Take native animal from the wild permits
Application processing time
Allow up to 4 weeks (20 business days). Complex or incomplete applications may require further information and take longer to process.
You must have a permit to take a protected native animal, or the eggs of a protected native animal, from the wild. You may be considering taking a native animal from the wild for one of the below reasons:
- as part of a conservation project for breeding or wild-to-wild translocation (may also involve release to the wild)
- to supplement or introduce new species to the captive fauna trade
- to promote species and environmental awareness through presentation and interpretation of wildlife
- to obtain biological products (e.g. snake venom)
- to retain and use for training and education purposes.
A permit does not allow a permit holder to sell, lease, gift or give away the animal to any other person.
If you are considering taking an unprotected animal from the wild, please see permit information for unprotected animals.
Protected animal permits
An application fee, permit fee and royalties are payable for permits to take protected animals from the wild. Royalty fees depend on the conservation rating of the animal and the number of animals the permit allows you to take from the wild.
See the application form for current fees.
Permit fees and royalties are not refundable, even if you are unsuccessful in taking animals from the wild.
Permit applications are assessed depending on the purpose of the take and may include consideration of the following:
- ecological risk or impact to the species, or to ecological communities, from a limited take from the wild
- written permission from the landholder to be on the land for the purpose of taking the applied animals
- methods and equipment to be used for taking and transporting animals are appropriate, humane and comply with relevant animal welfare guidelines
- applicant is suitably experienced to carry out proposed activities and can provide referees with the application
- conservation translocation projects possess an approved translocation plan
- captive animal applications possess a relevant Keep and Sell Permit for the species
- availability of the species in captive trade
- efforts to source the species through captive sources
- applicant is an experienced captive breeder with proven ability to successfully breed similar species.
Conservation applications
To apply for a permit to take and/or release protected animals to the wild as part of a conservation project, including wild-to-wild translocations or keeping in captivity as part of an ex-situ breeding population, download the form and follow the instructions.
You may need an additional permit to import or export protected animals if your program involves translocating animals interstate.
Take and/or release protected animals (conservation) application form
Applicants must also include proof of permission to access the property for this purpose with their application. Templates are available to download:
Keeping in captivity applications
To apply for a permit to take protected animals from the wild to keep in captivity, to breed with for captive trade, to display or present with, or to obtain biological products from, download the form and follow the instructions:
Take protected animals (captivity) application form
Applicants must also include proof of permission to access the property for this purpose with their application. A template is available to download:
If your application is successful you, and anyone listed on the permit, must abide by the permit conditions and requirements of the regulations. These may include:
- species and quantity of animals that may be taken
- location(s) where take may occur
- persons additional to the permit holder who may assist with taking
- methods or equipment for take and transport must comply with relevant animal welfare guidelines
- a report specifying the species, sex and number of protected animals taken must be returned within 14 days of permit expiry
- any additional conditions placed on the permit by the department.
Unprotected animal permits
Most animals classed as unprotected do not require a permit to be taken from the wild into captivity.
However, a permit is required to trap or take galahs or little corellas (considered unprotected fauna), or the eggs of galahs and little corellas, from the wild into captivity.
Applicants must also include proof of permission to access the property for this purpose with their application. This applies to:
- private land
- land held by a Minister or agent of the Crown
- unalienated land of the Crown.
Contact the Fauna Permits Unit for information relating to permits to take galahs and little corellas from the wild.
