General wildlife licence requirements

Wildlife welfare and care

Housing wildlife

Objective

To ensure you provide appropriate permanent housing for wildlife that provides for the good health and welfare of that wildlife.

How to comply

You must ensure enclosures and demonstration spaces meet the needs of the given species of wildlife.

Below is a list of basic requirements. These are the minimum standards that should be provided to all wildlife.

Adequate shelter

• Provide protection from the elements and extremes in weather.
• Shelters must be equipped to provide temperatures, humidity and light cycles that are appropriate to the species, allowing normal physiological functioning and behaviour.

Prevent escape or injury

• Enclosures must be designed to prevent the escape of wildlife.
• Enclosures must be of an appropriate size and dimension to suit the physical characteristics and behaviour of the animal. For example, an aviary for multiple birds requires sufficient space for each bird to fly, roost and elude other caged birds.
• Only house compatible wildlife types together. For example, different species of reptile may be kept together within an enclosure. However, their feeding habits, relative sizes and interspecific aggressiveness must be compatible.

Protect wildlife from predators

Enclosures must protect from predators, including domestic animals such as cats and dogs.

Restrict access by unauthorised persons

Enclosures must be secured to prevent unauthorised access.

Uphold good health and welfare

• Provide appropriate food for the species and ensure constant access to clean fresh water.
• Wildlife must not be kept in areas with excessive noise, vibration or temperature fluctuation.
• Birds, reptiles, amphibians and marsupials must not be restrained by a leash or tether.
• Undertake regular cleaning of enclosures and other precautions to prevent disease.
• Undertake regular surveillance and vet visits to enable early detection of health problems.

The Victorian codes of practice for animal welfare are incorporated into the Wildlife Regulations 2024 and are enforceable by the Conservation Regulator. The requirements set by Codes of Practice apply to all persons who possess living wildlife, regardless of the prescribed category of licence they hold.

Codes of practice

The relevant codes of practice for wildlife demonstrators are:

• Code of Practice for the Welfare of Amphibians in Captivity(opens in a new window)
• Code of Practice for the Housing of Caged Birds(opens in a new window)
• Code of Practice for the Husbandry of Captive Emus(opens in a new window)
• Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals - Private Keeping of Reptiles(opens in a new window)

Regulation 76 also incorporates the Code of Practice for the Public Display and Exhibition of Animals, which applies to wildlife that is being displayed or demonstrated.

Refer to the Health and welfare of demonstrated wildlife in this guide, and visit Agriculture Victoria’s website for Victorian codes of practice for animal welfare.

See also Health and welfare of demonstrated wildlife(opens in a new window)

Visit other resources

• Victorian codes of practice for animal welfare(opens in a new window)
• Code of Practice for the Welfare of Amphibians in Captivity(opens in a new window)
• Code of Practice for Housing Caged Birds(opens in a new window)
• Code of Practice for the Husbandry of Captive Emus(opens in a new window)
• Code of Practice Private Keeping of Reptiles(opens in a new window)

Permanent enclosures for dingoes

Permanent enclosures for dingoes must meet the standards below:

• Be child-proof and of sufficiently secure design and construction to prevent escape of dingoes and unauthorised access to dingoes
• Have a minimum floor area of 30 square metres for up to two dingoes and an additional 10 square metres for each additional dingo (over nine months)
• Have fences of either three metres in height or a minimum of two metres in height with an additional 45° degree inward return of at least one metre in length (or the inward return being a fully secure roof)
• Have a one-metre inward-facing mesh return fitted at the base of the fence and fastened to the ground at right angles to the fence (or fence anchored securely to a cement slab)
• Have a secure escape-proof fence.

Transportation

Objective

Ensure wildlife is in appropriate enclosures to prevent injury, stress, and disease during transport.

How to comply

Transport can be a particularly stressful and high-risk time for most wildlife species. Your transportation must meet the needs of the species being transported. The comfort and wellbeing of all animals should be monitored at a minimum every two hours during transport.

Animals should be in a fit state before being transported. Sick or injured animals should not be transported except for veterinary care, with precautions taken to minimise further stress or injury. A person who is transporting sick, injured or abandoned wildlife to a vet or a wildlife rehabilitator does not need to meet these requirements.

If you are consigning wildlife to transport for long periods, such as interstate travel or bulk consignments, additional measures may be required to maintain the animal’s health and welfare. Refer to the applicable Code of Practice for the wildlife you are consigning.

The Code of Practice for the Public Display of Exhibition of Animals on the Agriculture Victoria website provides further information to help you meet this condition. Some key information about transporting wildlife is included below.

Visit Code of Practice for the Public Display of the Exhibition of Animals(opens in a new window)

Reptile transport

When transporting reptiles:

• Care must be taken to avoid exposure of reptiles to extreme temperatures or changes in temperature during transport.
• Reptiles must not be transported unless they have been maintained for a sufficient time before departure at a temperature that will ensure complete digestion of any ingested food.
• Reptiles must not be fed during transport.
• Reptiles must have access to water before transport to prevent dehydration. This may involve placing the reptile(s) in shallow tepid water for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Transport containers must not be placed in direct sunlight, water or draughts.

Visit Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals — Private Keeping of Reptiles(opens in a new window)

Amphibian transport

When transporting amphibians:

• Do not place heavy rocks or decorations in the tank, they can move and injure the amphibian.
• Frogs require constant moisture to prevent their skin from dehydrating. They should be transported in a plastic container with a small amount of cotton wool or paper towelling, or damp sphagnum moss soaked in water. Transport time should be kept to a minimum.
• If a brief stop is required during travelling, the vehicle should be left in a shady spot with fresh air circulating. If a longer stop is required, (longer than 30 minutes) remove the animals from the vehicle and keep them in a cool place.

Visit Code of Practice for the Welfare of Amphibians in Captivity(opens in a new window)

Bird Transport

When transporting birds:

• A strong, clean cardboard box may be suitable for some kinds of birds. Larger parrots and cockatoos may chew through cardboard or softwood and for those species a substantial hardwood box or metal cage is necessary.
• Containers should be of new material. Containers such as milk cartons, jars, plastic ice cream boxes, paper and plastic bags etc must not be used.
• Containers should be sufficiently robust for the species they contain and should be securely closed during transport to ensure no injury or escape is possible.

Short-period carry cage dimensions from the Code of Practice for the Housing of Caged Birds can be found on the Agriculture Victoria website.

Visit Code of Practice for the Housing of Caged Birds(opens in a new window)

Dependent wildlife

Objective

To ensure the welfare and survival of dependent, sick or juvenile animals and prevent the spread of disease.

How to comply

Do not enter into any transaction where the wildlife is dependent, diseased, sick or injured.

If wildlife in your possession is diseased, sick or injured, take it to a veterinarian for assessment as soon as possible.

You may seek written approval from the Conservation Regulator for a person to buy, sell, dispose of, consign or transport wildlife to which this regulation applies. These will only be considered where animal welfare can be protected. To apply, please email us.

Restrictions to interbreeding of wildlife

Objective

To prevent the interbreeding of wildlife that does not occur in the wild. This includes preventing the interbreeding of domestic and wild animals, and the trade of cross-bred animals. Crossbreeding of different taxa can lead to genetic problems and increased care requirements and can have poor animal welfare outcomes.

How to comply

Ensure you house different taxa of wildlife separately to prevent unintended interbreeding, including domesticated animals.

If in the event of unintended offspring from different taxa, you cannot sell or dispose of the offspring without first seeking written approval from the Conservation Regulator.

Wildlife transactions

Import and export

Objective

To prevent wildlife trafficking by regulating the trade of wildlife between States and Territories, ensuring that only wildlife legally able to be held in Victoria is transported from interstate.

It also reduces the spread of disease and ensures the health and welfare of wildlife being imported and exported.

How to comply

You can apply for a permit and complete your notification of the outcome for a permit online, or you can download and complete the relevant form, on our webpage Import and Export Permits for Victorian Wildlife(opens in a new window).

Please allow three to five business days to process your application.

Further information, including import and export restrictions and cases where an import/export permit is not required, can be found on our webpage Import and Export Permits for Victorian Wildlife.

If you are unsure, you can phone or email us.

Visit Import and export permits for Victorian wildlife(opens in a new window)

Advertising sale of wildlife

Objective

To ensure wildlife is only possessed and traded by those with an appropriate licence.

How to comply

You can only trade wildlife with a person who holds an appropriate licence. This means a wildlife licence that is current and allows them to keep that species of wildlife.

You must include your licence number when advertising wildlife for sale. When purchasing wildlife, ask to see the seller’s wildlife licence and make sure it’s valid before completing the transaction.

Record keeping requirements

Record books

Objective

To ensure that captive wildlife has come from a lawful source, and to ensure accurate and up-to-date records of all wildlife transactions in Victoria.

How to comply

Relevant transactions include purchases, sales, import, deaths, gifts, breeding and escapes.

Your Wildlife Record Book is used to record all wildlife transactions. You cannot keep and trade wildlife until you have received both your licence and record book.

All record books for wildlife licences are supplied by the Conservation Regulator and remain the property of the Conservation Regulator. Making or keeping records that are inaccurate or false is an offence under the Wildlife Act.

To comply with this condition, you must:

• Ensure entries are recorded on the same day that a transaction occurs
• Ensure entries are permanent and legible
• Request an additional record book from wildlife licensing if you no longer have sufficient pages to record your wildlife transactions
• Retain all record books you have been issued until you choose to renew your licence or surrender your wildlife
• Return your record book to the Conservation Regulator within 10 business days should you choose not to renew, or surrender your wildlife licence
• Return your record book the Conservation Regulator if your licence is cancelled

If you lose or damage your record book, you must report your loss to the Conservation Regulator via email within two business days. There is a fee for each book lost or damaged.

Please refer to the Annual return forms or Theft, loss or damage of record book or return formsections of this guide for further information.

Wildlife demonstrators are also required to keep a log of the date, time and venue of all demonstrations conducted. For further information, please refer to the Demonstrations frequency section of this guide.

See also Demonstrations frequency(opens in a new window)

See also Annual return forms

See also Theft, loss or damage of record book or return form

Annual return forms

Objective

To provide a state-wide overview of the volume and species of wildlife currently being possessed and traded in Victoria, which helps to ensure we have the right legal framework in place. This record keeping also provides a mechanism for the regulator to prevent illegal trade of wildlife, and understand where wildlife may not be properly being cared for.

How to comply

Your return is a summary of the wildlife transactions you conducted under your licence in the 12 month period between 1 April and 31 March. Information contained in the returns is confidential.

You must submit a completed return form by 14 April each year. You must also keep a copy for your returns for future reference.

A Return Form must be submitted even if you:

• Have not acquired any wildlife
• No longer have wildlife in your possession
• Have not bought, sold or traded any wildlife

In these instances, licence holders should mark their return as Nil and submit by 14 April.

You may submit your return online on our website.

If you are unable to complete the online form, you can request a form by calling DEECA or emailing us.

If you do not submit a return, you may not be eligible to renew your licence. Additional penalties may also apply if these obligations are not met.

Submit your return at Wildlife Licence annual returns(opens in a new window)

Do not tamper with record books or return forms

Objective

To ensure record books and return forms are a true and accurate representation of wildlife possession and trade in Victoria.

How to comply

Record books and return forms are legal documents. They must be accurate and include all wildlife in your possession or legally traded.

Record books and return forms remain the property of the Conservation Regulator. Tampering with them in any way is an offence. Tampering includes erasing or editing entries, removing pages, or otherwise damaging records.

All entries in your record book, and on hard copy return forms, must be permanent and legible. You must write in your record book with a pen in black or blue ink.

If you make a mistake when filling in an entry, you should:

• Strike a line through the entry
• Write your initials and the date of the correction next to the corrected entry.

You cannot use whiteout or other methods to cover up entries. You also cannot remove any pages from your record book.

Additional record-keeping obligations

Objective

To ensure oversight of all wildlife transactions in Victoria, while maintaining the confidentiality of licence holders.

How to comply

Keep your record book and return forms at the address specified on your licence and in a secure location to prevent loss or theft.

Under the Wildlife Act 1975, you must provide a copy of your record book, and licence and return forms to Authorised Officers when asked. Authorised Officers have the power to, at any reasonable time, and having regard to the circumstances ask to see, inspect or make copies of record books and any other documentation associated with your wildlife licence.

The record book and return forms remain the property of the Conservation Regulator. Should you choose not to renew your licence, or surrender your wildlife, you must return your record book to the Conservation Regulator within 10 business days.

If you are provided with a written direction to surrender your wildlife record book by the Conservation Regulator, you must surrender all record books and return forms by the date specified.

Reporting

Theft or loss of wildlife

Objective

To uphold the health and wellbeing of wildlife in captivity, through appropriate monitoring and investigation of theft, loss or escape.

How to comply

If there has been a theft, loss or escape of wildlife in your care, you must:

• Report it to Victoria Police within two business days of you becoming aware
• Retain a copy of the police report. If requested by an Authorised officer, you must produce a copy of the police report
• Report the theft, loss or escape of wildlife to the Conservation Regulator by email within two business days of becoming aware of the loss
• Record the theft, loss or escape of wildlife into your record book.

Theft, loss or damage of record book or return form

Objective

To ensure the integrity and confidentiality of records.

How to comply

You must report the loss, theft or damage of your Wildlife Record Book or Annual Returns to the Conservation Regulator by email within two business days of becoming aware. You can do this by completing the Notify Theft, Loss, Damage or Escape form available on our website and emailing us the completed form.

Download Notify Theft, Loss, Damage or Escape form
Visit Commercial licence obligations and record keeping(opens in a new window)

Change of premises management

Objective

To ensure licence details are up to date and the person responsible for the licence is identifiable.

Licenses are not transferable and are available for one or three years.

How to comply

You must notify the Conservation Regulator within 10 business days of any changes to the person managing the premises specified in your licence. You must also inform us of any changes to your personal details recorded on your licence (name, contact details and/or address) within 10 business days of the changes occurring. You can do this by completing the form available on our website. An amended licence will be posted to you.

Visit Commercial licence obligations and record-keeping(opens in a new window)