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Permit Types/Information
Keep and Sell Permits
Exempt Animals
Some animals are exempt from the keep and sell permit provisions. A person does not require a permit to keep or sell any species listed as Exempt.
Animals must be lawfully obtained, eg captive bred or purchased from a reputable pet shop. Buyers should always obtain a receipt as proof of purchase. Animals listed as Exempt are fully protected and a permit is required to take any from the wild. No record books or stock returns are required to be maintained.
Basic Permit to Keep/Sell Protected Animals
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Common-Ringtail Possum Pseudocheirus peregrinus |
Animals listed as Basic are common either in captivity or in their natural habitat, the keeping and selling of which has a minimal effect on naturally occurring populations.
These animals are usually easy to keep in captivity.
A permit to keep and sell is required for animals listed as a Basic species.
Animals must be lawfully obtained, eg captive bred or purchased from a licensed fauna dealer.
Animals listed as Basic are fully protected and a permit is required to take any from the wild. Such animals require constant monitoring to ensure that naturally occurring populations are not exploited for trade. 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.
A permit is not required to keep 1 individual, however the sale or disposal of that individual animal would require a permit.
The sale of animals listed as Basic is restricted to such animals that have been bred by the permit holder or held for a period of not less than 6 months. If you wish to trade (buying and selling) in Basic animals, you will require a Fauna Dealer's Permit (50Kb PDF).
Any person advertising Basic animals for sale is required to include their permit number in the advertisement.
The holder of a Basic Keep and Sell Permit (50Kb PDF) is required to maintain a record book and submit a stock return to the Fauna Permit Unit at the end of each financial year.
Basic Permits are generally issued on request. However to obtain a Specialist Permit (50Kb PDF), you will be required to prove you have the facilities, knowledge and experience to safely and properly care for the animal.
Specialist Permit to Keep/Sell Protected Animals
Specialist species are those animals which are 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 and animals which require special expertise for handling and security, eg front fanged venomous snakes. (See also venomous reptile policy).
A Specialist Permit to keep and sell is required for animals listed as a Specialist species.
As these animals are of high conservation status, require considerable expertise or experience in their husbandry or are potentially threatening to the public, the ability of the applicant to house and care for the animals appropriately is assessed when their application is considered.
To obtain a Specialist Permit, you will be required to prove you have the facilities, knowledge and experience to safely and properly care for the animal.
Specialist Permit holders may keep and sell animals included in the Basic lists. Unlike a Basic Permit a Specialist Permit is required to keep one individual animal listed as a specialist species.
Animals must be lawfully obtained, eg captive bred or purchased from a licensed fauna dealer.
Animals listed as Specialist are fully protected and a permit is required to take any from the wild.
Specialist permit holders can only sell specialist animals to permit holders who are endorsed for that particular Specialist Species (specialist permits are issued on endorsement only).
The sale of animals listed as Specialist is restricted to such animals that have been bred by the permit holder or held for a period of not less than 6 months. If you wish to trade (buying and selling) in Specialist animals, you will require a Specialist Fauna Dealer's Permit (50Kb PDF).
Any person advertising Basic or Specialist animals for sale is required to include their permit number in the advertisement.
The holder of a Specialist Keep and Sell Permit (50Kb PDF) is required to maintain a record book and submit two stock returns to the Fauna Permit Unit annually, one at the end of each financial year and the other at the end of February.
Fauna Dealer Permits
The holder of a Basic or Specialist Permit to keep and sell must retain an animal for a period of 6 months prior to sale unless that person has bred the animal. The term "sell" includes swap or give away. If a person wishes to trade (buy and sell) in Basic and Specialist species, under the 6 month required holding period, a Fauna Dealer Permit (50Kb PDF) is required.
The costs of these permits are included on the Fee Schedule page.
The 6 month holding period is not applicable but the fauna dealer must retain the animals for a period of 7 days or obtain a clearance from the Fauna Permit Unit to sell it sooner.
A record book must be kept, maintaining listings of all transactions and the book or a copy thereof must be produced to the Resource Protection Section quarterly.
Dealers are inspected on an ad hoc basis and books and animals must be produced upon request.
Any person advertising Basic or Specialist animals for sale is required to include their permit number in the advertisement.
Basic Fauna Dealer Permit
A Basic Fauna Dealer Permit entitles the holder to trade in the species on the Basic Species list.
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Brush-tailed Bettong Bettongia penecillata |
Details of the people who purchase fauna (including their permit number) must be recorded in the dealers protected animals record book.
If a dealer sells one only animal listed as Basic to a person who does not have any other protected animals (Basic or Specialist) in his possession the dealer is required to record details of the person in the dealers protected animals record book. Dealers are encouraged to record drivers licence numbers or a vehicle registration numbers.
Specialist Fauna Dealer Permit
Specialist fauna dealers may obtain an endorsement to trade in Specialist species. As these animals are of high conservation status, require considerable expertise or experience in their husbandry, or are potentially threatening to the public, the ability of the applicant to house and care for the animals appropriately is assessed when their application is considered. Dealers can only sell an animal listed as Specialist to a permit holder who has a Specialist endorsement for the species they are wanting to sell. Like Basic dealers, Specialist dealers are required to maintain a record book and provide a copy of transactions on a quarterly basis. The permit number of any person who purchases specialist fauna must be recorded in the record book.
Keep/Sell Eggs of Protected Species
Under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 all eggs of fauna native to Australia are protected. It is an offence to take the eggs of a protected animal from the wild.
A permit is required to keep five (5) or more eggs of protected animals.
Should you wish to sell or give away any quantity of eggs of protected animals you are also required to hold a permit.
There is no charge for permits to keep the eggs of a protected animal. For permit fees to sell the eggs of a protected animal see fees list.
Enquiries can be made by contacting:
Fauna Permit Unit
Phone: (61 8) 8124 4972.
Import and Export Permits
Any person who wishes to transport protected animals or the carcass or egg of a protected animal into or out of South Australia is required to hold an Import or Export Permit to do so. These permits provide an essential mechanism to track the movement of fauna and to ensure that the animals have been legally obtained and traded.
Persons wishing to export wildlife and wildlife products overseas should contact:
The Director
International Wildlife Trade Section
Department of the Environment and Heritage
GPO Box 787
Canberra ACT 2601
Australia
Phone: (61 2) 6274 1900
Fax: (61 2) 6274 1921
Email: wildlifetrade@deh.gov.au
Further information can also be obtained from the Environment Australia Website.
Import Permits
Every protected animal brought into the State must be approved and a permit issued before it is consigned. This is essential for several reasons:
- Disease prevention. (The outbreak of Newcastle Disease in New South Wales illustrates the importance of Import Permits in disease control. During the outbreak, Import Permits were not issued for any birds from the affected area);
- Genetic integrity and pest potential. Some birds are known to hybridise with local species or have significant pest potential. The Twenty-eight Parrot, for example, has been known to crossbreed with local Port Lincoln parrots jeopardising the genetic integrity of local populations;
- Animal Welfare. Some species such as Red-capped Parrots are not protected in their state of origin. Consequently, adult birds are trapped for trade. These animals never really acclimatise to captivity and make poor aviary and cage birds. By not issuing Import Permits, the availability of such individuals is restricted and the market depressed;
- Legal Acquisition. All native animals are to be legally obtained from the State of origin. Import Permits can be issued subject to conditions such as legal acquisition and detailed labelling of consignments. Without this ability, illegally sourced animals could be brought into South Australia, legitimised and sold nationally.
Australian Bustard Ardeotis australis
There is no charge for the issuing of Import Permits.
Export Permits
Every protected animal taken out of the State must be approved and a permit issued before it is consigned. Individual Export Permits are required for each consignment. In applying for an Export Permit, checks may be made to ensure that the animal was legally obtained.
Persons who hold a Fauna Dealers Licence may be issued a permit for multiple consignments.
There is no charge for the issuing of Export Permits.
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