Department for Environment and Heritage

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Fauna Schedules

Criteria used for Establishing Fauna Schedules

The following criteria were used to determine the level of permit required to keep and sell any nominated species of native animal.

  1. Status/pressure in the wild
  2. Status in captivity
  3. Ease of keeping/breeding
  4. Animal welfare issues
  5. Working in with interstate legislation
  6. Monetary value
  7. Public safety (eg dangerous/venomous reptiles)
  8. Ease of introducing wild stock - pest potential, disease risk, non-endemic species.
  9. Potential for establishment of trade stock - animals not currently being kept or traded.

Fauna Species

Unprotected Native Animals

Budgerigar chicks 

Budgerigar chicks Melopsittacus undulatus

There are a number of common native birds and mammals (listed in the table below) which are unprotected and can be kept or sold without a permit. A Hunting Permit (50Kb PDF) is required to take these animals from the wild. Permission to take unprotected animals from conservation parks and national parks will not generally be given. Persons require written permission from landowners to enter their land to take unprotected animals. Galahs and Little Corellas can only be taken by means of shooting.

Zebra Finch Poephila guttata
Budgerigar Melopsittacus undulatus
Red Wattlebird Anthochaera chrysoptera
Grey-backed Silvereye Zosterops lateralis halmaturina
Galah Cacatua roseicapilla
Little Corella Cacatua sanguinea
Australian Raven Corvus coronoides
Little Crow Corvus bennetti
Australian Crow Corvus orru cecilae
Little Raven Corvus mellori
Wild dog (Dingo) Canis familiaris

A permit from Animal and Plant Control Commission is required for a Dingo.

Exempt Animals

Exempt animals are fully protected and a permit is required to take any from the wild.

The following native animals are Exempt from the keep and sell provisions. Animals must be lawfully obtained eg captive bred. Exempt animals are common either in captivity or in their natural habitat.

The keeping and selling of these animals has a minimal effect on naturally occurring populations.

See Exempt list (50Kb PDF)

Basic Animals

Basic animals are fully protected and a permit is required to take any from the wild.

The following animals are on the Basic Permit (50Kb PDF) schedule. Basic animals are animals that require constant monitoring to ensure that naturally occurring populations are not depleted. Many of these animals, although quite common either in captivity or in a natural environment, are likely to be exploited when demand from trade exceeds the supply of captive bred animals.

See Basic Animals list (150Kb PDF)

Specialist Species

Specialist species are:

  • animals not generally kept in captivity;
  • animals considered to be of high status as a result of illegal trading or demand from trade (eg Black-Cockatoos);
  • animals which require special feeding or housing (eg Koalas or wombats);
  • animals which are endangered in their natural environment (eg Golden-shouldered Parrot);
  • animals which require special expertise for handling and security (eg front fanged venomous snakes). (See also venomous reptile policy).

Any species not specifically nominated on the unprotected, Exempt or Basic lists above is, automatically, Specialist.