Private wildlife licence guide

Visit Wildlife Regulations 2024(opens in a new window)

Wildlife basic and advanced licences are collectively referred to as private wildlife licences.

Private wildlife licences allow the Victorian community to legally keep certain species of captive bred native wildlife in their homes. However, wildlife are not domesticated — meaning they have not been selectively bred to happily coexist alongside humans. Many wildlife species retain their wild instincts and behaviours which can result in stress and poor health when kept inappropriately in captivity, regardless of whether they are captive bred.

Private wildlife licences allow possession of wildlife for private (not commercial) purposes. The difference between the basic and advanced licence types are the species that may be kept, with the advanced licence including the same species as the basic licence plus some that have more complex or demanding care requirements, or that may be less common in legal trade. See Keeping and trading wildlife and More information about wildlife basic and advanced licences for further information.

Some wildlife species do not require a licence if you are keeping them privately as companion animals. Those species are listed in Schedule 4 of the Wildlife Regulations 2024. Wildlife held under a basic or advanced licence must come from a captive-bred source. No wildlife can be taken from the wild. As with a non-wildlife pet, you must look after your wildlife, provide vet care as needed, make sure they have access to food and clean water, and provide an environment that is safe, clean and interesting.

Private wildlife licences do not allow any commercial activity including public display or demonstrations of wildlife, or large-scale commercial sale. Visit the Conservation Regulator website for more information on commercial wildlife licences.

The welfare of captive wildlife as well as the sustainability of wild populations is reliant on licence holders understanding and following their licence conditions. This guide supports licence holders to be support the wellbeing of their companion animals by understanding and complying with their obligations under their wildlife basic or advanced licence.

This guide outlines the standards of a private wildlife licence as outlined in legislation and as conditions of basic and advanced licences. It sets out the objectives of each requirement and provides information about how to comply.

The guidance provided indicates where an action is mandatory to meet the conditions of a basic or advanced licence, for example, where guidance specifies an action must occur.

However, in some instances the information is not mandatory but intended to assist licence holders in understanding their entitlements and providing best-practice care for their wildlife for example, where guidance specifies an action should, may, or can occur. This guidance also indicates options on how licence holders might comply with conditions where there are multiple method available to meet the obligation.

You may be required to comply with additional conditions set out under your private wildlife licence.

Please ensure you read your licence conditions carefully. If you have questions about how to comply with specific conditions in your licence, call or email us.

Find relevant conditions and requirements by downloading the PDF or clicking a condition or requirement below. More detail about wildlife licences and the role of Conservation Regulator Authorised Officers can also be found below.

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