Wildlife displayer licence guide

Wildlife licences in Victoria

All wildlife licence types fall into 2 categories:

Commercial wildlife licence

Commercial licences allow the holder to engage in business activities relating to wildlife. The wildlife displayer licence is an example of a commercial licence. These licences can be issued to a person, corporation, company or other business entity.

Private wildlife licence

Private wildlife licences are designed for individuals who want to keep small numbers of wildlife at home. Private wildlife licence holders are not permitted to engage in commercial activities relating to wildlife, and the wildlife must be kept at the address specified in the licence.

Information about the different types of wildlife licences, and how to apply, can be found on our website.

Visit Wildlife licences and permits(opens in a new window)

What a wildlife displayer licence allows you to do

Wildlife displayer licence holders can undertake commercial display to the public of wildlife listed on their licence at their specified premises, and in temporary circumstances at other locations throughout Victoria.

A wildlife displayer licence holder can:

• possess, keep, breed, or dispose of wildlife listed on the licence for the purpose of public display
• sell, buy, acquire, dispose of, or otherwise transfer ownership of wildlife listed on the licence through transactions with appropriately licensed or authorised persons
• display wildlife to the public at the licensed premises, where:
  • wildlife are housed in permanent and fixed enclosures; or where wildlife are temporarily not confined to an enclosure, the wildlife are under the direct supervision/control of a person authorised under the licence
  • enclosures for wildlife form an integral part of the wildlife display
  • display is for the purpose of promoting conservation understanding or providing education about wildlife
• possess and display wildlife at other locations in Victoria for temporary public displays and demonstrations within Victoria for the purpose of promoting conservation understanding or providing education about wildlife
• allow photography of wildlife being displayed
• provide wildlife for use in a commercial film with prior written permission from the Conservation Regulator.

Please note that the Conservation Regulator may apply additional conditions to your licence that restrict the above entitlements, in accordance with section 22(3)(b)(ii) of the Wildlife Act.

What you cannot do under a wildlife displayer licence

A wildlife displayer licence is intended to facilitate display of wildlife to the public. The licence is not appropriate for use in other circumstances that do not directly relate to that objective, including conservation activities (for example, re‑wilding or captive breeding of insurance populations), maintenance of private wildlife collections, or commercial-scale wildlife breeding activity.

A wildlife displayer licence holder cannot:

• possess, keep, breed, acquire, buy, sell or dispose of any wildlife that is not listed on the licence
• display wildlife for any purpose other than promoting an understanding of the ecology and conservation of wildlife
• display:
  • wildlife housed in temporary enclosures at the specified premises, or enclosures that do not contribute to display for education or conservation understanding.
  • sick or injured wildlife
• provide wildlife for use in commercial film without prior written approval from the Conservation Regulator
• take wildlife from the premises specified in the licence for any reason other than:
  • taking it to a registered vet for treatment.
  • conducting a demonstration for the purpose of promoting an understanding of the ecology and conservation of wildlife.
  • use in commercial film with prior written approval.
  • to trade wildlife with another licence holder at the specified premises of either of the licence holders entering into the transaction.
  • undertake display or demonstration that would pose a risk to the health and safety of the community or wildlife in your care.
• release wildlife held under the licence to the wild.
• sell or gift wildlife to a person who is not licensed to keep that animal.
• keep wildlife taken from the wild, which is illegal. If you find injured or orphaned wildlife, please contact an authorised wildlife rehabilitator. If you are not sure who is authorised in your area, visit Help For Injured Wildlife(opens in a new window) or phone DEECA.

Visit Help for Injured Wildlife(opens in a new window). Call DEECA Customer Contact Centre 136 186.

Conditions

Entitlements of a displayer licence

Objective

This regulation sets out the entitlements of a wildlife displayer licence and specifies the wildlife that can be kept and traded under this licence type.

How to comply

A wildlife displayer licence holder can keep and exhibit to the public, the wildlife listed on the licence so long as all conditions are met. In general, wildlife displayer licence holders achieve this by constructing and maintaining permanent and fixed enclosures at the specified premises listed on the licence to house the wildlife, allowing public observation – similar to a private zoo. Enclosures must be designed and presented in a way that promotes education about the conservation and ecological role of wildlife – see Display at specified premises – enclosure design for further information.

A wildlife displayer licence holder is also able to:

• Provide wildlife for use in commercial films, such as advertisements, television programs, and other media productions (See Use of wildlife in commercial films).
• Provide temporary display or demonstration of wildlife to the public throughout Victoria for education about wildlife (See Keeping wildlife).

Wildlife displayers can apply to possess any species of wildlife so long as it is lawfully acquired, from a captive-bred source, it is listed on their licence and they have the skills and facilities needed to care for and house them. This includes species that are not listed in the schedules of the Wildlife Regulations 2024.

However, any species kept under a wildlife displayer licence must be listed on the licence. This means that each time a wildlife displayer licence holder wishes to acquire a new species of wildlife, they must contact the Conservation Regulator to have the relevant species added to their licence prior to acquisition.

If you wish to add a species to your wildlife displayer licence, email the Conservation Regulator with the following information:

• your licence number
• species proposed for acquisition
• number of animals
• species source
• benefit of acquiring the species to education about conservation and ecology
• your skills and/or experience in caring for the species
• planned enclosure details and construction status (existing/proposed/in-construction/complete)
• any other care and management information you believe may support your request.

Requests are assessed on a case-by-case basis with consideration of the objectives of the Wildlife Act 1975 including wildlife protection, and the entitlements and purposes of the wildlife displayer licence.

See Keeping wildlife
See Use of wildlife in commercial films
Email wildlifelicensing@deeca.vic.gov.au

Display at specified premises – enclosure design

Objective

This regulation ensures that display at the licensed premises is consistent with the purposes of the licence, and that appropriate enclosures enable conservation and ecology awareness for public visitors.

How to comply

A wildlife displayer licence is primarily designed to allow permanent static display at a single location. The specified premises is the address listed on the licence.

At this location, wildlife must be displayed in enclosures that are both permanent and fixed. This means that the enclosures should be constructed for long-term use and occupation. Don’t use moveable enclosures, temporary barriers or moveable fencing.

Enclosures must contribute to the required conservation themes of the display and enable public understanding of the ecology of the displayed wildlife.

The requirement for permanent enclosures is intended to result in purpose-built housing for wildlife on display that:

• meets the physical and behavioural needs of the species. This may include but is not limited to:
  • sufficient height or length in the enclosure to allow flight for species capable of flight
  • appropriate substrate to allow secure digging for burrowing species
  • hides, hollows, burrows or other sheltered retreats for nocturnal species subject to daytime display
• reflects the habitat or environmental features the species is reliant on and occupies in the wild, including appropriate landscaping, furnishing, planting, substrate, water features, or environmental controls.

These 2 design objectives help the public understand and appreciate species ecology and conservation. Add interpretive signage or resources with further information about wildlife and environmental conservation in the context of the species on display.

Members of the public seek captive wildlife encounters for both connection and entertainment. Holders of a wildlife displayer licence are required to ensure any display provides opportunity to build connection between people and wildlife through increased ecological understanding. Wildlife in Victoria must not be displayed purely for entertainment purposes.

Remember that if wildlife are breeding and numbers increasing, then the need to expand enclosures should be considered, and housing wildlife requirements apply (See Housing wildlife).

Keeping wildlife

Objective

To ensure wildlife held under a wildlife displayer licence are primarily kept in a consistent and appropriately equipped location when not lawfully temporarily held elsewhere in Victoria.

How to comply

You must have a permanent home and public display facilities for wildlife held under your wildlife displayer licence, which must be at the address specified on the licence. This address is where you permanently keep and display your wildlife, with exceptions such as when engaging in temporary display or demonstration elsewhere in Victoria, providing wildlife for use in a commercial film (Use of wildlife in commercial films), participating in a wildlife event (Wildlife events), seeking veterinary care, or participating in a lawful transaction (Wildlife transactions).

Temporary display or demonstration

Temporary display includes the display of wildlife at a location in Victoria other than the address listed in the licence, and may include:

Demonstration, where persons authorised under the licence handle or show the wildlife to the public, and in certain circumstances allow the public to touch or handle wildlife. For dangerous wildlife, this generally requires the use of a pit (See Dangerous or venomous wildlife for further information). Wildlife used in demonstration must be under the constant supervision of a person authorised under the licence, being the licence holder or employees. When wildlife are not being used in demonstration, they must be secured in enclosures/containers that prevent public access and wildlife escape; and/or

Display, where wildlife are housed in impermanent, movable enclosures that allow the contained wildlife to be observed by the public. Wildlife used in temporary display must be under the constant supervision of a person authorised under the licence, being the licence holder or employees.

Temporary display may only occur for a continuous period not exceeding 1 day. If a display is a multi-day event, wildlife must not be housed in moveable, impermanent enclosures at a publicly accessible site without supervision; meaning wildlife will need to be transported to and from the site each day.

Wildlife must not be left in transport cages or impermanent, moveable enclosures without the supervision of a person authorised under the licence at a site other than the address specified in the licence. This means wildlife cannot be left at temporary displays overnight.

See Dangerous or venomous wildlife

Ongoing display or keeping of wildlife at the locations

Keeping or ongoing display of wildlife at a location other than the specified premises is a breach of wildlife displayer licence conditions and penalties may apply. If you need to keep wildlife at an alternate location, you must seek prior written approval from the Conservation Regulator. You can do this by emailing us with details of your request, including:

• why you need to house your wildlife at another location
• species and number of wildlife
• details of appropriate enclosures and facilities at the alternate location.

You may transport wildlife held under a wildlife displayer licence to and from temporary display or demonstration, to participate in wildlife events, to participate in a lawful transaction, or to receive veterinary care. You must meet the transportation requirements (See Transportation).

Email wildlifelicensing@deeca.vic.gov.au

Construction of new enclosures

Objective

To make sure that the enclosures housing wildlife on display are appropriately constructed and meet welfare, safety, conservation, and ecology education requirements.

How to comply

The holder of a wildlife displayer licence must:

• house wildlife in permanent, fixed enclosures where the enclosure forms an integral part of the display
• display wildlife with clear conservation themes and provide information on the ecological role of the wildlife on display.

See Display at specified premises – enclosure design for further information.

This means that all enclosures must be purpose-built for the wildlife housed therein or adapted to appropriately meet the above requirements.

Enclosures must be constructed prior to wildlife being acquired, as wildlife must be appropriately housed once in the possession of a wildlife displayer licence holder to meet licence conditions and wildlife welfare needs.

Any new wildlife species must also be listed on the licence prior to acquisition. See Entitlements of a displayer licence for further information.

Consult with the Conservation Regulator as early as possible in any planned acquisition of new wildlife under a wildlife displayer licence. Early engagement will ensure that any enclosure constructed is appropriate and will meet the requirements of the licence and species. It may also increase the clarity of information provided in any application and remove potential delays in associated approvals.

To seek approval for enclosure construction, email us with details of your request, including:

• species and number of wildlife the enclosure is intended for
• source of the wildlife
• enclosure dimensions and location at the specified premises
• proposed enclosure design features that:
  • meet any mandatory wildlife welfare requirements under a relevant code of practice (see Health and welfare of displayed wildlife)
  • contribute to conservation and ecology messaging for the viewing public (see Display at specified premises – enclosure design)
• construction timeline for the enclosure.

Applications are assessed on a case by-case basis with consideration of the objectives of the Wildlife Act 1975 including wildlife protection, and the entitlements and purposes of the wildlife displayer licence.

See Entitlements of a displayer licence
See Display at specified premises – enclosure design
See Access to the public
See Health and welfare of displayed wildlife
Email wildlifelicensing@deeca.vic.gov.au

Wildlife transactions

Objective

To ensure the welfare and sustainability of wildlife being possessed or traded. All wildlife transactions are required to be traced to reduce the illegal possession and trade of wildlife.

How to comply

Before entering any transaction to buy, acquire, sell, gift or dispose of wildlife, check that the person has an appropriate licence that is current and valid. Ask to see a person’s licence before agreeing to the transaction.

In some cases, a person may have a valid exemption from holding an appropriate licence. These exemptions are issued by the Conservation Regulator for a specific wildlife transaction. If so, you can ask to see a copy of this exemption.

It is your responsibility to ensure the person you are transacting with has an appropriate and valid licence or exemption for the wildlife being transacted.

To confirm an exemption or to seek information about obtaining written approval from the Conservation Regulator, call or email us.

All transactions must be recorded in your record book by the close of the same business day. Further information about record keeping is available in the Record keeping requirements section of this guide. Information on the different types of wildlife licences and which wildlife can be held under each type can be found on our website.

Visit Keeping and trading wildlife
Email wildlifelicensing@deeca.vic.gov.au

Access to the public

Objective

Wildlife displayer licences facilitate wildlife display to the public with associated messaging on conservation and ecological education. This condition makes sure the purpose of the licence is being met, and that people are not using a wildlife displayer licence for alternative purposes.

How to comply

You must facilitate display to the public at your specified premises for a set period of time across the year. Display can occur on any day of the week, and must total at least 50 distinct days of at least 6 daylight hours for each of these defined periods:

Where a display is open and accessible to the public (for example, staffed, opening hours available, gates/access doors not locked, accessible by road) for 6 hours on a given calendar day, it is considered open on that day even if no person attends the display.

The minimum period of 6 hours opening time may be discrete or consecutive – for example, you may open for a continuous 10 am – 4 pm period to meet this requirement, or have 6 one-hour, non-overlapping booking opportunities for attendance on a given day.

A period of opening cannot be counted towards the opening requirements in a given period if:

• total opening time on that day does not meet or exceed 6 hours
• opening hours occur outside daylight hours.

Temporary displays and demonstrations at other locations are not considered open display, and therefore these events cannot be counted towards the required total.

If your facility is pre-booking or tour based, the availability and accessibility of booking opportunities and appropriate staff on site or on call to meet those bookings can be considered as opening the display to the public.

Mandatory opening periods must be permanently and accurately recorded. See Wildlife displayer – additional records for further information.

Wildlife displayer – additional records

Objective

To ensure permanent, accurate records are available to provide evidence of public access to wildlife held under a wildlife displayer licence.

How to comply

The wildlife displayer licence is a commercial licence, designed to facilitate public access to wildlife displayed in permanent facilities at the specified premises. There are conditions associated with this licence that mandate minimum opening days and hours over a year. See Access to the public.

Records must be kept as evidence of opening hours, to demonstrate compliance with public access requirements, and to ensure that the licence is not used for purposes other than intended.

Records must be kept in one single-purpose document such as a dated diary or logbook to avoid confusion or misinterpretation of information. Entries must be accurate, legible and permanent. Keep these records for 5 years from the date of the last entry, or for the duration of your licence, whichever is the shorter period.

Record the opening and closing hours of the display within 24 hours. If a facility keeps regular opening hours, this means that the previous day’s opening time must be recorded prior to reopening.

You must produce your records for inspection when requested by an Authorised Officer.

See Access to the public

Wildlife events

Objective

Wildlife interest groups hold public events across Victoria for the display and trade of wildlife. These events allow wildlife licence holders to attend with their wildlife, share knowledge and promote the lawful keeping of wildlife.

The Conservation Regulator approves wildlife events under the Wildlife Regulations 2024, so holders of wildlife licences can display, buy, sell, acquire, receive, keep, or possess wildlife in accordance with their licence and the event conditions imposed.

To ensure animal welfare, under Wildlife Regulation 113(3)(c), wildlife events must be approved by the Conservation Regulator and conditions can be specified that apply to the displaying, buying, selling, acquiring, receiving, keeping or possessing of wildlife at the wildlife event.

How to comply

Attend only Conservation Regulator-approved wildlife events.

You can check the Victorian Government Gazette and the Conservation Regulator websites to find approved wildlife events. The notice for an approved event includes the:

• name of the event
• organiser
• date
• venue
• category of wildlife licence holders that the event applies to.

The notice also includes any conditions that event participants must comply with, in addition to existing legal requirements. You may need to register with the event organiser to attend and will need to abide by any of the conditions specified in the event approval for an individual event.

Additional information on wildlife events can be found online.

Visit Wildlife events(opens in a new window)
Visit Victoria Government Gazette(opens in a new window)

Use of wildlife in commercial films

Objective

To uphold the welfare of wildlife used in commercial film. Filming wildlife can harm them, such as causing stress or injury from fright due to a new environment, lights and noises. If done incorrectly, it can also encourage inappropriate or dangerous behaviour which may be copied by members of the public.

What is commercial film?

The definition for commercial film comes from the Filming Approvals Act 2014. Commercial filming means recording images by film, video, digital, or other technology to broadcast or publicly exhibit for commercial purposes but does not include photography. Commercial film includes but is not limited to:

• commercial films
• theatrical productions
• television productions
• advertisements.

How to comply

Wildlife displayer licence holders must have prior written approval from the Conservation Regulator before allowing wildlife (whether whole or part, living or dead) to be used in commercial film. Commercial film does not include photography. This means you do not need approval for photography during other lawful wildlife display.

If you’d like to provide wildlife for use in commercial film, you must apply in advance. In general, applications are processed within 4 weeks. If further information is required or the application is complex, applications may take up to 8 weeks.

When applying, you will need to specify:

• Production details:
  • production company name
  • production title
  • producer contact name
  • phone number.
• Which wildlife you propose to use:
  • each species
  • number of specimens per species
  • whether alive or dead.
• A description of proposed use of wildlife:
  • how you will use wildlife in film, plot, or situation
  • any relevant theme
  • what the end product will be.

To request permission

1. Complete the Application to use wildlife in commercial films form, available on our website(opens in a new window).
2. Email us your completed form.

You will be notified of the outcome of your request in writing. If filming in a public place, you may also need to obtain permission from the landowner or manager.

The Conservation Regulator will not issue an approval retrospectively. You must ensure you receive an approval in advance.

Visit Wildlife in commercial films(opens in a new window)
Email wildlifelicensing@deeca.vic.gov.au

Wildlife that has died

Objective

To prevent secondary poisoning and spread of disease to other animals and people, and regulate the trade of deceased wildlife.

How to comply

All wildlife, living or dead, are protected under the Wildlife Act. Protection and regulation of wildlife does not cease when wildlife dies. This means when wildlife dies in your possession, you may only keep the wildlife, responsibly destroy it, or dispose of the wildlife to a licensed taxidermist to prevent unauthorised access.

If you are selling or disposing of dead wildlife in your possession to a wildlife taxidermist, ensure their licence is current and document the transaction in your record book by the close of the same business day. Please note that if you reacquire this wildlife as a specimen once processed, this must be recorded as an acquisition of wildlife in your wildlife record book, and the wildlife specimen counted as an ongoing part of your collection (for example, counted as dead wildlife retained) in your records and any wildlife returns. See Record books.

If destroying dead wildlife, this may occur by incineration or burial. Incineration must result in the complete destruction of the carcass. Burial onsite is the most common and cost-effective carcass disposal option. The Conservation Regulator recommends that burial occur:

• at least 200 metres from any surface water
• only in areas not at risk of erosion
• away from culturally sensitive sites
• away from built infrastructure including buildings
• at least 200 metres from property boundaries
• out of view of the public.

Burial should occur at a minimum depth of 60 centimetres to prevent scavenging by other animals, and cover should be mounded to allow for subsistence on decomposition. You may not bury wildlife on public land or other property that would enable unauthorised access.

Dead animals should be handled with care, and personal protective equipment should be worn during handling to avoid potential zoonotic disease exposure.

You may also dispose of dead wildlife at a landfill facility authorised to receive dead animal materials by the EPA. You can find landfills licensed to receive and dispose of animal carcasses on the EPA website.

Wildlife euthanised by barbiturates should be disposed of in a manner that prevents secondary poisoning of scavenging animals both wild and domestic, or contamination of the environment. Where euthanasia occurs at a veterinary clinic, clinic disposal services may be utilised.

See Record books
Visit epa.vic.gov.au/public-registers(opens in a new window)

Health and welfare of displayed wildlife

Objective

To make sure that the practices, enclosures, and equipment used to display wildlife are keeping them healthy and safe.

How to comply

This condition applies to all wildlife that is displayed to the public, including as part of a public demonstration. When wildlife are not on public display, they must be kept per Housing wildlife.

The Code of Practice for the Public Display and Exhibition of Animals is incorporated into the Wildlife Regulations 2024 and is enforceable by the Conservation Regulator. When displaying wildlife, you must provide appropriate care in accordance with this code to appropriately house wildlife to prevent impacts from injury, stress, or disease.

You must ensure any wildlife on display have:

• access to clear, cool water in stable containers suitable for the species
• access to appropriate food suitable for the species, which is stored to prevent contamination by rodents, insects and chemicals
• adequate space to express natural behaviours, including foraging, socialising, climbing, digging, sleeping, resting, or flying (as appropriate for the species)
• space to retreat from public view, if desired
• appropriate protection from the elements (wind, rain and sun)
• appropriate environmental management to meet temperature and humidity level ranges as required by each species to mimic natural environments and maintain good health
• where wildlife are housed indoors, access to full spectrum daylight light sources to ensure appropriate UV levels for metabolic functions. This artificial light must mimic natural light-dark cycles
• adequate hygiene, including regular enclosure cleaning and maintenance
• safety and security from predators or unauthorised access
• protection from loud noises, vibrations and extremes in temperatures.

As per the Code of Practice and Display at specified premises – enclosure design, the design and landscaping of the enclosure should be consistent with the habitat and environmental needs of the inhabitant.

The code provides species-specific recommended minimum enclosure dimensions and features considered necessary to maintain good animal health and welfare. To meet your licence obligations, you must demonstrate that your housing meets or exceeds the requirements of the code.

In accordance with the code, wildlife displayer licence holders must have a contractual arrangement with a veterinary practice or practitioner that is available and responsible for the health and treatment of wildlife held under the licence. This may include a preventative medicine and health monitoring plan.

If wildlife are sick, injured or exhibit stress behaviours, you must immediately remove the wildlife from public display and take precautions to prevent further stress, injury, or decline in health and wellbeing.

If wildlife in your possession become sick, injured or exhibit stress behaviours during display or demonstration, you must maintain records of this. This includes records of any assessment, diagnosis, treatment and treatment response related to that wildlife.

When you’re demonstrating with wildlife, including subjecting animals to close human proximity or handling:

• display animals for the minimum time possible, to prevent them from becoming stressed or agitated
• do not demonstrate incompatible species together at same time (that is, predator/prey animals)
• do not demonstrate wildlife when it is unfit (sick, injured, or exhibiting stress behaviour)
• clean and disinfect enclosures and equipment after each demonstration to prevent the spread of disease
• do not demonstrate nocturnal wildlife in a full daylight, bright or noisy environment, and for both temporary and permanent displays always provide free access to shelter outside public view.

You must also comply with any associated additional licence conditions, including:

• dangerous or venomous wildlife
• koala display requirements (See Koala conditions)
• dingoes outside of specified premises or enclosure
• no unsupervised access to dingoes by persons under 16.

On occasion, wildlife born and kept in captivity may develop an illness or injury that results in disability or a noticeable difference in appearance or behaviour. Many wildlife displayers have limited capacity to retain wildlife that is not suitable for display, and wildlife should not be destroyed because their appearance following successful treatment of injury or illness may differ from the classic representation of the species.

Wildlife subject to historic illness, injury or other health impacts may be displayed despite any visual indication of their historic condition, as long as animal welfare and quality of life is maintained. This means that this wildlife may only be subject to display where any historic illness, injury or other condition affecting the wildlife:

• is not subject to ongoing veterinary treatment (for example, active wounds, ongoing medication needs)
• is not causing the wildlife current stress, pain, or other adverse welfare impacts
• does not result in an increased level of aggression, exclusion, or adverse social behaviour towards the affected animal from any other wildlife housed. in the same enclosure (for example, aggression due to perceived weakness of the affected wildlife, exclusion from food or shelter)
• does not result in the wildlife being unable to retreat from public sight if desired
• does not inhibit autonomous feeding, drinking, movement, rest or other critical wildlife behaviours, dependent on the species (for example, perching, roosting, submerging in water, burrowing, or climbing).

Where wildlife is subject to treatment, it is recommended that the wildlife not be returned to display until written advice is received from the treating veterinarian that display is unlikely to negatively impact wildlife welfare. This written advice should be maintained in records and provided on request by a Conservation Regulator Authorised Officer.

For further information on obligation to provide veterinary care, see Provision of veterinary or other appropriate medical care.

See Display at specified premises – enclosure design
See Housing wildlife
See Dangerous or venomous wildlife
See Provision of veterinary or other appropriate medical care
See Koala conditions
See Dingoes outside of specified premises or enclosure
See No unsupervised access to dingoes by persons under 16
Visit Code of Practice for the Public Display of Exhibition of Animals(opens in a new window)

Safety and security

Objective

To reduce the risk of harm or injury to any person or the wildlife being displayed. To reduce the risk of wildlife escape or unauthorised access to protected wildlife.

How to comply

Fencing

A wildlife displayer licence is primarily designed to allow permanent static display at a single location, which is the specified premise of the licence.

At this location, wildlife on display to the public must be within permanent and fixed enclosures that prevent unauthorised access or wildlife escape. See Display at specified premises – enclosure design and Housing wildlife.

As an additional security measure, it is a requirement of any wildlife displayer licence that the area of wildlife display is enclosed by a secure perimeter fence of appropriate design to prevent unauthorised access to wildlife or wildlife escape. This fence does not need to follow the boundary of the property, but must contain the entire display area.

See Display at specified premises – enclosure design
See Housing wildlife

Reducing risk of injury or escape

You must effectively plan and manage the display or demonstration of wildlife to reduce the likelihood of injury to any person or wildlife and minimise the risk of wildlife escaping during display or demonstration. You can do this by:

• ensuring wildlife are housed in enclosures designed, constructed, and maintained to prevent escape and unauthorised access
• conducting any wildlife demonstrations (onsite or elsewhere in Victoria) in a secure area, where you and/or registered employees can maintain a line of sight with each animal
• btaining clear consent prior to a member of the public handling any wildlife, and ensuring they are confident and understand how to safely handle the wildlife to prevent injury to themselves or the animal. Young children must be provided with additional supervision to avoid mishandling or dropping
• avoiding displaying or demonstrating wildlife in settings where there are extremes in sound, light or climate. These settings can disorient, stress and agitate wildlife
• avoiding displaying or demonstrating with wildlife near features that may cause injury (for example, sharp or hot) or at heights from which they could fall or jump.

Dangerous wildlife

Under no circumstance can dangerous or venomous wildlife be handled (touched, picked up, carried, or felt) by any person other than the licence holder or persons authorised under the licence.

Dangerous or venomous wildlife must be confined to a secure enclosure when not being used in demonstration by the licence holder or a person authorised under the licence, regardless of whether or not they are on display.

Under the Wildlife Act, dangerous or venomous wildlife ‘includes, but is not limited to, elapid snakes whether or not the individual specimen is capable of a venomous bite’. For the purposes of this regulation, dangerous wildlife also includes:

• crocodile species, regardless of size
• large monitors (1.2 metres or longer), which are capable of inflicting injury through scratches, tail-whips and bites – which present significant risk of infection due to bacteria and toxic compounds in monitor saliva.

In addition, wildlife that pose risk of injury to the public include:

• dingoes, which present bite or scratch risks, and must always be under the physical control of the licence holder or a person authorised under the licence. Dingoes must not be left unsupervised with persons under the age of 16. See Dingoes outside of specified premises or enclosure and No unsupervised access to dingoes by persons under 16
• taxa of wildlife that pose a high risk for the spread of zoonotic diseases. For example, Australian Bat Lyssavirus (ABLV) may be present in bat species. Demonstration or close display of bats such as Grey-headed Flying Foxes must be conducted with extreme caution due to the risk posed by any secretions and excretions
• taxa that pose a risk due to their size and strength, such as large macropods or emus. This risk is compounded where wildlife are humanised or conditioned to public feeding. Effective barriers to prevent physical contact between these species and the viewing public must be in place.

In some limited circumstances where risks can be managed, you may seek prior written approval from the Conservation Regulator to allow handling of wildlife considered dangerous per the above. To seek approval for any proposed public contact with dangerous wildlife, email us details of your request, including:

• species of wildlife proposed for contact
• duration of the request (discreet or ongoing)
• proposed risk mitigation or other controls
• reason contact is considered necessary.

Applications are assessed on a case by-case basis with consideration of the objectives of the Wildlife Act 1975 including wildlife protection, and the entitlements and purposes of the wildlife displayer licence.

See Dingoes outside of specified premises or enclosure
See No unsupervised access to dingoes by persons under 16
Email wildlifelicensing@deeca.vic.gov.au

Wildlife supervision

Wildlife on display or used in demonstration must be under the direct supervision of the licence holder or an employee at all times. Direct supervision means that the wildlife subject to display are within sight and hearing of the persons authorised under the licence who are physically present, including the licence holder and/or their employees.

For display, this may include remote monitoring via closed circuit camera, or periodic monitoring by persons authorised under the licence throughout the opening period where the wildlife are confined to secure enclosures.

For demonstration, this means that the number of wildlife involved in the demonstration at any given time must not exceed the capability of the authorised persons present to intervene if required to prevent harm to persons or wildlife.

The recommended ratio is one authorised person to one individual animal in demonstration or subject to public handling, though up to 5 animals per authorised person may be acceptable in some circumstances.

At all times you must be able to prove that appropriate direct supervision is in place, safety risks are mitigated, and wildlife welfare issues and escape are prevented.

Where wildlife cannot be directly supervised, they must be held in secure enclosures that provide for their good health and welfare.

If your wildlife has escaped or been stolen, you must notify the Conservation Regulator within 2 business days of becoming aware. Further information is available at Theft or loss of wildlife.

Dangerous or venomous wildlife

Objective

To protect people attending wildlife demonstrations from dangerous and venomous wildlife. Dangerous wildlife can inflict serious injury to people and pose a significant safety risk.

How to comply

Under no circumstance can dangerous or venomous wildlife be handled (touched, picked up, carried or felt) by any person other than the licence holder or persons authorised under the licence.

Wildlife considered dangerous for the purpose of this regulation are listed here in this guide: Dangerous wildlife. Dangerous wildlife must be confined to a secure enclosure when not being used in demonstration by the licence holder or a person authorised under the licence, regardless of whether or not they are on display.

If you wish to demonstrate any dangerous wildlife to the public, you must do so in a pit that has solid walls and no way for contained wildlife to escape, nor for a person to access the wildlife inside. Always demonstrate venomous snakes, monitors, or crocodiles one individual at a time.

Prior to undertaking any demonstration with dangerous wildlife for the public, you must have a suitable pit or area that meets the requirements listed below available to demonstrate this wildlife from. If your pit or area is damaged, you must conduct repairs before any further demonstration of dangerous wildlife.

We suggest that you are always prepared for a possible emergency event whenever you display dangerous or venomous wildlife. For example, ensuring you have a readily available first aid kit, and having someone on hand who can notify medical providers of the species so that antivenin can be administered quickly if needed. In emergency conditions, critical decisions may be difficult to consider, so it is recommended that you have an emergency management plan that indicates how bites or other injuries are to be responded to, with species specific considerations.

Any pit or area for the demonstration of dangerous wildlife must:

• be designed, constructed and maintained to allow the safe demonstration of wildlife and prevent escape of any wildlife
• Have walls at least 1.1 metres in height and constructed from solid and sturdy materials with no gaps or holes that may allow a person to protrude any part of their body through the walls.

Additional wildlife displayer conditions

Summary of licence entitlements

Objective

This condition sets out the entitlements of a wildlife displayer licence, how wildlife may be subject to display, and specifies the wildlife that can be kept and traded under this licence type.

How to comply

This condition summarises and clarifies the intended operation of the following regulatory conditions:

• Wildlife that may be kept under a displayer licence (See Entitlements of a displayer licence)
• Display at specified premises – enclosure design
• Keeping wildlife
• Use of wildlife in commercial films.

This condition reiterates that the purpose of the wildlife displayer licence is display of wildlife for education and promoting conservation, or use in commercial films; and that wildlife display or demonstration at locations other than the specified premises may only occur on a temporary basis (See Keeping wildlife).

See Entitlements of a displayer licence
See Display at specified premises – enclosure design
See Keeping wildlife
See Use of wildlife in commercial films

Condition 1 Licences are non-transferable

Objective

To ensure only licensed people are acting as displayers.

How to comply

You cannot transfer your licence to any other person. If another person would like to become a displayer, you must advise them to apply for their own licence. If a person intends to take over an existing wildlife displayer business, they are required to apply for a licence. In their application, they should specify:

• wildlife licence number of the current business
• name of previous owner (or business name)
• when they intend to take over the business.

See Housing wildlife
Visit Commercial wildlife licences

Conditions 2 – 3 Provision of water and food

Objective

To ensure that the fundamental survival needs of wildlife kept under licence are met, being access to appropriate food and clean water.

How to comply

All animals need access to clean cool water and food that meets the species’ nutrient requirements to survive. Providing food and water is fundamental to animal welfare and failing to provide sufficient or appropriate food and water is considered animal cruelty in Victoria.

Water

Many wildlife drink regularly throughout the day regardless of weather conditions. Clean, cool water must always be freely available to access in any wildlife enclosure and while the wildlife is housed at the specified premises of the licence.

Outside of the specified premises, use a common-sense approach to providing water:

• while water is not necessarily required for short periods of transport, water should be offered during extended journeys (multiple hours), during hot conditions, or on arrival to your destination if appropriate. If the wildlife regurgitates the water due to illness or anxiety at the vet, provision of water is not necessarily required. Water provided during transport should be in a sturdy, spill-proof container
• where wildlife is used in demonstrations away from the specified premises, water must be provided before or after the demonstration if it is hot, or if demonstration or travel time exceeds multiple hours.

Food

An appropriate diet for wildlife species held under your licence should be developed in consultation with your registered veterinarian or a person with experience keeping the wildlife, including keepers at accredited zoo facilities.

Wildlife benefit from a varied diet which is low in processed products and mimics the natural wild diet of the species.

For many species, feeding presents a key opportunity for enrichment and the expression of natural behaviours in captivity. Presenting meals for wildlife in a way that challenges and engages natural foraging and/or hunting instincts can reduce wildlife boredom and improve animal welfare.

Condition 4 Provision of veterinary or other appropriate medical care

Objective

To ensure that wildlife in captivity receive appropriate veterinary care to address illness or injury, and that wildlife do not unnecessarily suffer from lack of required medical treatment.

How to comply

It is important to monitor wildlife held under your licence daily to detect any emerging health and well-being issues such as illness or injury. Daily observational health checks should note, at minimum:

• food and water intake
• faeces production, including frequency and consistency
• any notable behaviour changes, such as increased lethargy or avoidance of other animals
• injury, as indicated by bleeding, limping, or avoidance of touch
• coat/skin condition, including excess or absent fur or skin, shedding, or changes to skin condition
• any presence of ticks or external parasites
• any unusual discharge from the eyes, nose, mouth or any other orifice.

Changes to the above health indicators varying from the expected baseline for the individual wildlife can indicate declining health or illness. It is critical that developing illnesses or changes in behaviour are investigated quickly, as many of the diseases wildlife are susceptible to can have a poor prognosis if treatment is delayed.

To further support the health and well-being of wildlife held under licence, use proactive methods where possible and in accordance with veterinary advice, such as vaccinations or use of proactive or preventative parasite treatments.

Preventative health care can reduce veterinary costs, extend the life of wildlife held under your licence, and significantly contribute to overall wildlife health and well-being. Some diseases carried by wildlife can be transmitted to humans, so preventative treatments to protect the health of you and your wildlife are recommended in accordance with veterinary advice.

Keeping up-to-date medical and general health records can assist you in identifying trends in health and behaviour for wildlife held under your licence over time. It is recommended you keep relevant health records for future reference, which may include:

• veterinary reports or test results
• prescription information
• a record of medication given, including vaccination dates
• any other relevant observations.

These records can assist in prompt treatment if wildlife held under your licence develop any health issues.

Conditions 5 – 9 Koala conditions

Objective

To maintain the health and well-being of all koalas being displayed. These conditions work together to ensure the display of koalas is appropriate and sufficiently monitored.

How to comply

Although these conditions refer to the licence holder, authorised persons under the licence may also display koalas. Employees must be aware of and competent in the activities they are undertaking on behalf of the licence holder. See Employees on page 43 for more information

Koalas must not under any circumstances be held, grabbed, or handled by unauthorised persons. The exception is gentle petting where the koala is held by an authorised person under the licence, or on a resting pole under the close, direct supervision of an authorised person under the licence. Any koala on close display, or where there is risk of human contact, must be under the direct supervision of an authorised person under the licence.

Where any koala is on display, but no contact is allowed (referred to as ‘no contact display’):

• ensure there is a secure barrier to prevent unauthorised public entry and interaction with the koalas
• provide a resting pole suitable to the size and needs of each individual koala and ensure eucalyptus browse is available to allow the koala to exhibit natural behaviours
• place any koala resting pole at least 3 metres from the barrier to prevent unauthorised interaction with and minimise stress on any koala
• signage should be displayed indicating no public access is permitted to the area of koala display.

Where a koala is displayed on a resting pole or on the body of a person authorised under the licence for photography or petting (referred to as close display):

• Only one koala may be under close display for each authorised person present under the licence to ensure appropriate supervision of public interaction
• The public cannot hold or handle any koala. Public interaction during close display is limited to standing near the koala (for photography) and if permitted by authorised persons under the licence, gentle petting where the koala is not exhibiting sign of stress.
• Any koala on close display must be:
  • captive-bred
  • fully-weaned and parentally-independent
  • Habituated to human presence. If any koala subject to close display exhibits behaviours indicating stress or evasion responses when in human company, the koala must be removed from close display and not subject to future close display until habituation to human contact is re‑established in the absence of stress.
• Mother koalas with dependent offspring (emergent pouch or back young) must not be subject to close display.
• Any individual koala must not be subject to close display for more than:
  • 30 minutes per day
  • 3 consecutive days.

After 3 consecutive days of close display, a koala must not be subject to further close display for a minimum of 24 hours. For example, if you display a koala on a Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday for 30 minutes each day, you must then not allow the koala to be displayed for at least the entirety of the Thursday, allowing the koala to be displayed again on the Friday.

Example

You must maintain a logbook recording all periods of time of close display of koalas, including records of display history for each individual koala. This includes, for each koala:

• date of the close display
• start and finish of the close display, and associated duration
• any observed stress, avoidance, or other factors that may influence close display suitability.

If requested, you must provide these records for Authorised Officers to examine.

See Employees

Conditions 10 – 11 Crocodile conditions

Condition 10 Crocodile disposal

Objective

To restrict the acquisition of new crocodiles under private licence in Victoria, to preserve animal welfare and human safety.

How to comply

You must not dispose of any crocodile to the holder of a private licence. Disposal of wildlife in this circumstance includes any sale, trade, gift, or similar activity.

This condition is not intended to prevent lawful trade, but to ensure that any crocodile in Victoria is only acquired where it can be appropriately housed and kept in a manner that preserves animal welfare.

Any crocodile held under your licence may be disposed of by:

• export of the crocodile under an approved permit to another state or territory that permits the possession of crocodiles
• disposal to the holder of a Wildlife Demonstrator Licence
• disposal to a Wildlife Displayer Licence holder authorised to possess crocodiles by the Conservation Regulator
• for dead crocodiles only, disposal to the holder of a Wildlife Taxidermist Licence to enable specimen preservation.

Condition 11 Crocodile enclosures

Objective

To ensure you provide appropriate permanent housing that provides for the good health and welfare of any crocodile held under your licence.

How to comply

You must house any living wildlife in a manner that meets the enclosure requirements established at Regulation 120 of the Wildlife Regulations 2024 (see Housing wildlife). This means ensuring enclosures provide adequate shelter, protect wildlife from injury or unauthorised access, protect wildlife from predators, and provide for the good health and welfare of the crocodile.

The Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals: Private Keeping of Reptiles(opens in a new window) sets standards for wildlife enclosures. This code is established under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 and is incorporated as enforceable under the Wildlife Regulations 2024. This code contains mandatory minimum enclosure standards for crocodiles that must be complied with.

To assist you in understanding these standards, they have been reproduced as a condition of your licence, with wording changes to assist in understanding application and intent behind each standard.

See Housing wildlife
See Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals: Private Keeping of Reptiles(opens in a new window)

General requirements

All crocodile enclosures require a pond and a haul-out area. Crocodiles can be co-housed, as long as there is sufficient space for all animals in the enclosure and there is no observed aggression or exclusion from resources (for example, food). Note that it’s recommended males and females are not co-housed to prevent any breeding attempt.

The minimum size of any crocodile enclosure is based on the length of the crocodile housed in that enclosure. Any length measurement must be taken from crocodile snout to tip of tail, not snout to vent.

For crocodiles greater than 25 centimetres in length:

• the pond must be at least twice as long and as wide as the length (snout to tail-tip) of the longest animal within the enclosure, and
• the haul-out area must be (at minimum) the length and width of the longest animal within the enclosure.

For example, if your crocodile is 1.5 metres in length, the minimum haul out size is 1.5 metres by 1.5 metres, and the minimum pool size is 1.5 metres by 3 metres. Depth must be greater than the height of the animal, allowing full submersion.

Example

Crocodiles grow, so any enclosure should be built based on likely future measurements rather than current measurements, so that the enclosures have longevity and do not require constant expansion.

Temperature

Crocodiles are tropical species, so to maintain appropriate animal health and wellbeing, crocodile species require heated enclosures in Victoria – regardless of whether they are housed inside or outside. Temperature requirements vary across the enclosure.

Pond

Water temperature must be kept between 26°C and 28°C.

• This means a water heater must be installed and maintained within the pool or as part of the filtration system.
• Any water heater or other equipment used to maintain the pool temperature and hygiene must be installed in such a way that it poses no risk of injury to any crocodile within the enclosure, meaning no crocodile should be able to bite or access the equipment, and the installation should protect any crocodile from electric shock or entanglement.

Haul-out area

A basking site between 30°C and 33°C must be provided.

• Crocodiles are ectothermic, so the haul-out should provide micro-environments of varying temperature to allow any crocodile to appropriately thermoregulate.
• While daily and seasonal variation in temperatures should be provided, one area of the haul-out must always maintain a temperature reading within this range. This may be achieved by a variety of heating equipment (for example, overhead lamps, heat pads, underfloor heating sources). Any equipment must be installed in a way that poses no risk of injury to any crocodile within the enclosure, including from burn, electric shock, or entanglement in wires or cords.

Housing for hatchlings

Initial housing for crocodile hatchlings up to 25 centimetres in length may occur in smaller enclosures of the dimensions 60 centimetres long, 30 centimetres wide, and 30 centimetres high.

These tanks should only be used for initial quarantine of hatchlings on acquisition, as with adequate nutrition and when housed in accordance with the required enclosure standards crocodiles will generally exceed 25 centimetres in length by 8 weeks of age.

Crocodiles should be moved to permanent housing as soon as practicable on acquisition and must be moved prior to their length exceeding 25 centimetres snout to tail-tip.

Any enclosure for crocodile hatchlings up to 25 centimetres in length still requires the housed animal to have access to both a pond and haul out, with a water temperature between 26°C and 28°C and a basking site on the haul-out between 30°C and 33°C.

Design enclosures for the long-term

It is recommended that any crocodile enclosure is constructed to account for the likely maximum size of the crocodile species – roughly 3 metres for freshwater and 7 metres for saltwater crocodiles. This assumes that crocodile possession is intended to be maintained by the licence holder for the duration of the crocodile’s natural life, which can be 50 to 80 years.

If this is not the case, have a succession plan that indicates when (either in terms of date, circumstances, and/or crocodile size) and how the crocodile is proposed to be disposed of, and the proposed disposal method including any identified recipient.

Consider that where enclosures are not built to allow for maximum length of the contained species, new enclosures may need to be constructed to accommodate animal growth rather than modification of existing enclosures to ensure housing conditions are not breached. That is, a crocodile must not be held in a temporary enclosure that does not meet these conditions while an existing enclosure is modified to account for animal growth, except in accordance with prior written permission from the Conservation Regulator.

Freshwater crocodile

Freshwater crocodiles rarely exceed 3 metres in length in captive conditions, with females generally having a smaller body size (less than 2.3 metres) than males.

This means that for an enclosure to adequately house a freshwater crocodile for the lifetime of the animal, the enclosure must have:

Female

Male

Saltwater crocodile

Saltwater crocodiles may exceed 6 metres in length in captivity with adequate husbandry and nutrition. In Victoria, it is safe to assume that male saltwater crocodiles will not exceed 6 metres in length during the natural life of the animal, while females generally will not exceed 3.5 metres in captive conditions.

This means that for an enclosure to adequately house a saltwater crocodile accounting for growth over the expected lifetime of the animal, the enclosure must have:

Female

Male

Conditions 12 – 19 Dingo conditions

Condition 12 Dingo acquisition and sale

Objective

To ensure dingoes are self-sufficient (that is, no longer dependent on their mother for feeds) and can be readily identified.

How to comply

All dingoes 7 weeks of age or older must be microchipped or marked for identification purposes. This is so that all dingoes in a licence holder’s possession can be identified. Ensure any dingoes you are intending to acquire or sell are at least 7 weeks of age and that they are microchipped by an authorised implanter.

Applications must be emailed and will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Applications must include details of the lawful source of the wildlife and information about the benefits that demonstrating the species will provide to the community and conservation.

Condition 13 Dingoes outside of specified premises or enclosure

Objective

To prevent injury to people and injury, abuse, harassment or escape of your dingo.

How to comply

Any dingo held under a wildlife displayer licence must be kept in a secure enclosure when at the specified premises. When not confined, dingoes must be effectively under the control of a person authorised under the licence. Trained recall generally would not be considered sufficient control, especially where a dingo is exposed to other animals.

A dingo should instead be under physical restraint such as a lead or harness.

Where dingoes are subject to demonstration or display outside fixed enclosures, only dingoes that are conditioned to handling and are calm and comfortable when interacting with new people should be used.

Anytime a dingo is outside a secure enclosure, ensure the dingo is wearing a collar with an identification disk specifying the licence holder:

• name
• phone number
• wildlife licence number.

Condition 14 No unsupervised access to dingoes by persons under 16

Objective

To ensure the safety of children when provided access to dingoes.

How to comply

Your dingo must be kept in a purpose-built, secure enclosure that prevents access by unauthorised persons, including those under the age of 16.

Where a dingo is outside of a secure enclosure, they must be effectively under the control of a person authorised under the licence. You must provide constant supervision if interaction anyone under the age of 16 is likely or expected.

Conditions 15 – 17 Dingo enclosures

Objective

To ensure that dingoes are protected from harm, prevented from escaping, and are safely contained. In addition, to present dingoes on display to the public in a way that is educational, naturalistic for the dingo, and promotes dingo conservation.

How to comply

Enclosures are required to be secure and prevent escape. This means the materials used to build the enclosure must be appropriately robust and installed and maintained in a manner that prevents dingoes from damaging the enclosure and finding weak points for escape. The fences of any dingo enclosure must at minimum:

• Be either:
  • At least 3 metres in height
  • 2 metres in height with either:
    • roof
    • 1 metre return at 45° angle into enclosure.
• Prevent escape of dingoes or external access from any animal by digging, meaning the fences must, for the entire fence perimeter, be one of:
  • anchored into a cement slab at the base of the fence
  • have a 1 metre inward-facing mesh return secured to the base of the fence at a right angle; this mesh return:
    • may be buried in the enclosure substrate (below ground surface)
    • must meet the fence base at a right-angle
    • must provide an uninterrupted barrier preventing digging around the fence base.
  • provide a combination of the above 2 escape mitigations.

Enclosures must be childproof and prevent access from any person not authorised to access the dingoes by the licence holder. This means, in practice:

• the enclosure cannot be climbed into, so must be roofed or constructed in such a way that the fence, vegetation and any other structures do not allow entry
• the enclosure access points must be appropriately secured, meaning the gates must be locked. Even on private property, access cannot be secured without a lock
• if the enclosure abuts a structure with windows or doors, these access points must also be kept locked.

When dingo enclosures are fixed (not temporary) and the dingoes housed in the enclosure are on display to the public to any extent, the enclosure must have sufficient floor area to ensure that dingoes can distance themselves from public attention and associated persistent stress if desired. The enclosure must be designed to allow sufficient space for all dingoes within the enclosure to express natural behaviours.

Where dingoes are not on display at the specified premises, a reduced floor area is permitted to house dingoes, in accordance with your conditions.

You are limited in the number of dingoes you may keep under your licence by the mandatory enclosure standards.

• for dingoes not on display to the public, a minimum floor area of 30 square metres must be provided for up to 2 dingoes, with an additional 10 square metres for each additional dingo aged over 9 months
• for dingoes on display, a minimum floor area of 120 square metres must be provided for up to 2 dingoes, with an additional 30 square metres for each additional dingo aged over 9 months.

Overcrowding in dingo enclosures can lead to aggression between dingoes, which may result in dingo injury or death. Where overcrowding results in significant animal distress, injury, or death, this may be considered a breach of your licence conditions and potentially investigated as an offence under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986.

Conditions 18 – 19 Appropriate enclosures must be available to house all dingoes under the licence

Objective

To ensure that dingoes kept under a wildlife displayer licence are always able to be housed in suitable enclosures. These conditions prevent the acquisition of any dingo until appropriate enclosures are available, and prevent dingoes from being moved to a new location under licence unless housing is safe for both dingoes and the community.

How to comply

Before you buy, trade, or otherwise receive a dingo, you must ensure that you have enclosures that meet the minimum standards set at Condition 15 of your licence, as described in Dingo enclosures.

This also applies when you move the premises of your licence, where your wildlife is displayed or kept for or between demonstrations. Moving your dingoes to a new address without first building appropriate enclosures is a breach of your licence conditions, so ensure enclosures meeting the minimum standards set at Condition 15 of your licence, as per Dingo enclosures, are built and ready to house dingoes prior to moving.

For additional notification obligations when moving wildlife to a new address, see Change of details.

Condition 20 Display of nocturnal wildlife

Objective

To maintain the health and welfare of wildlife that is adapted to a nocturnal activity cycle in the wild by supporting maintenance of preferred activity cycles and reducing exposure to stress.

How to comply

Many wildlife species have nocturnal behavioural patterns in the wild, with associated adaptations to sensory perception and processing. This enhanced sensory sensitivity, while beneficial in the wild, can result in wildlife becoming distressed in captivity where preferred behavioural patterns are inhibited and noise, light, or vibration levels exceed the natural levels the wildlife is adapted to.

To ensure the welfare of nocturnal wildlife in demonstrations, the following requirements and guidelines apply. The intent of this condition is to prevent distress in nocturnal animals, which are more sensitive to stimuli, and ensure that any distress is responded to appropriately.

Consistent with Health and welfare of displayed wildlife and the Code of Practice for the Public Display and Exhibition of Animals(opens in a new window), any animals on display which begin to show signs of stress should be removed from display immediately and allowed to recover, and tactile displays should ensure that animals have sufficient space and protection to avoid human contact. This condition clarifies those requirements and makes them enforceable.

Demonstration or temporary display

• Be guided by the wildlife at all times. Only use wildlife that are suitable to human handling, and remove any animals showing signs of distress immediately.
• Always provide some way for the animal to retreat and avoid human contact. For a possum this may be a pouch that the animals can move into freely at any time. For an owl this may be a darkened box that it can fly back to.
• When conducting demonstrations or temporary displays during daytime, ensure that light and noise levels can be controlled. This may be closing blinds, switching the lights off and asking the audience to stay quiet.
• Aim for light levels about 100 lux, which is equivalent to dusk or the light required for safely moving through an area but not enough to read a book.
• Aim for noise levels up to about 40 decibels, which is equivalent to a quiet library or soft conversation.
• Wildlife used in daylight demonstrations or temporary display should be habituated to daytime activity. This wildlife must also be provided with appropriate opportunity within a 24-hour period to obtain appropriate rest with consideration to the requirements and natural behaviour preferences of the species.

Static display

• Nocturnal wildlife displayed in permanent and fixed enclosures at the specified premises must have opportunity to escape from public view and rest in accordance with the preference of the species. This may mean incorporation of burrows, hollows or concealed perch features in the enclosure design.
• Low intensity lighting with reduced or absent blue, violet, and ultra-violet (UV) wavelengths may be installed in some circumstances to allow viewing of animals kept in darkened or indoor enclosures; or within dark enclosure features such as burrows designed to enable observation.
• Any burrow that has observation features should be designed in a way that limits wildlife awareness and impact from that observation. Where observation burrows are a feature of the enclosure, additional burrows allowing retreat from public view must also be provided.
• Where wildlife are housed indoors and subject to modified lighting to enable observation during daylight hours, lighting should be designed in such a way to provide natural light/dark cycles (for example, if low intensity red light is in use during the day, full spectrum daylight globes including UV wavelengths should operate for a minimum continuous 8-hour period for each 24 hours.

Employees

Objective

To ensure all employees are aware of the requirements under the licences and maintain wildlife welfare under the licence.

How to comply

You are required to take reasonable steps to ensure employees are trained to prevent conduct that is in breach of your licence. You are liable as the licence holder for the conduct of your employees unless you have taken reasonable steps to ensure they avoid this conduct. Train your employees in all activities they will undertake under the licence, including the specific requirements outlined in this guide.

You must provide a copy of your licence to your employees prior to them undertaking any activity on your behalf and ensure your employee carries (when away from the specified premises) or has access to (at the specified premises) a copy of your licence when undertaking licensed activities.

If the licence holder is not present at the specified premises on a given day, they should ensure that an employee of appropriate capability is clearly responsible for meeting the following regulatory and/or best practice care requirements, such as:

• daily feeding, watering and inspection of animals
• daily cleaning of facilities
• monitoring animal welfare and taking appropriate steps to care for sick or injured animals
• generally assisting in maintaining the environmental quality in each enclosure
• maintaining appropriate records of any transactions and display opening hours under the licence.

Employees should also be trained in the skills of capture, handling and management of wildlife as permitted by your licence. It is recommended that employees undertake an appropriate course for the handling of animals.

It is recommended that employees should be trained in first aid for both animals and humans. When handling or capturing venomous snakes, it is particularly important that staff are capable of applying the correct first-aid treatment for snakebite.

You should provide your employees with adequate safeguards to protect their health. This may include, but is not limited to, appropriate handwashing facilities, protective clothing and equipment, tetanus immunisation and access to antivenenes where interaction with venomous snakes occurs in the course of their duties. You must also implement appropriate hygiene measures to prevent the transmission of disease-causing organisms which can be transmitted to humans (zoonoses). This is particularly important for species known for harbouring zoonoses.

If your employees change, you must notify the Conservation Regulator. Refer to Change of staff.

Change of staff

Objective

To maintain oversight of all persons in Victoria engaging with wildlife under a licence.

How to comply

An employee is a person registered under the business to carry out activities on behalf of the licence holder.

You must notify the Conservation Regulator within 10 business days of any changes to the employment status of employees who undertake activities in accordance with your wildlife licence.

You can notify us by completing the Changes to Employee Employment Status form(opens in a new window) on our website.

An updated licence and employee register will be provided to the licence holder following notification.

Volunteers

Volunteers are not the same as employees.

Volunteers do not have authority to possess wildlife. This means they are not permitted to directly undertake licensed activities on behalf of the licence holder. Under Regulation 139 of the Wildlife Regulations 2024, volunteers can carry out activities under the licence, such as animal care and husbandry, under direct supervision of the licence holder or employee. This may include cleaning enclosures, feeding, watering and inspection of wildlife.

Volunteers can assist in delivery of display or demonstration of wildlife, at the specified premises or anywhere else in Victoria where they are directly supervised by the licence holder or a licence employee. This includes handling wildlife.

Direct supervision means that the number of volunteers and the wildlife being supervised is kept to manageable numbers if intervention was required, and that volunteers and wildlife in their possession are always within sight and hearing of the licence holder or employee.

If you are unsure, call or email us. Refer to Employees for guidance on staff capability.

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

Change of responsible person

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 to any change to the nominated responsible natural person listed on the licence, where the licence is issued to a business. You can do this by completing the Changes to Employee Employment Status form(opens in a new window) available at the Conservation Regulator website.

An amended licence will be provided via post.

Signage requirement and sign template

Objective

To prevent the illegal possession of wildlife and illegal take of wildlife from the wild. Signage provides the community assurance that wildlife at the premises is responsibly sourced and safeguarded under an appropriate licence. It also indicates to the public the existence of the licensing system, and that it is illegal to take any wildlife from the wild.

How to comply

You must have a sign or signs that are positioned at each public access point of your display premises. Nothing should be obstructing or placed in front of the signs.

Your signs should be easy for visitors to read. Ensure the sign/s are printed on a white background, in a block font and with a font size at least 30 millimetres in height. A good option is Arial font in size 72 point.

You are required to keep the sign/s in good condition. If the sign/s are stained, damaged or torn you will need to replace them.

Download template sign for wildlife display

You can download and print the linked PDF to meet the requirements of Regulation 59, Signage requirement.

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)

Authorised Officers are authorised under specific legislation to enforce the law, including issuing infringement notices that carry penalties for not complying. Under the Wildlife Act, Authorised Officers have the power to, at any reasonable time, and having regard to the circumstances:

• enter, inspect, or search any property, buildings, structure, vehicles, or boats for the purposes of the Wildlife Act. This can occur with or without notice
• ask to see, inspect, or take photos of any wildlife held under your authorisation or wildlife licence
• ask to see, inspect, or make copies of your record books and any other documentation associated with your authorisation or wildlife licence
• inspect any parcel, bag, or receptacle the officer reasonably believes is being used or is likely to be used in contravention of the Act (for example, a cardboard box they believe holds wildlife; a hunter’s bags or esky)
• investigate reports of alleged illegal activity relating to wildlife
• seize wildlife in your possession, if the officer reasonably believes an offence against the Act has been, is being, or is about to be, committed
• seize anything which the officer believes has been used or has assisted with an offence against the Act
• direct you in writing to make specific changes or alterations to animal enclosures. This must be done within the period specified in the direction.

If requested, you must:

• give the Authorised Officer your name and address
• allow an Authorised Officer to inspect wildlife held by you (including inside your house at any reasonable time) for monitoring compliance with the Wildlife Act, regulations, and conditions of your licence. If you do not provide reasonable access to all wildlife you hold, your licence may be cancelled
• produce your record book for inspection.
• allow the Authorised Officer to search your vehicle, boat, or property
• provide anything the Authorised Officer tells you is seized
• comply with any legal notice issued under the Wildlife Act regarding wildlife in your possession
• not obstruct, threaten, or abuse an Authorised Officer during the conduct of their duties.

You can expect our Authorised Officers will act with honesty, impartiality and in a way that is procedurally fair. We will engage with you respectfully and in good faith and we ask that you do the same. Whilst we will undertake a number of activities to support you to understand and comply with the laws we regulate, the responsibility for complying with the law rests with you as a wildlife licence holder.

You have rights when interacting with an Authorised Officer, including the right to ask to see an Authorised Officer’s identification, not answer any questions that you think might incriminate you, request a receipt for anything seized from you (including wildlife), and request that an officer visit your home at a more reasonable time. You will be informed of your rights if you are being interviewed about an offence. You must, however, state your full name and correct address if asked.

If you have a complaint about the way an Authorised Officer has interacted with you, you can submit a complaint to the Department by emailing or writing to us. Further information about our complaint handling process is available on the DEECA contact webpage.

Email CR.internalreview@deeca.vic.gov.au
Write Conservation Regulator Internal Review, PO Box 500, East Melbourne VIC 8002
Visit Contact DEECA

Failure to comply with the law

Failure to comply with the conditions, limitations or restrictions of your licence is an offence under section 22(6) of the Wildlife Act. Failure to comply can result in fines of up to 100 penalty units (over $20,000) and may result in your licence being suspended, cancelled, or not renewed.

Penalties for cruelty

In addition to your wildlife licence conditions, you are obligated to adhere to other relevant legislation. The welfare of all animals in Victoria is protected under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 (POCTA Act). Anyone who commits an act of cruelty is liable for an offence under the POCTA Act. Failure to comply with some of the conditions of your licence may also be an offence under the POCTA Act.

The penalties for offences under the POCTA Act are serious. Penalties include fines of over $40,000 or jail for up to 12 months for animal cruelty (for individuals), and fines of over $80,000 or imprisonment for up to 2 years for aggravated cruelty. Aggravated cruelty is cruelty that causes the death or serious disablement of an animal.

Penalties for illegally-obtained or -traded wildlife

When obtaining or trading wildlife, you must ensure that the wildlife is of a species listed on your licence, and that the other person also has a current and valid wildlife licence that enables them to trade in that wildlife species. If you are not sure if a wildlife licence is valid or required, email us. It is illegal to obtain or trade wildlife without a valid licence.

Under no circumstances can you possess wildlife obtained from the wild. In Victoria, sick, injured or orphaned wildlife can only be rehabilitated by a wildlife rehabilitator. A wildlife rehabilitator is a wildlife shelter operator or foster carer who is authorised under section 28A of the Wildlife Act.

It is an offence to possess wildlife from an unlawful source under sections 45 and 47 of the Wildlife Act. This includes animals from the wild.

Offences under section 45 carry a penalty of 240 penalty units (over $45,000) or 24 months imprisonment, or both the fine and imprisonment and an additional penalty of 20 penalty units (over $3,500) for every head of wildlife in respect of which an offence has been committed.

Offences under section 47 carry a penalty of 50 penalty units (over $9,500) or 6 months imprisonment, or both the fine and imprisonment and an additional penalty of 5 penalty units (over $900) for every head of wildlife in respect of which an offence has been committed.

If wildlife is offered to you from an unlawful source, do not accept the animal and email or call us.

Visit Wildlife Regulations 2024
Call DEECA Customer Contact Centre 136 186
Email wildlifelicensing@deeca.vic.gov.au