June, 1998 A guide for the control over the LC0303 possession, trade and movement of ISSN 1329-833X declared pest animals Ross Williamson, Melbourne On the 13 February 1997, declarations within the The Pest Animal Advisory Committee provisions of the Catchment and Land Protection Act The Pest Animal Advisory Committee (PAAC) was 1994 came into effect which classified exotic/pet animals established in 1996 under the CLP Act and will be into specific categories depending on the threat that abolished on 31 January 1999. Its role is to advise the particular types of animals pose primary production, Secretary and the Minister on the control of the movement, Crown land, the environment or community health. importation, trade and keeping of pest animals, as well as to determine the classifications of pest animals. The Need for control The Committee categorised pest species according to the One of the main objectives of the Catchment and Land categories outlined in the CALP Act. In preparing this list, Protection Act 1994 (CALP Act) is to protect primary the PAAC had regard to the relevant classifications under production, Crown land, the environment and community the laws of the Commonwealth, and the need for national health from the effects of pest animals. Over millions of uniformity in the classification of pest animals as required years of isolation Australian ecosystems have developed by the CALP Act. complex and unique inter-relationships. The introduction of exotic species into these ecosystems has had major The National Vertebrate Pests Committee impacts. In the two hundred years since European The primary guidance for the classification process was the settlement, many species of pest animals have become categorisation used by the Vertebrate Pests Committee established due to deliberate or accidental releases. (VPC) of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and The harmful effects of animals such as rabbits, foxes, wild Resource Management. This Committee is responsible for dogs, feral goats and feral pigs cost many millions of ensuring national standards for the control of the entry, dollars each year in lost production and degradation of movement and keeping of non-indigenous vertebrate natural resources, and further millions are spent by species in Australia. VPC comprises each State and landholders and government authorities in attempts to Territory (NRE in Victoria) as well as a number of minimise the impacts of these pests. These species cause Commonwealth Agencies. immeasurable harm to the natural environment as well as to primary industry. These costs could have been avoided Declaration of pest animals if the species had not been introduced in the first place. Section 58 (1)(b) of the CALP Act provides that, upon the Minister's recommendation, the Governor in Council may, New pest animal species by Order published in the Government Gazette, declare Whilst the efforts to control established pest animals any animal to be either a Prohibited Pest Animal, a continue, it is vital that the any opportunity of a new Controlled Pest Animal, a Regulated Pest Animal or an species becoming established is minimised. There are Established Pest Animal for the whole or any part of many pest animal species which pose an unacceptable risk Victoria specified in the Order. due to their ability to adapt to Australian environmental In the Victorian Government Gazette Number 6 on 13 conditions, and their breeding capacity. Their accidental or February 1997, an order was published declaring the deliberate release could subsequently cause significant species under their respective category. environmental and economic damage as well as threatening public health and safety. These species, such as most non- The declaration only included mammal, reptile and amphibian species not indigenous to Australia, with the indigenous rat, mice and squirrel species, mongooses, exception of the dingo and its hybrids. The declaration stoats and weasels, are prohibited in Australia. does not include any birds. © State of Victoria Department of Natural Resources and Environment 2002 Page 1 A guide for the control over the possession, trade and movement of declared pest animals LC0303 Pest Animal Categories Category 4 - Established Pest Animals Declared Established Pest Animals are those that: Category 1 - Prohibited Pest Animals Declared Prohibited Pest Animals are those that: i) are established in the wild in Victoria; and i) did not occur naturally in the wild in Australia before ii) are a serious threat to primary production, Crown Land, European settlement; and the environment or community health in Victoria; and ii) either- iii) should be eradicated or controlled or their spread in the (a) are a serious threat to primary production, wild should be prevented. Crown land, the environment or community A listing of the Category 4 species can be found in health in a place outside Victoria; or Appendix 4 (page 14). (b) for which the potential to threaten primary Pest Animal Permits production, Crown land, the environment or While the importation and keeping of certain species is community health in Victoria is unknown; and prohibited, the Department of Natural Resources and iii) the importation, keeping and sale of those animals Environment recognises that the possession, movement should be banned. and trade of some pest animal species can be conducted in A listing of the Category 1 species can be found in a manner that minimises the threat they pose. Appendix 1 (page 4). Subsequently, the Department may issue permits to keep Category 2 - Controlled Pest Animals declared pest animals. It is an offence to keep these Declared Controlled pest animals are those that: species without an appropriate permit issued under the CALP Act by the Secretary to the Department. Non- i) did not occur naturally in the wild in Australia before indigenous animals such as livestock, domestic pets and European settlement; and species that do not pose any threat are not subject to the ii) have a high potential to become a serious threat to CALP Act. primary production, Crown land, the environment or community health in Victoria; and Permit Types & Fees iii) should only be kept in high security collections The following permit types have been provided to enable approved by the Minister. the keeping of specific pest animals: The Department of Natural Resources and Environment [i] Pest Animal Research/Education Permit has deemed that the relevant collections will only be Applicable to universities and other appropriate statutory zoos (Melbourne and its annexes at Werribee and institutions for research and educational purposes Healesville), those recognised by the Vertebrate Pests which are registered under the Prevention of Committee as having “Approved Collections Status” and Cruelty to Animals Act 1986. Applies to all those approved by the Minister. These can include research categories of pest animals. Category 1 - Prohibited and education institutions. Pest Animals can only be held by VPC Approved A listing of the Category 2 species can be found in Scientific Institutions. Appendix 2 (see page 6). Application and annual renewal fee $50. Category 3 - Regulated Pest Animals [ii] Pest Animal - Approved Collections (Zoo) Declared Regulated Pest Animals are those that: Permit# i) did not occur naturally in the wild in Australia before Applicable to: European settlement; and • "B" class zoos and wildlife parks to keep and ii) are, or have the potential to become, a serious threat to display Controlled Pest Animals* and primary production, Crown land, the environment or Regulated Pest Animals: and community health in Victoria; and • Approved Collections Status must be granted to iii) should only be kept in collections or at premises keep and display Controlled Pest Animals. approved by the Minister. Application and annual renewal fee $650. The Department of Natural Resources and Environment # In reference to exotic animals, this permit has divided Regulated Pest Animals into two types: replaces a Zoo Licence issued in conjunction 3a) Pest animals that may only be kept at statutory zoos, with a Commercial Wildlife (Wildlife Displayer) circuses, wildlife parks or “B” class zoos licensed Permit under the Wildlife Act. under the Wildlife Act or at approved research and [iii] Pest Animal - Approved Collections education institutions. (Animal Exhibition) Permit✻ 3b)Pest animals that can be kept privately. The only Applicable to circuses, sideshows or traveling species are Indian Antelope (Blackbuck), Bali Cattle, shows of any kind to keep and display specific American Bison, Water Buffalo and Guanaco. Controlled Pest Animals and Regulated Pest A listing of the Category 3 species can be found in Animals. Approved Collections Status must be Appendix 3 (see page 13). © State of Victoria Department of Natural Resources and Environment 2002 Page 2 A guide for the control over the possession, trade and movement of declared pest animals LC0303 granted to keep and display Controlled Pest Species recategorisation Animals. Persons wishing to keep Prohibited, Controlled or Application and annual renewal fee $300. Regulated Pest Animal species may do so if those species ✻ In reference to exotic animals, this permit can be shown to be of lower pest potential than their replaces an Animal Exhibition Licence issued in current category implies. conjunction with a Commercial Wildlife The Vertebrate Pest Committee (VPC), via State (Wildlife Demonstrator) Permit under the authorities, accepts applications for