Bulletin 4604 ISSN 1448-0352 February 2004 Importing and keeping introduced mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians in Western Australia Importing and keeping introduced mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians in Western Australia By Marion Massam and Win Kirkpatrick, Department of Agriculture, and Peter Mawson, Norm Press, Tony Bennell and Neil Hamilton, Department of Conservation and Land Management. February 2004 (Please check with the Department of Agriculture for updates since publication.) Copies available from: Department of Agriculture Tel. 9366 2300 Fax. 9366 2342 Also see our website at: www.agric.wa.gov.au © State of Western Australia, 2004 Important Disclaimer: The Director General of the Department of Agriculture and the State of Western Australia accept no liability whatsoever by reason of negligence or otherwise arising from the use or release of this information or any part of it. Introduced animals and birds can Any species that does not appear on the list is prohibited in Western Australia. Application can cause problems be made in an effort to alter the status of such species so that they can be kept. Many animals and birds cause severe damage to agriculture and the environment. They can: General conditions that apply to the carry diseases or parasites; import and keeping of introduced damage agricultural crops; animals and birds displace native animals and plants; Permits to keep introduced animals and birds are damage property; endorsed with the requirements and conditions that apply to the species concerned. cause land degradation; have a negative impact on pets. Some of the general conditions that apply to the import and keeping of animals and birds are listed These primarily introduced species (species that have below. originated in another country) have been gazetted as ‘Declared Animals’ under the Agriculture and Related Australian Quarantine Inspection Service and Resources Protection Act 1976. Environment Australia conditions apply to the importation of animals and birds from overseas. Controlling introduced animals and A permit is not transferable and relates only to the birds person to whom it is issued. It can take a long time for escaped animals to reach A person can only dispose of animals and birds to pest proportions but once established in the wild, other permit holders. introduced animals are usually impossible to eradicate. Regular returns must be provided, listing the number and types of species held under permit Sometimes the possible effects of an animal or bird in and to whom they have been transferred. a cage are not obvious to us but the costs to future generations of importing or keeping a prohibited animal or not keeping a permitted animal in a Escaped animals must be immediately reported to responsible way can be enormous. the Department of Agriculture and/or CALM on the numbers listed above. Be responsible and legal – obtain a permit before getting the animal and then abide by the keeping Animals in captivity under permit should not be conditions. liberated nor attempts made to liberate them. There is also a legal obligation on the permit holder to prevent them being at large. Those people keeping animals without the appropriate permits, not keeping animals according to the keeping conditions or who are Permits can be revoked if the animals are not keeping animals that are prohibited will be being held as specified. prosecuted and/or will forfeit their animals. It is the responsibility of the holder of an individual animal to ensure that they are also compliant with Lists of declared animals and birds Commonwealth legislation relating to the possession and quarantine of exotic animals. The gazetted list of declared animals and birds alters from time to time. An accurate list is available by accessing the Department of Agriculture internet site Obtaining a permit for a species at the address given below or by contacting any office already allowed in Western of Department of Agriculture or the Department of Australia Conservation and Land Management (CALM). 1. Applications or enquiries concerning the import or The list in this bulletin is designed to assist readers to keeping of introduced animals may be addressed determine the legal restrictions applicable to animals to: and birds under the Agriculture and Related Resources Protection Act 1976, but is not an official Department of Agriculture reproduction of the gazetted list. Bougainvillea Ave Forrestfield 6058 can be maintained for use in case of an exotic Tel: (08) 9366 2300, disease outbreak or animal escape. Copies of the Fax: (08) 9366 2342 permits are sent to the relevant APO for property Email: [email protected] records. 2. Applications or enquiries concerning the import or c) Sometimes enclosure plans must be submitted keeping of introduced birds may be addressed to: and the site inspected prior to the commencement of any building. In such a case a provisional Department of Conservation and Land Management permit-to-keep is issued; the official permit is Locked Bag 104, Bentley D.C. WA 6983 issued after a final inspection of the site and Tel. 9334 0440, 9334 0441, buildings. Fax. 9334 0242 Email: [email protected] d) Permits are issued for defined periods, usually two to three years and an application for renewal 3. Either agency will provide information on whether of a permit is required before a permit can be the species can be kept in the State, any renewed. conditions on introduction and keeping and the procedures to follow to obtain permits. Applications for birds 4. Where the regulations provide for an introduced a) Upon receipt of an application, CALM staff at the species to be kept under permit, Forms 2 and/or Kensington office will advise local staff (usually a 4, (application to import and to keep declared Wildlife Officer) of other requirements (e.g. site animals) should be completed. inspection, enclosure design, import protocol etc.). 5. Often other documentation (Forms AD1070 and AD1061 covering health and fibre length b) The application must be accompanied by a requirements and quarantine certification) is cheque or cash for the permit fee. Arrangements required for interstate and overseas imports. For can also be made to pay using major credit cards health purposes, prior written approval from the (contact CALM for more information). See the list Inspector in Charge (Stock) at the Department of of birds to determine which birds must be kept Agriculture, South Perth is required to import under a $30 permit and which birds can be held ruminant stock or horses to the Liver Fluke under a free permit. (No matter how many Restricted Area (the south-west) of the State. species are to be kept, the maximum amount payable is $30.) 6. The local government authority, Environmental Protection Authority, Department of Land c) The Wildlife Officer will advise the Kensington Administration and other agencies may need to office when the requirements have been met, so be informed of any proposal before the granting of that permits may be issued. permits. This is the applicant's responsibility. d) Each permit is issued for a period of 12 months 7. Applicants should complete the forms and any from the time of issue. An application for renewal required supporting documentation and forward of a permit is required before a permit can be these to the Department of Agriculture (for renewed. animals) or CALM (for birds). All permits for birds are issued from the Kensington Applications for animals office so that a central register of introduced birds can be maintained. a) Upon receipt of an application, (and a cheque or cash for the amount listed in the regulations) Cage requirements Department of Agriculture staff at the Forrestfield office will advise local staff (usually an Agriculture All aviaries or enclosures for declared birds for which Protection Officer [APO]) of other requirements there are keeping restrictions (marked # in the table (e.g. site inspection, enclosure design, import below) must: protocol etc.). 1. have double doors to the exterior; b) The APO will advise the Forrestfield office when the requirements have been met, so that permits may be issued. 2. be securely fastened to a concrete base or otherwise pegged to the ground with netting and All permits for animals are issued from the Forrestfield post uprights buried at least 30 cm into the office so that a central register of introduced animals ground; 3. have netting laid under breakable sheet coverings such as PVC or fibreglass; 4. have correct load bearing structural materials within the framework of the aviary. References Minimum sizes for various materials are: timber 5 cm x 5 cm; Christidis, L. and Boles, W. E. 1994. The Taxonomy and Species of Birds of Australia and its Territories. angle iron 2.5 cm x 2.5 cm x 3.17 mm; RAOU, Melbourne. steel rod 1.27 cm internal diameter. Howard, R. and Moore, A. 1991. A Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World. Academic Press, Obtaining a permit for a species London. currently prohibited in WA Kingston, R. 1998. Keeping and Breeding Finches Applications or enquiries concerning the import or and Seed-eaters. Indruss Productions, New Farm. keeping of introduced animals and birds currently prohibited in WA may be addressed to: Sibley, C. and Monroe, B. 1990. Distribution and Taxonomy of Birds of the World. Yale University Department of Agriculture Press, New Haven. Bougainvillea Ave Forrestfield 6058 Tel: (08) 9366 2300, Further information Fax: (08) 9366 2342 Email: [email protected] See the Department of Agriculture website at: Before a new species or breed can be imported into www.agric.wa.gov.au Western Australia, an assessment is made of the risk it poses to agriculture and the environment. The assessment considers: the ability of the animal to establish feral populations in the wild; and the animal’s pest potential to agriculture and the environment; Decisions on importation are made after consideration of both the short and long-term consequences of importation.