Take native animal from the wild permits
Taking a protected native animal, or the eggs of a protected native animal, from the wild requires a permit. You may want to take a native animal from the wild for one of the below reasons:
- for breeding or wild-to-wild translocation as part of a conservation project
- 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.
Application processing time
Allow up to 4 weeks (20 business days). Complex or incomplete applications may require further information and take longer to process.
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 2 referees with the application
- conservation translocation projects possess an approved translocation plan
- captive animal projects 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.
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 translocation 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.
Applicants must attach landholder permission to be on the land for the purpose of taking or releasing animals when submitting their application. Please see templates:
Keeping in captivity applications
To apply for a permit to take protected animals from the wild to keep in captivity, to breed from for captive trade, to display or present with or to obtain biological products from animals, download the form and follow the instructions:
Take protected animals from the wild (captivity) application form
Applicants must attach landholder permission to be on the land for the purpose of taking animals when submitting their application. Please see the landholder permission form template:
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 take place
- persons additional to the permit holder who may assist take
- methods or equipment for take and transport 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.
You must have prior written permission from a landowner to be on their land for the purposes of taking galahs or little corellas. 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.
