birds (decree 2-12-484, annex I).[5] It is not listed in any CITES appendix for all countries: its only current listing is an Appendix III requested by Ukraine, which does not apply to Morocco (Species+).[14] Its protection in Morocco therefore comes from national category IV, not from CITES (Species+, decree 2-12-484).[14][5] For a species of category III or IV, the fine runs from 5,000 to 20,000 dirhams (law 29-05, art. 63).[6] ANEF, quoted by the press, reminds that it is forbidden to capture, hold, sell or offer a goldfinch for sale, with a fine of 5,000 to 20,000 dirhams per bird and confiscation of the equipment and means of transport (Le360).[15]

The papers you need

• To hold a goldfinch, the law asks for an ownership certificate, issued if the bird was acquired in line with the law (law 29-05, art. 32).[6]
• A bird born in captivity with a parent from a listed species is also a 'specimen' in the sense of the law: breeding does not exempt you from the certificate (law 29-05, art. 2).[6]
• One certificate is issued per bird; it carries the owner's name and the permanent marks that identify the bird (law 29-05, art. 33).[6]
• The text does not say which permanent mark is used for a bird (law 29-05, art. 33).[6]
• If your bird has young, you must declare them to the administration that issued the certificate, and it issues a certificate for each one (law 29-05, art. 36).[6]
• If the bird changes owner, the certificate is sent back to the administration and a new certificate is issued in the new owner's name (law 29-05, art. 35).[6]

What the certificate file must contain is described in the last section of this page. ANEF's contact details are in the section on a found animal.

The African grey parrot: papers required, a very long life, a very social bird

The papers

The African grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus) has been in CITES Appendix I since 2 January 2017, the highest level of protection (Species+).[3] In law 29-05, category I groups the species of CITES Appendix I for which Morocco has not opted out (law 29-05, art. 4).[6] To keep an African grey parrot as a personal pet, you need an ownership certificate, granted only if the bird was acquired in line with the law (law 29-05, art. 32).[6] In the wild, the African grey parrot population has fallen by 50 to 90 percent in some countries because of capture for the pet trade and habitat destruction, and it has disappeared locally elsewhere (IFAW, 2016).[16]

A very long life

Some parrots can live for over 50 years (RSPCA).[17] With proper care, an African grey parrot can live 40 to 60 years or longer (Tree of Life).[18] That is a commitment of several decades (RSPCA, Tree of Life).[17][18]

A very social bird

Parrots are highly social birds, largely living in flocks in the wild, yet they are commonly kept alone (Chalmers and Cooper 2024).[19] Kept alone, they show more repeated movements with no purpose (researchers call them 'stereotypies') and preen less (Chalmers and Cooper 2024).[19] A veterinary sheet advises 3 to 4 hours a day of supervised time outside the cage for an African grey parrot (Tree of Life).[18] In a Japanese survey of 2,331 owners, 23.7 percent of African grey parrots damaged or pulled out their feathers, against 11.7 percent for all parrots together (Ebisawa et al. 2021).[20] An all-seed diet exposes birds to an acute calcium shortage, more common in African grey parrots, with weakness, tremors and seizures (Merck Veterinary Manual).[21]

The Barbary macaque: an endangered species from here, and why the photo with a monkey puts it at risk

A monkey from here, in danger

The Barbary macaque (Macaca sylvanus) is the only primate endemic to Morocco and Algeria, and it has been rated 'Endangered' on the IUCN Red List since 2008 (Edinburgh Napier University).[22] It has been in CITES Appendix I since 2 January 2017 (Species+).[4] It now lives only in small, fragmented habitats (the Rif, Middle Atlas and High Atlas in Morocco), and its population is estimated to have fallen by more than 50 percent over three generations (El Alami et al. 2022).[23]

The photo with a monkey

Selling or keeping a Barbary macaque as a pet is prohibited, yet macaques are used as photo props for tourists, mainly in Jemaa el-Fna square in Marrakech (Edinburgh Napier University).[22] At Jemaa el-Fna, 15 to 21 macaques were observed in 2023 and most were infants from the wild, according to the photo vendors themselves (AAP).[24] According to the university's estimate, an infant macaque might act as a photo prop 18 times an hour, costing visitors as much as 100 dirhams (Edinburgh Napier University).[22] Its handler could earn the equivalent of an average monthly Moroccan household income in just 3 to 4 working days (Edinburgh Napier University).[22] Of 513 visitors surveyed at Jemaa el-Fna during the Easter holidays, 88 percent neither intended to use the photo props nor did (Edinburgh Napier University).[22] More than 200 people found it unacceptable for ethical or animal welfare reasons (Edinburgh Napier University).[22] The researchers point to a risk to human health, not only to the animal, when a monkey is used as a photo prop (Edinburgh Napier University).[22]

Seeing them another way

Barbary macaques can be seen in the wild at Ifrane National Park and the Ouzoud waterfalls (Edinburgh Napier University).[22] Watch them from a distance.

You found a hedgehog, a tortoise or a fledgling: what to do, who to call

The advice on the hedgehog and the fledgling comes from British charities, and the advice on the tortoise from an American one (RSPCA, RSPB, Wildlife Center of Virginia).[25][26][27][28] We found no Moroccan source: keep that in mind.

The hedgehog

Seeing a hedgehog by day is sometimes normal (disturbed nest, struggling to find food), but in full daylight it can also be a sign of a sick or injured animal (RSPCA).[25] A sick or injured hedgehog has a visible injury, staggers or walks in circles, or seems lethargic (RSPCA).[25] A hedgehog in distress is picked up with gloves or a towel, placed in a warm box and taken to a vet, or you call a wildlife rehabilitator (RSPCA).[25] In Morocco, we found no wildlife care centre: call ANEF first.

The wild hedgehogs of Morocco covered by the law are the Algerian hedgehog (Atelerix algirus) and the desert hedgehog, both on the category IV list (decree 2-12-484, annex I).[5] The African pygmy hedgehog sold in pet shops (Atelerix albiventris) is not on this list (decree 2-12-484, annex I).[5]

Before you keep it at home

Without a permit or certificate, it is forbidden to hold, for any reason, a live animal of a listed species (law 29-05, art. 5).[6] In the articles we read, we found no exception for an injured animal that someone takes in. Ask ANEF before you keep it.

The fledgling

A fledgling covered in feathers on the ground is normal: leave it, keep pets away, its parents are nearby and feeding it (RSPCA).[26] The sheet says this does not apply to every species, for example swifts (RSPCA).[26] A featherless nestling that has fallen from the nest will not survive long outside: where possible, put it back in the nest (RSPCA).[26] Taking a baby bird into captivity can dramatically reduce its chances of long-term survival (RSPB).[27]

The tortoise

Do not move a tortoise you find to a 'better place': turtles have very small home ranges and their survival depends on staying at home (Wildlife Center of Virginia).[28] This American source is about North American turtles, not the Greek tortoise (Wildlife Center of Virginia).[28] Putting an animal of a wild species back into nature requires a prior permit from the administration (law 29-05, art. 47).[6]

Who to call

ANEF publishes the number of its Directorate for the Fight against Desertification and Nature Protection: 05 37 67 39 32, 3 rue Harroun Errachid, Agdal, Rabat (ANEF).[29] It is the number of a central directorate in Rabat, not an emergency line (ANEF).[29] We found no dedicated hotline for wildlife.

What an animal without papers costs: the fines, per animal and per category

The fine depends on the category of the species (law 29-05, art. 63).[6]

• Category I: from 30,000 to 100,000 dirhams. Example: the African grey parrot, unless Morocco has opted out of that listing (law 29-05, art. 4 and 63).[6]
• Category II: from 20,000 to 50,000 dirhams. Example: the Greek tortoise, unless Morocco has opted out of that listing (law 29-05, art. 4 and 63).[6]
• Categories III and IV: from 5,000 to 20,000 dirhams. Category IV examples: the European goldfinch and the Algerian hedgehog (law 29-05, art. 63; decree 2-12-484).[6][5]

These amounts are ranges, not a fixed price (law 29-05, art. 63).[6] The amount of the fine is due for each animal concerned by the offence (law 29-05, art. 63).[6] Two animals without papers therefore mean two fines (law 29-05, art. 63).[6]

What the law punishes

• Holding, transporting, selling, offering for sale or buying an animal of a listed species without being able to prove it was acquired legally is punished by the fine of its category (law 29-05, art. 63).[6]
• Using a forged, expired or altered certificate is punished by a fine of 10,000 to 50,000 dirhams (law 29-05, art. 64).[6]
• The water and forests administration or the court may confiscate the seized animals, together with any means of transport and equipment used for the offence (law 29-05, art. 66).[6]

How the law sorts the species

Animals born in captivity from a category I species are placed in category II (law 29-05, art. 4).[6] The fine level for a captive-bred bird can therefore be that of category II (law 29-05, art. 4).[6] Category IV groups the national species threatened with extinction that are not in the other three categories, together with species whose trade threatens their survival (law 29-05, art. 4).[6]

Before you buy an animal at a souk: five questions to ask yourself

Ask these five questions, to the seller and to yourself, before you buy.

1. Is this species listed?

Without a permit or certificate from the administration, it is forbidden to sell, offer for sale or acquire an animal of a species listed by the law (law 29-05, art. 5).[6] Holding such a live animal is also forbidden, for any reason, without a permit or certificate (law 29-05, art. 5).[6] Only listed species are covered: a hamster or a canary is not (law 29-05, art. 5).[6]

2. Does the seller have the papers?

ANEF asks that every purchase of an exotic animal comes with official CITES documents proving its legal origin (ANEF, relayed by AZERTAC).[30] The ownership certificate is nominative and cannot be handed over: if the animal changes owner, a new certificate is issued in the new owner's name (law 29-05, art. 34 and 35).[6] A seller therefore cannot hand you his certificate along with the animal (law 29-05, art. 34 and 35).[6] An ANEF statement relayed on 9 October 2025 describes the seizure, at Sidi Bouknadel (Salé), of African grey parrots, lories, caiques, a python, a scorpion and a tarantula, with 201 birds held illegally (ANEF, relayed by AZERTAC).[30]

3. Was the animal bred in captivity or taken from the wild?

For species in CITES Appendix I, commercial trade in specimens taken from the wild is strictly forbidden (AAP, 2025).[24] A bird born in captivity with a parent from a listed species stays under the law: breeding does not exempt you from the certificate (law 29-05, art. 2).[6] For tortoises, a young captive-raised animal is generally healthier than an older imported one (VCA).[10]

4. Can you prove the acquisition is legal?

The ownership certificate file must establish your identity, the identification of the animal and its legal acquisition, and your ability to keep it in adequate conditions for survival (decree 2-12-484, art. 11).[5] The administration rules on the request within 2 months of receiving the file (decree 2-12-484, art. 12).[5] If the certificate is refused because the animal was not acquired legally, the animal must be seized (decree 2-12-484, art. 12).[5]

5. Can you keep it for its whole life?

A wild animal kept alive must carry an individual, permanent mark, applied by a vet or another competent person, at the owner's expense (decree 2-12-484, art. 15).[5] The longevity record for the Greek tortoise in captivity is 127 years (AnAge), and an African grey parrot can live 40 to 60 years or longer with proper care (Tree of Life).[9][18] If you answer 'I don't know' to any of these five questions, do not buy that day.

Still unsure which animal fits your life? Our matching tool weighs your daily life against what each species needs. To compare animals more widely, also read which pet is right for you.

Sources

[1] CITES and UNEP-WCMC. Species+: Testudo graeca (taxon 3993), CITES listings. https://speciesplus.net/api/v1/taxon_concepts/3993 (accessed 11 October 2026)

[2] CITES and UNEP-WCMC. Species+: Chamaeleo chamaeleon (taxon 6945), CITES listings. https://speciesplus.net/api/v1/taxon_concepts/6945 (accessed 11 October 2026)

[3] CITES and UNEP-WCMC. Species+: Psittacus erithacus (taxon 9644), CITES listings. https://speciesplus.net/api/v1/taxon_concepts/9644 (accessed 11 October 2026)

[4] CITES and UNEP-WCMC. Species+: Macaca sylvanus (taxon 6923), CITES listings. https://speciesplus.net/api/v1/taxon_concepts/6923 (accessed 11 October 2026)

[5] Kingdom of Morocco. Decree No. 2-12-484 of 21 May 2015 (articles 3, 11, 12 and 15, annex I). Official Bulletin No. 6366, 4 June 2015 (FAOLEX copy). https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/mor196100.pdf (accessed 11 October 2026)

[6] Kingdom of Morocco. Law No. 29-05 on the protection of wild flora and fauna species and the control of their trade (French title: Loi n° 29-05 relative à la protection des espèces de flore et de faune sauvages et au contrôle de leur commerce). Official Bulletin No. 5962, 21 July 2011 (scanned FAOLEX copy). https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/mor106726.pdf (accessed 11 October 2026)

[7] Escoriza, D., et al. (2022). Testudo graeca Linnaeus 1758, Western Subspecies Clade (Account No. 117). Conservation Biology of Freshwater Turtles and Tortoises, IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group. https://iucn-tftsg.org/cbftt/species-accounts/testudo-graeca-western-subspecies-clade-117 (accessed 11 October 2026)

[8] University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. The Tortoise and Its Care (Dr. Amanda Wong). https://vetmed.illinois.edu/pet-health-columns/the-tortoise-and-its-care (accessed 11 October 2026)

[9] Human Ageing Genomic Resources, University of Liverpool. AnAge: Testudo graeca, lifespan, ageing, and relevant traits. https://genomics.senescence.info/species/entry.php?species=Testudo_graeca (accessed 11 October 2026)

[10] VCA Animal Hospitals. Owning a Tortoise (G. Rich, DVM). https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/owning-a-tortoise (accessed 11 October 2026)

[11] VCA Animal Hospitals. Care and Housing for Chameleons (G. Rich, DVM). https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/care-and-housing-for-chameleons (accessed 11 October 2026)

[12] University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. Chamaeleo chamaeleon (Animal Diversity Web). https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Chamaeleo_chamaeleon (accessed 11 October 2026)

[13] Ben Yahia, J. and Abaouss, O. (11 September 2019). Can Morocco save the mythical goldfinch in the Maghreb? ENACT / Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.org/enactafrica/enact-observer/can-morocco-save-the-mythical-goldfinch-in-the-maghreb (accessed 11 October 2026)

[14] CITES and UNEP-WCMC. Species+: Carduelis carduelis (taxon 4277), CITES listings. https://speciesplus.net/api/v1/taxon_concepts/4277 (accessed 11 October 2026)

[15] Le360 (27 December 2024). Commerce illégal du chardonneret élégant : l'Agence nationale des eaux et forêts intensifie la lutte (article in French). https://fr.le360.ma/societe/commerce-illegal-du-chardonneret-elegant-lagence-nationale-des-eaux-et-forets-intensifie-la-lutte_6LDFDH2LLFAWLEOG6JNFYKOGHM/ (accessed 11 October 2026)

[16] IFAW (2016). African Grey Parrot (Psittacus erithacus), CITES briefing sheet. https://d1jyxxz9imt9yb.cloudfront.net/resource/187/attachment/original/IFAW_CITES_BRIEFING_SHEET_-_AFRICAN_GREY_English_2016.pdf (accessed 11 October 2026)

[17] RSPCA (United Kingdom). How to Care for your Pet Bird. https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/birds (accessed 11 October 2026)

[18] Tree of Life Exotic Pet Medical Center (United States). African Grey Parrot Care. https://treeoflifeexotics.vet/education-resource-center/for-clients/birds/african-grey-parrot-care (accessed 11 October 2026)

[19] Chalmers, R. and Cooper, J. (2024). What are the priority welfare issues facing parrots in captivity? A modified Delphi approach to establish expert consensus. Animal Welfare. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11589074 (accessed 11 October 2026)

[20] Ebisawa, K., et al. (2021). Prevalence and risk factors for feather-damaging behavior in psittacine birds: Analysis of a Japanese nationwide survey. PLOS ONE. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0254610&type=printable (accessed 11 October 2026)

[21] Merck Veterinary Manual (MSD). Nutritional Disorders of Pet Birds (bird owner version, reviewed May 2026). https://www.merckvetmanual.com/bird-owners/disorders-and-diseases-of-birds/nutritional-disorders-of-pet-birds (accessed 11 October 2026)

[22] Edinburgh Napier University (18 December 2018). Using endangered barbary macaques as photo props could have negative impacts on tourism. https://www.napier.ac.uk/about-us/news/barbary-macaques-research (accessed 11 October 2026)

[23] El Alami, A., Van Lavieren, E. and Chait, A. (2022). The major threats to the Endangered Barbary macaque Macaca sylvanus in North Africa. European Journal of Ecology. https://doi.org/10.17161/eurojecol.v8i2.16246 (accessed 11 October 2026)

[24] AAP, Animal Advocacy and Protection (2025). Poaching and trade of Barbary macaques. https://en.aap.eu/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2025/11/REPORT_AAP_2025_PP_DEF_2.0docx.pdf (accessed 11 October 2026)

[25] RSPCA (United Kingdom). Found a Sick or Injured Hedgehog? https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/wildlife/hedgehogs/injured (accessed 11 October 2026)

[26] RSPCA (United Kingdom). Found a Baby Bird Out of a Nest? https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/wildlife/birds/baby (accessed 11 October 2026)

[27] RSPB (United Kingdom). Found an Injured Bird? https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/if-you-find-an-injured-bird (accessed 11 October 2026)

[28] Wildlife Center of Virginia (United States). Tips for Helping Wild Turtles. https://wildlifecenter.org/help-advice/wildlife-issues/tips-helping-wild-turtles (accessed 11 October 2026)

[29] ANEF, National Agency for Water and Forests (Morocco). Contact. http://www.eauxetforets.gov.ma/Pages/Contact.aspx (accessed 11 October 2026)

[30] AZERTAC, based on ANEF (9 October 2025). Un important réseau de trafic d'espèces protégées démantelé au Maroc (article in French). https://azertag.az/fr/xeber/un_important_reseau_de_trafic_despeces_protegees_demantele_au_maroc-3794399 (accessed 11 October 2026)