Conservation breeding or propagation
Importing or exporting wildlife for conservation breeding or propagation
Australia strictly controls trade in:
- Australian native specimens
- internationally endangered species (those on the CITES list)
- live animals
Import or export of live plants and animals may be permitted for specimens to be used for a cooperative conservation program designed to establish or maintain a breeding population.
Co-operative conservation programs
A cooperative conservation program is a breeding and/or management program that aims to conserve a species (in the wild or in captivity, or both) and applies best practice to the management of husbandry, genetics, biology and behavioural needs of the species. The program's objectives must be based on the conservation status and needs of the species, and the program must not be detrimental to the survival of the species in the wild.
Approval of a cooperative conservation program is required for all CITES Appendix I species where there is an intention to transfer live animals into or out of Australia for conservation breeding purposes.
Permits for conservation breeding or propagation
To apply for a permit, complete these forms:
- Application for a Single Use Permit to import, export or re-export wildlife or wildlife products (PDF - 95 KB) | (RTF - 383 KB) *
- Supplementary Form D: Non-Commercial - Conservation Breeding or Propagation (PDF - 136 KB) | (Word - 677 KB)
If the application is for a live animal, also complete:
- Supplementary Form G: Live Animal Imports/Exports (excluding koalas and macropods) (PDF - 219 KB) | (Word - 685 KB)
- Supplementary Form G: Live Koala Export (PDF - 180 KB) | (Word - 687 KB)
- Supplementary Form G: Live Macropod Export (PDF - 223 KB) | (Word - 686 KB)
* Multiple use permits are also available
First time permits for Zoological organisations
You may be required to complete an Application for assessment as a recognised zoological organisation for the purposes import and export of wildlife to and from Australia if you are applying to import or export wildlife to or from Australia and your organisation:
- has not previously successfully applied to the federal environment department for permits to import or export wildlife
- has opened in the past five years
- is under new management
- is an overseas institution with no history of importing wildlife from Australia.
Conditions
You will only be granted a permit if you can demonstrate that you and/or your organisation can satisfy the following requirements:
- The program's objectives are based on the conservation status and conservation needs of the species of which the specimen is a member.
- It is operated in a way that:
- applies best practice to the management of husbandry, genetics, biology and behavioural needs of the species to which the specimen belongs
- is not detrimental to the survival of the species in the wild.
- It aims to conserve the species (in the wild or in captivity, or both).
- It does not allow a specimen used in the program to be used for commercial purposes.
- It takes into account the conservation breeding or propagation needs of each country from which specimens are imported.
- A specimen is removed from the program only in accordance with the program's objectives.
- A specimen is not moved between institutions within the program, or out of the program, in a way that is detrimental to other conservation programs or activities.
- For a specimen listed as a threatened species, the export is not inconsistent with any recovery plan for the species.
- For a live export of a koala, platypus, wombat or Tasmanian devil, or an animal of an eligible listed threatened species, the exporter, the importer and the federal environment department enter into an agreement about the treatment and disposal of the animal and/or any progeny of the animal.
Export of koalas, kangaroos, wombats, Tasmanian devils, wallabies and nationally threatened species
Specific conditions apply to the export of koalas, kangaroos, wombats, Tasmanian devils, wallabies and nationally threatened species.
Non-commercial purposes
Trade may be permitted for a range of non-commercial purposes.
- Trade for non-commercial purposes
- Conservation breeding or propagation
- Education
- Exchange of scientific specimens between registered scientific organisations
- Exhibitions
- Research
- Travelling exhibitions
Travelling with specimens as personal effects
Household pets
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