• Guideline - Conditions and restrictions - Keeping exempt animals

Guideline
Wildlife Management
Keeping certain protected wildlife in Queensland — Conditions and
restrictions — Keeping protected animals under a permit to keep
protected wildlife
Overview
Queensland’s native wildlife is protected under the Nature Conservation Act 1992. Persons are required to hold
licences, permits or authorities to take, keep and use many native plants and animals.
A permit to keep protected wildlife allows a person to keep wildlife. You cannot take or use wildlife under this
permit. This permit is occasionally issued to wildlife carers to keep injured wildlife taken under a rehabilitation
permit that cannot be returned to the wild. However, it is important to bear in mind that this permit will not be
granted if an animal can be included in a captive breeding program, or if the animal can be released.
You cannot breed protected wildlife (except birds) with this permit unless you have written approval from the
chief executive of the Environmental Protection Agency/Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.
Background
This guideline contains information that is relevant only to a person who holds a permit to keep protected
wildlife.
This guideline does not deal with the keeping and use of non-native animals. If you are keeping or intend to
keep non-native animals you should refer to the guideline “General requirements — Keeping and using exotic
animals in Queensland under the Nature Conservation Act 1992”.
Keeping protected animals in certain circumstances
You need lawful authority to keep a protected animal in Queensland. Some animals may be kept without a
licence or permit, whereas others may only be kept under a licence or permit.
The permit to keep protected wildlife may only be granted in limited circumstances. If you are intending to keep
any animal listed in schedule 3 of the Nature Conservation (Wildlife Management) Regulation 2006 for private
purposes, you cannot get a permit to keep protected wildlife other than if the animal was initially taken and kept
under a rehabilitation permit and cannot be returned to the wild.
If you have a permit to keep protected wildlife you may keep an animal of a species only if it is identified on the
permit. You may only keep the animal at the place stated in the permit as the place where the animals may be
kept1 (i.e. the “licensed premises”).
If your permit states a maximum number of animals of a particular species that you may keep, you must not
keep more than the number specified at any one time.
1
There are some special exceptions that apply to the holder of a permit to keep protected wildlife who also holds a wildlife
exhibitor licence, wildlife farming licence or museum licence.
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Environmental Protection Agency
www.epa.qld.gov.au ABN 87 221 158 786
 Guideline
Keeping certain protected wildlife in Queensland — Conditions and restrictions
— Keeping protected animals under a permit to keep protected wildlife
How do I apply for a permit?
You need to submit a completed application form along with payment of any fees to the Ecoaccess Customer
Service Unit, PO Box 15155 City East QLD 4002.
Forms
Application forms can be downloaded from http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/ecoaccess/plants_and_animals/.
Alternatively, call 1300 368 326 or email eco.access@epa.qld.gov.au.
Fees
There is no cost for a permit for an animal taken and kept under a rehabilitation permit. A certificate from a
veterinarian may be required to verify the nature of the illness/injury that prevents the animal from being
released back into the wild.
A permit to keep protected wildlife issued under any other circumstances has an associated fee.
Fees and charges apply to the following items:
• Permit
• Record books
• Wildlife movement permit
• Electromagnetic implant
• Consumables used to obtain a biological tissue sample of wildlife and any charge for holding and
registering that sample with a scientific institution
A schedule of fees and charges can be downloaded from www.epa.qld.gov.au/ecoaccess/plants_and_animals/.
How long will it take to obtain a permit?
Your application can take up to 90 days to process, although most licences are issued within 10 working days.
How long does a permit last?
Permits may be issued for up to three years. However, if a permit is issued for the life of an animal, the permit
will be valid until the death or disposal of the wildlife to which the permit relates.
Can I breed animals?
A person who holds a permit to keep protected wildlife is not permitted to breed a protected animal kept under
the permit, other than a protected bird, unless the holder has the chief executive’s written approval to breed the
animal.
The chief executive may, by written notice, require the holder of a permit to keep protected wildlife to furnish a
written certificate from a registered veterinary surgeon that animals kept under the permit are incapable of
breeding, either due to permanent surgical or chemical sterilisation. If you receive such a notice you must
comply with it.
Where the holder of a permit to keep protected wildlife is lawfully entitled to breed a protected animal kept under
the permit, the holder must not breed a mutation or hybrid of the animal.
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 Guideline
Keeping certain protected wildlife in Queensland — Conditions and restrictions
— Keeping protected animals under a permit to keep protected wildlife
Can I buy and sell animals?
The permit to keep protected wildlife is granted subject to certain restrictions. In particular, the holder of a permit
to keep protected wildlife is not allowed to buy or accept, sell or give away wildlife under the permit.
There are certain situations where the holder of a permit to keep protected wildlife may dispose of wildlife.
These are:
• if the person intends to dispose of all of the protected animals they keep under the permit to another
person who holds a permit to keep protected wildlife; or
• if the holder intends to dispose of some of the protected animals they keep to another person who has a
permit to keep protected wildlife because the holder’s personal circumstances have changed; and
• if the chief executive requests the permit holder to give the wildlife kept under their permit to keep
protected wildlife to another person who holds a wildlife exhibitor licence for the animal for use in a
captive breeding program.
• The holder of the permit to keep protected wildlife must have the written permission of the chief
executive before disposing of any protected animal kept under the permit.
How do I move protected animals?
Exempt movements
All exempt movements outlined in the general conditions and restrictions apply to the holder of a permit to keep
protected wildlife.
A person who keeps one protected bird suffering from the behavioural disorder known as human imprinting
under a permit to keep protected wildlife may also move the bird to or from any place within the State2.
A person who is disposing of their collection of animals to another person who holds a permit to keep protected
wildlife, or is otherwise moving the animals kept under the permit at the request of the chief executive to another
person who holds a wildlife exhibitor licence, may also move the animal without a wildlife movement permit or
movement advice3.
Wildlife movement permit
You will need a wildlife movement permit to move a protected animal if you intend to move a protected animal
kept under the permit and the movement is not generally exempt4;
DNA and microchips
The use of DNA or microchip technologies is voluntary, unless you receive a notice from the chief executive
directing you to either implant an approved microchip or take and register a biological tissue sample with an
approved scientific institution. If you receive such a notice you must comply with it.
2
Note: The holder must not sell or give away the animal to another person.
3
See “Disposing of animals kept under permit” on the preceding page of this document for further information.
4
See information about moving animals in guideline “General requirements — Keeping and using protected, international or
prohibited animals in Queensland”.
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 Guideline
Keeping certain protected wildlife in Queensland — Conditions and restrictions
— Keeping protected animals under a permit to keep protected wildlife
Do I need to keep records?
If you keep birds, or if you have written permission from the chief executive to breed animals under a permit to
keep protected wildlife, you must keep a record book and submit a return of operations.
Record books
A person who holds a permit to keep protected wildlife must keep a record book or an electronic record system
approved by the chief executive, but only if the animals kept under the permit have bred or are breeding.
The record book can only be obtained from the Environmental Protection Agency. A record book is an official
document and must be completed in the way stated in the Nature Conservation (Administration) Regulation
2006. You must do all of the following:
• keep the record book at the licensed premises;
• keep your records in your record book up-to-date and accurate;
• complete your record book in ink;
• not delete or erase any entries in your record book, even those made in error;
• not remove any pages from your record book;
• keep your record book secure and prevent any other person from damaging or defacing the book or the
book getting lost or stolen;
• notify the chief executive immediately and in writing if the record book is lost, stolen or destroyed; and
• produce your record book to a conservation officer upon demand.
If you make an error when completing your record book, you should rule out the error with a single line (so that
the text of the entry made in error is still legible) and write the correct information into your book. You must not
use correction fluid (e.g. liquid paper™), correction tape or write over the entry so that it is illegible.
To keep your record book up-to-date you must record the following information in your record book by the end
of the day specified below:
• if you buy, give away, sell or accept an animal — the day on which the transaction occurred;
• if you breed an animal and it is raised by its parent — the day the animal becomes independent of its
parent;
• if you breed an animal and it is separated from its parent for hand-raising or artificial incubation – the
day the animal is removed from its parent for hand-raising or artificial incubation; or
• if an animal escapes, dies or is stolen — the day you become aware of the escape, death or theft of the
animal.
You should be consistent in the way you complete your record book. For example, if you choose to leave blank
lines between entries, you should always leave blank lines between entries.
If you receive a notice asking you to return your record book to the chief executive, you must comply with the
notice.
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 Guideline
Keeping certain protected wildlife in Queensland — Conditions and restrictions
— Keeping protected animals under a permit to keep protected wildlife
Return of operations
If the holder of a permit to keep protected wildlife is required under the Nature Conservation (Wildlife
Management) Regulation 2006 to keep a record book, the person must also submit a return of operations to the
chief executive each year. The return of operations must be submitted within 10 business days of the
anniversary date of the permit each year. In addition, if a person keeps a live protected animal under a permit to
keep protected wildlife and the animal escapes or dies, the holder of the permit must submit a return of
operations to the chief executive within 10 business days of the animal’s death.
The return of operations must be submitted on the form approved by the chief executive. Blank return of
operations forms may be obtained from the Ecoaccess Customer Service Unit on 1300 368 326 or an electronic
form may be obtained from the EPA website http://www.epa.qld.gov.au
The permit holder must complete all sections in the return form that relate to their activity. The permit holder
must submit a return of operations even if there has been no activity (a “nil return”) under the permit for the
return period.
A return of operations is an official document and must be completed in the way stated in the Nature
Conservation (Administration) Regulation 2006. You must do all of the following:
• keep the copy of the return of operations at the licensed premises;
• ensure that the return of operations is accurate;
• complete your return of operations in ink;
• keep your return of operations secure and prevent any other person from damaging or defacing the
return or the return getting lost or stolen;
• notify the chief executive immediately and in writing if the return of operations or the copy of the return of
operations is lost, stolen or destroyed; and
• produce your copy of your return of operations to a conservation officer upon demand.
Can the permit be transferred?
Permits are not transferable.
Applicant suitability
An applicant must have the ability to carry out activities under the authority in a competent and ethical way and
facilities for the activities to be carried out under this permit.
Further information
For further information, contact the Ecoaccess Customer Service Unit on phone 1300 368 326 or by email at
eco.access@epa.qld.gov.au.
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 Guideline
Keeping certain protected wildlife in Queensland — Conditions and restrictions
— Keeping protected animals under a permit to keep protected wildlife
References
Nature Conservation Act 1992.
Nature Conservation (Wildlife Management) Regulation 2006
Nature Conservation (Administration) Regulation 2006
Nature Conservation (Wildlife) Regulation 2006
Disclaimer:
While this document has been prepared with care, it contains general information and does not profess to offer legal,
professional or commercial advice. The Queensland Government accepts no liability for any external decisions or actions
taken on the basis of this document. Persons external to the Environmental Protection Agency should satisfy themselves
independently and by consulting their own professional advisors before embarking on any proposed course of action.
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