September 2004
These guidelines have been written to assist you with completing the Application to amend the List of Specimens Suitable for Live Import (the live import list) to include Birds and Terrestrial Mammals.
The purpose of the questions in the application form is to gather information on the species that is not generally addressed in the report. As you will see, the majority of the questions in the application form require a yes/no/don't know response.
Please submit a separate application form for every species you intend to add to the live import list. At the end of the application form are some suggested Terms of Reference. The Terms of Reference identify the issues that you must address in a report assessing the potential risk your proposed species may cause to the environment.
Applicant Details
The Department requires that you provide your name, postal and street addresses, and contact details. If you are applying on behalf of a business, you will also need to fill in your business details.
Section 1 Taxonomic information
- Identify which family the species belongs to.
- Identify which genus the species belongs to.
- Identify the species.
- Note what common names the species is known as (if any)
For example, the Plains Zebra (common name) is known scientifically as Equus burchelli, where 'Equus' is the genus and 'burchelli' is the species. Zebras belong to the family Equidae.
- Is the species a genetically-modified organism (GMO)? Identify if the species has been genetically modified. If your species has been genetically modified or engineered, you will need to contact the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (www.ogtr.gov.au) before proceeding with this application.
- What is the proposed purpose of the import? Specify the reason you are planning to import the species. This may be for eligible non-commercial purposes such as research, education, exhibition, conservation breeding, household pet or travelling exhibition, or for commercial purposes.
Section 2 General information
- Is this species ever aggressive? Identify whether this species has ever acted in an aggressive manner towards other species, including humans, outside of any usual predator-prey interactions.
- Has the species ever injured people? Identify whether there are any recorded instances of this species causing harm to people.
- Does the animal have organs capable of inflicting harm? A positive response for this question would arise if the species has organs such as teeth, a bill, spines or claws that are capable of causing injuries to people that are more significant than minor cuts or bruises.
- How much do adults of this species weigh? Provide information on the weight range of adults of both sex.
- What countries does this species occur in naturally? What is the natural distribution of this species. Exclude any areas where the species has been introduced through human intervention.
- Has this species ever established a breeding population outside of its native range? Identify any areas where this species has established a breeding population outside of its natural range.
- Is the species migratory? Identify if the species moves seasonally between different habitats. Migratory behaviour may occur between countries, within one country, or may occur on a small scale, for example from high altitudes to low altitudes on a mountain range.
- What is the diet of this species? Identify what type of food this species eats:
Carnivore - taken to include animals that eat primarily other animals.
Herbivore - taken to include animals that eat primarily plant matter.
Omnivore - these animals eat a broad range of food from both animals and plant origin.
- If this species is a strict herbivore or a strict carnivore, does it have a broad, generalised diet, or a narrow, specialised diet? If the species is a strict herbivore or carnivore, identify whether it eats a wide variety of plants or animals, or if it is a specialist feeder on only one or two types of food. An example of a strict carnivore is the Numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus) which eats only termites.
- Can the species live in modified habitats? Identify if this species can live in habitats that have been modified by humans, either directly or indirectly.
- Is the species considered a pest anywhere in its natural or introduced range? A pest is a species of animals that causes widescale economic cost or amenity loss through its presence or activities. Identify whether this species is subject to active management to reduce population numbers.
- Has the species ever been recorded causing damage to ... [see list]? Identify if this species has been recorded as having a detrimental impact on the identified groups of animals and activities.
- Is the species a social nuisance or danger because of the following behaviours? Identify if the species has been recorded as being a social nuisance.
- Could the species reduce the ground vegetation cover to an extent where it could cause or increase soil erosion? This question looks at identifying if the species, through feeding, digging or other activities, could have a detrimental impact on vegetation such that the underlying soil is exposed to increased erosion.
- Has the species ever inflicted damage to trees, shrubs or their seedlings that has caused tree death or affected their value as timber? This question aims to identify is the species may have a negative impact on tree plantations/silvicultural activities.
- Could the species inhibit tree seedling regeneration in forests and woodland? This question aims to identify if the species could have a negative impact on regeneration in native forests and woodlands.
- Could the species spread weeds? Identify whether the species could spread weeds through carrying seeds on their fur/feathers, defecating the seeds at a distance from the parent plant or moving viable vegetative matter to new areas.
- Could a wild population of the species eat or damage any of the following … [see list]? Identify whether this species would eat or other wise damage the listed plant parts or products.
- Does the species attack or prey on wildlife? Identify if the species has the capacity to attack or prey on the listed wildlife.
- Does the species attack or prey on domestic or commercial animals? Identify if the species is known to, or has the capacity to, attack or prey on domestic or commercial animals.
- If a mammal, can the species climb trees? If the species you are proposing to import is a mammal, identify if it can climb trees.
- Is the species susceptible to, or could it transmit any diseases or parasites that can harm people? Identify if the species could potentially transmit harmful diseases or parasites to humans.
- Could wild populations of the species use the same resources as native Australian species? This question seeks to identify if the species could compete with native Australian species.
- Could wild populations of the species use any resources that might cause it to compete with livestock? This question seeks to identify if this species could compete with livestock.
- What nest sites can the species use? Identify where the species does/can nest. 'Nest' is taken to mean a specific area individuals return to in order to sleep, bear or rear young.
- Does the species nest, shelter or feed in or around any of the following habitats? This question seeks to identify if the species could impact on the listed habitats.
- Does the species construct burrows or dig near or around waterways? Identify if the species does/can burrow or otherwise disturb the substrate (soil or sand) around waterways.
- Does the species eat or disturb wetlands? This question seeks to identify if the species may have a negative impact on native wetland vegetation.
- Could the species cause pollution of water bodies? This question seeks to identify if the species could impact native aquatic flora and fauna by polluting waterways.
- Could the species deface or physically damage buildings? Identify if the species could damage buildings either through physical damage, or through depositing excrement on the exterior of the building.
- Could the species damage fences? Identify if the species has the capacity to damage fences.
- Could the species damage equipment? Identify if the species could cause damage to domestic or commercial equipment.
- Could the species hybridise with any Australian native species? Identify whether the species could negatively impact native species through hybridisation (cross-breeding with native species).
- Is the species already present in Australia? Identify if this species already occurs in Australia. If possible, also indicate when this species was first introduced.
- Have you attached draft Terms of Reference for the assessment of the potential impacts of importing the species on the Australian environment? Suggested draft Terms of Reference are at the back of the application form. You must attach draft Terms of Reference to the application form. Your application cannot be processed without these as it is a statutory requirement under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
- Declaration by the applicant. You must complete the Declaration by writing your name, signing and dating the form. Without these entries, the form is not complete and will be returned to you for completion.
This document is available in PDF and RTF format.
