Authorities to Control Wildlife: 2023

Important information about this data

Number of animals

The data represents the maximum number of animals (wildlife) authorised for control by ATCWs granted between 1 January and 31 December 2023. The actual number of animals that were controlled under each authorisation may be lower.

Non-lethal and lethal control

The Conservation Regulator requires applicants to demonstrate they have exhausted non-lethal options for the management of wildlife. Where non-lethal techniques are ineffective or impractical, lethal control may be necessary.

Not all non-lethal controls require an ATCW, for example installing fencing or netting to keep wildlife out of an area where they may be causing damage or removing old nests when there are no eggs or nesting birds present.

However, some non-lethal control options do require an ATCW. Examples include trapping and relocating wildlife, deliberate use of noise, water or smoke to disrupt normal behaviours such as roosting or ushering macropods out of an area.

Threatened species

For species listed as threatened under Victoria’s Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 or the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999, permits for lethal control are generally not issued unless there is a significant and unavoidable risk to human health and safety and all non-lethal control options have been exhausted.

Applications to disturb or relocate threatened wildlife are given additional consideration in regard to any negative impact to the conservation status of the species, as well as to ensure significant animal welfare impacts are minimised.

In 2023 no ATCWs were issued for lethal control of any species listed as threatened under the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1986 or the Commonwealth Environment and Biodiversity Protection Act 1999 (EPBC Act).

ATCWs were issued for lethal control of seven species (Australasian Gannets, Australian Kestrel, Australian White Ibis, Brown Goshawk, Cape Barren Goose, Silver Gull and Straw-necked Ibis) which are listed marine species under the EPBC Act. The designated conservation status of these species is ‘least concern’.

Kangaroo Harvesting Program

Eastern and Western Grey Kangaroos harvested under the Kangaroo Harvesting Program are not included in the data below. Annual quotas for the Kangaroo Harvesting Program take into account Victoria’s kangaroo population and ATCW data. Further information relating to harvesting of kangaroos under this program can be found at https://www.wildlife.vic.gov.au/our-wildlife/kangaroos/commercial-harvest-of-kangaroos.(opens in a new window)

Table 1: Authorities to Control Wildlife issued between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2023