Focus Species

Wildlife as pets, know the rules

The central bearded dragon (Pogona viticeps) is one of the most popular reptiles kept as a pet in Victoria. It is extremely docile and friendly, making it a popular choice as a pet.

Wildlife, including bearded dragons, must never be taken from the wild. They should only be sourced from a licenced breeder. To keep a central bearded dragon as a pet, you need a basic wildlife licence, and appropriate housing conditions. This ensures it lives a happy and healthy life.

In Victoria, all wildlife is protected under the Wildlife Act 1975. Licences are needed to keep wildlife privately or for a business. Licences vary based on species and the reasons for keeping and trading wildlife.

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Hollow trees, leave them please

Photo credit: William Terry

The brush-tailed phascogale (Phascogale tapoatafa), is a small, nocturnal, marsupial with a distinct black ‘brushy’ tail. They are found in dry, open forests mainly in central Victoria. Habitat loss has reduced phascogale populations, which is why looking after the hollow-bearing trees they live in is critical to their survival.

The illegal removal of firewood is a key driver of habitat destruction for brush-tailed phascogales. In Victoria, there are rules about where and when you can collect firewood in state forests.

By following firewood collection rules, purchasing from trusted suppliers and leaving old or dead standing trees standing, we can all help protect the health of our forests and precious brush-tailed phascogale habitat.

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Keep us safe, give us space

The Hooded Plover (Thinornis cucullatus) is a small beach-nesting bird found along the Victorian coast. From August to April hooded plovers lay their eggs in shallow sand scrapes and raise their chicks.

The species faces significant threats from people trampling nests or scaring them into abandoning their eggs, and from dogs not under control that chase, catch, and kill vulnerable chicks.

Beachgoers should look out for signs and fencing of hooded plover breeding sites along shorelines, and ensure their activities are not disruptive. Hooded plovers are protected under the Wildlife Act 1975 and it is illegal to disturb, injure or destroy them, damage their habitat, or interfere with warning signage.

In collaboration with BirdLife Australia and Parks Victoria, the Conservation Regulator educates beach users on the presence and importance of hooded plovers and their protection through Operation Save our Hoodies (Op SoHo). 

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Keep wildlife wild, observe don't disturb

The Murray-Darling carpet python (Morelia spilota metcalfei), also known as the inland carpet python, is one of only two species of pythons found in Victoria. They are found in the northern part of Victoria, within two main habitats – river red gum forests and black box woodlands along watercourses.

It is illegal to take native wildlife from the wild, but sadly Murray-Darling carpet pythons are vulnerable to poaching.

To keep a Murray-Darling python as a pet, a Basic Wildlife Licence is needed and it must be sourced from a licenced breeder, not taken from the wild. In Victoria all wildlife is protected under the Wildlife Act 1975 and to keep wildlife privately or for a business, acquiring the appropriate licence is mandatory.

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Hollow trees, leave them please

The south-eastern subspecies (Calyptorhynchus banksii) found in Victoriais one of five red-tailed black cockatoos endemic to Australia. Red-tailed black cockatoos have a highly specialised diet and feed on seeds from just three tree species. They also require very large, old, hollow eucalypts to nest in and lay their eggs.

Illegally cutting down trees for firewood, dead or alive, destroys important habitat that red-tailed black cockatoos depend on for survival. It can take hundreds of years for nature to regenerate and create hollows in these trees again.

In Victoria, there are rules about where and when you can collect firewood in state forests.

By following firewood collection rules, purchasing from trusted suppliers and leaving old or dead trees standing, we can all help protect the health of our forests and precious habitat for our red-tailed black cockatoo.

Download the activity sheet here:

Keep us safe, give us space

The southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) is a seasonal visitor to Australia’s southern coast, typically between May and October each year, and uses Victorian waters to breed. The eastern Australian population is estimated to be less than 300 individuals.

Southern right whales are vulnerable to boat strikes and disturbance. Their lack of a dorsal fin makes them look like a floating log when resting near the surface and unaware boaters are at risk of striking them or disturbing them if they get too close.

Boats must keep at least 200 metres and jet skis 300 metres away from southern right whales, while swimmers and surfers must stay at least 50 metres away from whales. Under the Wildlife Act 1975, it is illegal to disturb, injure or destroy them or damage their habitat.

In collaboration with the Arthur Rylah Institute, the Conservation Regulator has been asking boaters to help protect these majestic whales by taking note of the rules when sharing the waters with southern right whales, keeping a safe distance and slowing down their vessels.

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