Alberta has strict rules when it comes to wildlife and exotic animals you can own.
The Alberta provincial government keeps an updated list of species that are controlled or restricted.
Can I own a lion in Alberta?
You can not legally own a lion in Alberta without a permit.
The lion (genus panthera) is listed as a controlled species, along with several other big cats.
Alberta Controlled Animals List
It is possible to own some controlled animals with permits and special permissions. This is usually only the case for zoos or other professional wildlife handling organizations.
Here is a screenshot taken from the official Alberta Controlled Animals list:
This is taken from page 9, in the cat-like section, under part 1: mammals.
In Summary
- You can not legally own a lion in Alberta, they are on the controlled animals list.
- Some controlled animals can be owned with permits and special permissions. Usually a zoo or wildlife protection organization.
- Most big cats in general are controlled in Alberta.
- If you are interested in exotic pets ownership in Alberta, check our legal exotic pets list
