General 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 avoid other caged birds.
• House only 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, being any person not authorised under the licence: the licence holder, licence employees, or volunteers under direct supervision of the licence holder or any licence employee.

Uphold good health and welfare

• Provide appropriate food for the species and ensure constant access to clean, fresh, and cool 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 displayer licence holders 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)
• Code of Practice for the Public Display and Exhibition of Animals(opens in a new window), incorporated under Regulation 84.

Visit Agriculture Victoria’s website for Victorian codes of practice for animal welfare(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 2 dingoes and an additional 10 square metres for each additional dingo (over 9 months).
• Have fences of either 3 metres in height or a minimum of 2 metres in height with an additional 45° angle inward return of at least 1 metre in length (or the inward return being a full secure roof).
• Have a 1-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.

Email wildlifelicensing@deeca.vic.gov.au

Transportation

Objective

To ensure wildlife are in appropriate enclosures which 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 minimum every 2 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 and Exhibition of Animals(opens in a new window) 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 and 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 prior to 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 prior to 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 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 or plastic bags, or similar, 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 wildlife and prevent the spread of disease.

How to comply

Do not enter into any transaction where the wildlife involved is dependent on parental care, diseased, sick or injured. If wildlife in your possession is diseased, sick or injured, you may only transport the wildlife to a veterinarian for assessment and treatment. Veterinary attention should occur 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. Approval will only be considered where animal welfare can be appropriately protected.

To apply, please email us.

Email wildlifelicensing@deeca.vic.gov.au

Restrictions on interbreeding of wildlife

Objective

To prevent the interbreeding of wildlife where reproduction between the species 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 separating compatible 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.

Email wildlifelicensing@deeca.vic.gov.au

Wildlife transactions

Location a wildlife transaction may take place

Objective

To ensure that wildlife transactions under your licence occur at a suitable location.

How to comply

A transaction to buy, acquire, receive, sell, or dispose of wildlife can only take place at your specified premises (the address listed on your licence), or the premises of the other party involved in the transaction. You cannot conduct these transactions in a public place, or at a business or any location not listed on either licence —except when participating in, and in accordance with the conditions of an approved wildlife event.

These transactions can be highly stressful for the wildlife and conducting them at unapproved locations increases the risk of wildlife escaping. It is important to keep the process as calm and low stress as possible for the animals.

For consignment or sending of wildlife, whenever possible, the departure and delivery points should be the licensed premises (in Victoria) or the premises where the wildlife legally resides (if outside Victoria). An animal courier service can help to arrange door-to-door delivery services. See Transportation for further information.

Trade outside of Victoria may require an import and export permit (Import and export). If you are unable to arrange door-to-door consignment, or need to trade at a premises not covered under the above conditions, you can apply for written approval for alternative arrangements by emailing us with details of your request, including:

• Why you are unable to facilitate trade at the specified premises of one of the parties to the transaction.
• The location of the proposed alternative transaction location.
• Why the alternative transaction location has been chosen, and whether it is appropriate for trade of wildlife.
• For consignment, limitations on door-to door service and the proposed alternative arrangements (for example, pick up and drop off from a courier depot).

See Transportation
See Import and export
Email wildlifelicensing@deeca.vic.gov.au

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 possessed or accessed in Victoria is transported from interstate. Management of wildlife movements reduces the spread of disease and ensures the health and welfare of wildlife being imported and exported.

How to comply

If you wish to transport wildlife interstate, or receive wildlife from another state, you can apply for a permit online at the Conservation Regulator website. Alternatively, you can download and complete the relevant from our website. Please allow 3 to 5 business days to process your application.

You must notify the Conservation Regulator of the outcome of any issued import/export permit within 10 business days of permit expiry. The notification advises if the transaction went ahead as planned. You must submit a notification of outcome even if the intended wildlife movement under the permit did not occur. The permit expiry date will be listed on the permit.

This notification of outcome can be submitted online(opens in a new window) via the Conservation Regulator website, or via the downloadable form(opens in a new window) from our website.

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)
Email wildlifelicensing@deeca.vic.gov.au
Call DEECA Customer Contact 136 186

Advertising sale of wildlife

Objective

To ensure wildlife possession and trade only occurs under 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 the holder to keep the species of wildlife you wish to trade. You must include your licence number when advertising wildlife for sale, regardless of the form of advertisement. This includes, for example, social media posts, classified websites, forums, traditional media advertisements, or noticeboard flyers.

When purchasing wildlife, ask to see the seller’s wildlife licence and make sure it’s valid before completing the transaction. See Wildlife transactions for further information.

Email wildlifelicensing@deeca.vic.gov.au

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 2 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 form sections of this guide for further information.

Wildlife displayers are also required to keep a log of the date and opening hours of public access to wildlife display at the specified premises. For further information, please refer to Wildlife displayer – additional records.

If you lose or damage your record book, you must report your loss to the Conservation Regulator via email within 2 business days. There is a fee for each book lost or damaged.

Please refer to Theft, loss, or damage of record book or return form or Annual return form for further information.

Recording wildlife breeding

All breeding of wildlife in your possession must be recorded in your record book. This can look different for different species, and includes any eggs produced, as well as any live young (including those in pouches).

It is your responsibility to proactively record wildlife offspring bred in your record book, so you must determine the most appropriate auditing regime based on your circumstances. For example:

Free-roaming macropod populations may readily breed, and as pouch young are minuscule on entry into the pouch they are not always easily detected. Pouch checks must be performed relatively frequently to ensure accurate totals in your records.

Some reptiles and amphibians may conceal eggs within enclosures. Production of eggs should be actively monitored for in enclosures co-housing males and females of a species, especially if associated with a change in animal behaviour or seasonal fluctuations in breeding likelihood.

Certain other species, including several native rodents, may breed prolifically and repeatedly throughout the year. This may lead to rapid overcrowding of enclosures if not appropriately managed.

If you cannot appropriately monitor breeding and the production of offspring from wildlife in your possession, you must take active measures to prevent breeding from occurring. This may mean physical separation of males and females of a species, or chemical or surgical fertility control with appropriate permissions.

See Wildlife displayer – additional records
See Annual return form
See Theft, loss, or damage of record book or return form
Email wildlifelicensing@deeca.vic.gov.au

Annual return form

Objective

To provide a state-wide overview of legal wildlife interactions 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.

How to comply

Your return is a summary of the wildlife held, and activities 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(opens in a new window) by 14 April each year. You must also keep a copy for your returns for future reference. A return form(opens in a new window) must be submitted even if you have no wildlife in your possession under a valid licence or have not disposed of or acquired any wildlife. In this instance, wildlife displayer licence holders should:

• Where there has been no change in wildlife counts in your possession, record all current wildlife in possession under licence even if the same as the year prior.
• Where no wildlife are held under the licence, mark the return as ‘Nil’.

You may submit your return online on our website.

If you are unable to complete the online form(opens in a new window), 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.

Visit Wildlife licence annual returns(opens in a new window)
Email wildlifelicensing@deeca.vic.gov.au
Call DEECA Customer Contact Centre 136 186

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 required transactions that occur under your licence.

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:

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

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

Additional record keeping requirements

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 wildlife 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, licence and return forms to Authorised Officers when asked. Authorised Officers have the power to, at any reasonable time with 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 well-being of wildlife in captivity, through appropriate monitoring and investigation of wildlife theft, loss or escape.

How to comply

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

• For suspected theft, report it to Victoria Police within 2 business days of the suspected event.
• 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 2 business days of becoming aware of the loss.
• Record the theft, loss or escape of wildlife into your record book.

Where the theft, loss or escape relates to a dingo held under your licence, the microchip number associated with that dingo must be provided to the Conservation Regulator within 2 business days of becoming aware of the dingo being missing. This notification can preferentially occur by email, or a report can be submitted for the attention of the Conservation Regulator through the DEECA Customer Contact Centre. If reporting by phone, ensure you provide your licence number. The requirement for all dingoes over 7 weeks of age to be microchipped can be found at Dingo acquisition and sale.

See Dingo acquisition and sale
Email wildlifelicensing@deeca.vic.gov.au
Call DEECA Customer Contact 136 186

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, wildlife displayer records per Wildlife displayer – additional records, or Annual return forms to the Conservation Regulator within 2 business days of becoming aware.

You can do this by completing the Notify theft, loss, damage or escape form available on the Conservation Regulator website.

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

Change of details

Objective

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

How to comply

You must notify the Conservation Regulator within 10 business days of any changes to the details listed on your licence, including changes to your name, contact details, or the address of your specified premises. You can do this by completing the form available on the Conservation Regulator website. An amended licence will be posted to you.

Licences are not transferable to another person.

If you plan to make changes to the location of your specified premises for wildlife display, you must seek Conservation Regulator approval for any new enclosures at the proposed new location per Construction of new enclosures prior to that address being listed as your specified premises. Approvals for new enclosures must be in place prior to wildlife being moved, or written permission to hold wildlife at a location other the specified premises sought per Keeping wildlife. When changing premises, you may be subject to inspection.

See Keeping wildlife
Visit Commercial licence obligations and record keeping(opens in a new window)