Moving native animals

Moving native animals can sometimes have unexpected consequences.

The department is responsible for regulating if and how native animals can be moved, in line with relevant laws and considering:

the welfare of the animals being moved
the environment the animals are taken from, or moved to
the conservation needs of the species involved.

A permit is required to move native animals from one location to another. Keep reading to learn more about the types of animal movements and applicable permit requirements.

Trap and release or relocate

Native animals may need to be caught or trapped and released or relocated under certain circumstances, such as when:

they pose a threat to property or infrastructure
they endanger human safety
habitat disturbances may threaten their wellbeing.

Examples include possums in roofs, venomous snakes in homes, bird eggs in trees being felled, or reptiles living in development sites.

Different permits are available based on whether you are a professional wildlife management operator or a property owner affected by an animal’s presence. For permit information, see manage, control or destroy wildlife permits.

For other environmental requirements and considerations, see planning for a development.

Conservation translocation

Native animals may be translocated to support conservation efforts, such as species reintroduction or genetic diversity enhancement.

Multiple approvals, permits and licences are necessary depending on the details of your project. For more information, see translocating native animals for conservation.

Import or export

Many native animals can be imported or exported into or out of South Australia.

Transporting live native animals, eggs or carcasses often requires a permit, regardless of transportation mode.

For permit information, see import or export native animal permits.

For information on importing or exporting native animals internationally, read more from the Australian Government.

Rescue and rehabilitation

It can be upsetting to encounter a sick, injured or orphaned native animal. There are circumstances where you can help, including by taking the animal to a vet or by obtaining a permit to rescue and rehabilitate.

To learn more about what to do, and when a permit is required, visit helping native animals.