Trade in Rhinoceros Specimens
Due to the impacts of coronavirus on working arrangements, stakeholders are requested to contact the Wildlife Trade Sections via email rather than telephone. Please email wps@awe.gov.au with any questions about applying for a permit or for queries relating to existing permit applications. If you have an existing application, please include your application reference number in your email. We will respond to your query as soon as possible.
All species of rhinoceros are listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). An Appendix I listing applies to all five species with the exception of populations of the southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum) from South Africa and Swaziland which are listed on Appendix II. While trade in hunting trophies and live animals is allowed in certain circumstances for populations listed on Appendix II of CITES, Australia has introduced measures to restrict trade in rhino specimens, including rhino horn hunting trophies.
These measures include:
- permits will no longer be issued to import hunting trophies of Appendix II listed southern white rhino
- rhino hunting trophies are no longer allowed to be imported as personal and household effects
- radiocarbon dating is required to conclusively prove the age of vintage rhino horn for export.