Keeping and Trading Wildlife in Victoria

In Victoria, we are privileged to be able to keep and sell a diverse range of wildlife. However, there are certain responsibilities that come with this privilege. The protection of wildlife in the wild and compliance with the wildlife laws in Victoria are two such responsibilities.

Remaking of the Wildlife Regulations

Under Victoria’s Wildlife Regulations 2002, a licensing system exists to guide safe, responsible and ethical wildlife possession, trade and use in Victoria. There are approximately 12,000 licensed private wildlife keepers and approximately 400 licensed commercial wildlife businesses that trade in wildlife in Victoria.

The Wildlife Regulations 2002 expire on 25 June 2013, and will be replaced with the proposed Wildlife Regulations 2013.

A Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) has been prepared to facilitate public consultation on the proposed Wildlife Regulations 2013. A prime function of the RIS process is to help members of the public comment on proposed regulations before they are finalised.

The RIS and proposed Wildlife Regulations 2013 can be downloaded below.

Regulatory Impact Statement - Wildlife Regulations 2013 [PDF File - 1.2 MB]
Regulatory Impact Statement - Wildlife Regulations 2013 (accessible version) [Text File - 485.1 KB]

For a summary of the RIS and proposed regulations, download the following.

Summary and guide to the Regulatory Impact Statement [PDF File - 491.0 KB]
Summary and guide to the Regulatory Impact Statement (accessible version) [Text File - 43.5 KB]

Public comments and submissions on the proposed regulations are now invited. Unless otherwise indicated, all submissions will be treated as public documents and will be made available to other parties upon request.

Submissions on the RIS and proposed regulations close at 5.00pm on Friday 3 May 2013.

Written submissions should be sent by email to: wildlife.regulations2013@dse.vic.gov.au.

For people without email access, submissions can be posted to the following address:

Wildlife Regulations Review
Environment Policy Division
Department of Environment and Primary Industries
PO Box 500, East Melbourne VIC 3002

What is 'wildlife'?

In Victoria, wildlife is defined under the Wildlife Act 1975:

any vertebrate animal (other than humans) which is indigenous to Australia (or its territorial waters) whether or not it occurs elsewhere
all kinds of deer, non-indigenous quail, pheasants and partridges and any other animal which the Governor in Council declares to be wildlife
any kind of terrestrial invertebrate animal listed as 'threatened' under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988.

Wildlife Licences

The types of licences required to keep or sell wildlife in Victoria are:

With each of these licences there are additional requirements for Licence Amendments & Record Keeping.

If you have any questions about import and export permits or permits to take and release wildlife, please contact the DEPI Customer Service Centre on 136 186 or by email: customer.service@dse.vic.gov.au.

Wildlife in the Community

For further information about Wildlife in the community, please choose from the following links:

Victoria’s Other Wildlife Laws

In addition to compliance with the conditions of a wildlife licence, the Wildlife Act 1975 and the Wildlife Regulations 2002, a licence holder must also comply with any relevant State or Federal legislation or by-laws or other requirements of the relevant local council. Always read the conditions of any licence or permit issued to you, to ensure you fully understand what you may or may not be authorised to do.

If you have any questions about Victoria's wildlife laws, please contact the DEPI Customer Service Centre on 136 186 or by email: customer.service@dse.vic.gov.au.

Laws in other States

Different laws apply in each Australian State or Territory with respect to wildlife. Particular care should be taken to check with the appropriate wildlife authorities interstate before moving wildlife between States. Before you import wildlife into Victoria, check with the interstate wildlife authority to find out if you also have to get a matching export permit from them. Before you export wildlife out of Victoria, check with the interstate wildlife authority to find out if you also have to get a matching import permit from them.