A risk-based approach for native animal keeping

The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service applies a tiered risk-based approach to regulating people's interactions with wildlife.

We have prepared a document outlining a risk-based approach for native animal keeping. This document introduces a risk-based tool for determining native species regulation in New South Wales.

The first iteration of the tool identifies whether a species should be licensed or regulated under a code of practice.

Risk-based tool

To regulate native animal keeping using a risk-based approach, species that are proposed to change regulatory category, under the Biodiversity Conservation Act, are risk assessed using the risk-based tool.

The risk-based tool will assist in determining whether a species should be:

  • licensed under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016
  • subject to an enforceable code of practice under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016
  • exempt from regulation
  • prohibited from private keeping in New South Wales.

The following risks are considered:

  • the husbandry and welfare requirements of the species
  • conservation risk to wildlife from poaching or release of an animal from captivity
  • the availability and cost to purchase the species from legal sources to support private keeping, breeding and commercial dealing
  • human health, social and economic considerations.

Further details on the risk-based tool and the process we will follow when determining whether a proposed species changes regulatory category from licence to code of practice can be found in A risk-based approach for native animal keeping.

Blue and red bird in a bush

A code of practice for keeping birds

A draft code of practice for dealing in some species of native birds has been released for public consultation.

Following the assessment process, if a species is deemed suitable to be code regulated, the Environment Agency Head will declare that the bird is now subject to the code, and it will be added to the code regulated bird list, with the date from which it can be kept on code.

Eastern blue-tongue lizard (Tiliqua scincoides)

What is happening with reptiles and amphibians?

A review of reptile and amphibian keeping licensing will occur in 2024. Any changes to regulatory categories for reptile or amphibian species will be risk assessed using an adjusted risk-based tool.

How can I request a new species to be kept in New South Wales?

We are not accepting requests for new species to be added to the NSW Native Animal Keepers Species List until the wildlife licensing reforms are implemented.

More information about when we will consider new species proposals will be made publicly available, and the same process of using the risk-based tool will apply.