Amendments to the Wildlife Regulations 2002
On 1 October 2009, new Regulations will come into effect to make it easier and less expensive to keep some species of wildlife in Victoria. Also, under the new arrangements, a broader range of wildlife may be kept and traded by private and commercial wildlife licence holders. The regulations will also increase the number of species that may be kept without the need for a licence and reduce the cost of a licence for some keepers of wildlife.
Fact Sheet 3 - Amendments to the Wildlife Regulations 2002 (PDF - 150 KB)
Summary of the amendments to the Wildlife Regulations 2002 (PDF - 25 KB)
What are the changes?
A total of 32 changes will be made the Wildlife Regulations 2002. Wildlife licences will no longer be required for three species of captive bred native pigeon, six species of parrot and the Stubble Quail. Nineteen new species will also be allowed to be kept under a wildlife licence. This includes 10 new reptile species, eight new mammals and one species of frog.
The licensing requirement for the Southern Angle-headed Dragon will be relaxed. This species could previously be kept on an advanced licence but may now be held on a basic licence. The Magnificent Tree Frog may also now be kept on an advanced licence.
The changes will clarify the types of Red-tailed Black-cockatoo and Eclectus Parrot that can be kept. These changes will ensure that the endangered sub-species of the Red-tailed Black-cockatoo cannot be kept or traded under any circumstances and removes the licensing requirement for non-native sub-species of Eclectus Parrot.
The new regulations will also allow the trade of turtles/tortoises with a shell length of less than 10cm.
All other laws relating to private possession and trade of wildlife in Victoria remain unchanged.
Why are the changes being made?
These changes were made to reduce red tape around the possession and trade of native wildlife and were made following request from the Wildlife Possession and Trade Advisory Committee (WPTAC). The WPTAC provides advice to DSE on matters relating to wildlife possession and trade in Victoria.
What did DSE consider when making the changes?
The Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) conducted a comprehensive assessment of each change to ensure there is adequate protection in place for wild populations and that the wildlife will be appropriately cared for in captivity.
The changes were made in consultation with experts from Zoos Victoria, Arthur Rylah Institute and regional DSE staff and consideration of the following:
- the conservation status of each species
- availability from legal captive sources (ie. numbers in captivity)
- the potential demand from licence holders
- the ease of husbandry
- ease of breeding
- risk to human health and safety
- the taxonomy of the species
- the potential for the species to establish as a pest in the wild if it escaped from captivity.
The changes will come into operation on 1 October 2009. All Private Wildlife Licence holders should check which licence they need before renewing their licence this year.
Which species no longer require a licence?
There are 10 native bird species that no longer require a wildlife licence for private possession and trade including the Common Bronzewing, Crested Pigeon, Emerald Dove, Hooded Parrot, Long-billed Corella, Musk Lorikeet, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Stubble Quail, Red-sided Eclectus Parrot and the Twenty-eight Parrot.
If you keep any of these species, you will no longer require a Private Wildlife Licence as of 1 October 2009, If you keep other species in addition to those listed above, you still may need an appropriate Wildlife Licence from DSE. For more information on which species require a Wildlife Licence please refer to ‘A Guide to laws relating to keeping wildlife for private purposes in Victoria’.
What are the new species that may be kept?
Private Wildlife (Advanced) Licence holders will be able to trade and possess 19 new species. These include 10 reptiles: Arafura File Snake, Boyd's Forest Dragon, Centralian Knob-tailed Gecko, Downs Bearded Dragon, Golden-tailed Gecko, Prickly Knob-tailed Gecko, Pygmy Python, Rough-scaled Python, Rough-throated Leaf-tail Gecko, Saltuarius swaini (no common name); one amphibian: Magnificent Tree Frog; and eight mammals: Black-striped Wallaby, Feathertail Glider, Long-nosed Potoroo, Plains Rat, Quokka, Southern Brown Bandicoot, Spinifex Hopping-mouse and the Squirrel Glider.
What are the licensing requirements for the Southern Angle-headed Dragon?
The Southern Angle-headed Dragon could previously be kept on an advanced licence. As of 1 October, this species may be held on a basic licence. If this is the only species you keep, you will no longer require a Private (Advanced) Wildlife Licence, but you will still need a Private Wildlife (Basic) Licence.
If you keep other species in addition to the Southern Angle-headed Dragon you may still need an appropriate Wildlife Licence from DSE. For more information on which species require a Wildlife Licence please refer to ‘A Guide to laws relating to keeping wildlife for private purposes in Victoria’.
What are the changes to the keeping of Red-tailed Black Cockatoos?
The Red-tailed Black Cockatoo is now listed as Red-tailed Black Cockatoo (all kinds except South-eastern). This change means that Private Wildlife Licence (Advanced) Licence holders may keep all kinds of Red-tailed Black Cockatoo except the South-eastern. This change was put in place to provide added protection to the South-eastern Red-tailed Black Cockatoo which is listed as endangered under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
What are the changes to the keeping of Eclectus Parrots?
The changes clarify which sub-species of Eclectus Parrot require a licence. The Australian Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus rotarus macgillivrayi) is now the only sub-species that requires a licence (basic) for private possession and trade. The Red-sided Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus roratus polychloros) may be kept and traded by private keepers without a licence, however, commercial operators will still need a licence to trade this sub-species. All non-native species of Eclectus Parrot (or any hybrids that have non-native characteristics) no longer require a wildlife licence for private or commercial possession and trade.
What are the changes to the shell length of Turtles/Tortoises?
The new regulations will mean that private wildlife keepers and commercial operators will be able to keep and trade turtles/tortoises of all sizes. The current restriction on the trade of turtles/tortoises under 10cm will be removed.
How are animal welfare concerns addressed?
All wildlife must be kept in accordance with the relevant Code of Practice which is administered by the Bureau of Animal Welfare. The Code of Practice outlines strict keeping requirements for enclosure size, feeding requirements and many other aspects of animal welfare. Penalties apply for people who do not comply with the Code.
Can I keep animals I find in the wild?
No. All Australian wildlife is protected. It is illegal to take wildlife from the environment unless you have appropriate authorisation from the Department of Sustainability and Environment. Significant penalties apply for people who take wildlife from the bush or trade in wildlife illegally. Anyone caught taking wildlife from the wild faces fines of nearly $28,000 and two years imprisonment.
What do I need to do to keep wildlife in Victoria?
In Victoria, you can keep and buy over 300 species of native animals, however, there are a number of rules which ensure that the keeping and trade of native wildlife does not affect wild populations and that the animals are kept in a humane and safe way.
Importantly, you are not allowed to take animals from wild populations and for most species, you will require a licence from the Department of Sustainability and Environment.
For more information on the keeping and trade of native wildlife in Victoria, please contact the DSE Customer Service Centre on 136 186 between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday.