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Returns From Wildlife Licence Holders Due

The next fortnight is a very important time for Victorian native wildlife.

By Department of Sustainability and Environment - 30th March 2005 - Back to News

That’s because this is the time when Wildlife Licence holders are required to submit a Return to the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE).

DSE Wildlife (Policy) Officer Anthony Ball said: "It is a privilege to be able to keep the variety of native animals that we can in Victoria, but that privilege comes with some conditions."

"One condition is the requirement to send in returns each year and to inform DSE of any changes of address within seven days of moving.

"It’s very important that we keep track of which animals are being kept and who is keeping them, to help us continue to fight the cruel illegal trade in our native fauna species," he said.

Native wildlife which has been bred in captivity and legally obtained may be kept by people who hold a Wildlife Licence issued by (DSE). It is a condition of having a Wildlife Licence that the holder submit a Return to DSE within 14 days after March 31 each year.

The Return simply tells DSE what wildlife was in the Licence Holder’s possession on March 31 and any wildlife that was acquired or disposed of by the Licence Holder over the previous 12 months.

"Nowadays a large list of native animals can be kept in Victoria, though it's only in recent years that some other states of Australia have allowed residents to keep native reptiles," Mr Ball said.

In Victoria all native wildlife is protected and cannot be taken from the wild to be kept as a pet.

The Licence Holder must also keep a copy of the return they submitted and keep it in a safe place with their Protected Wildlife Record Book so that they can be provided to any Wildlife Officer who may inspect wildlife kept under licence conditions.

Due to a large number of people failing to send in returns last year, DSE ran "Operation Woomera" to detect omissions and encourage people to send in their returns. Many people received on the spot fines of approximately $150 for failing to submit Returns within 14 days.

More information about wildlife licenses or current licence holders obtaining blank return forms can be directed to DSE’s Customer Service Centre on 136186.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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