Native fauna is protected under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (BC Act) in Western Australia. DBCA administers this legislation for the conservation, protection and management of native fauna, both in the wild and in captivity, throughout Western Australia.  

Under the BC Act, the Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2018 (BC Regs) establish a licensing scheme via which certain native animals may be kept lawfully.  

The BC Regs require the CEO to issue CEO Guidelines which specify the species of fauna that can be kept as a pet. A pet for the purposes of the fauna possessing (pet keeper’s) licence is a native Australian animal protected under legislation, able to thrive in captivity and primarily kept and cared for by its owner for companionship and appreciation.

The approved species are listed in Appendix 1 of the CEO Licensing Guideline – Fauna possessing (pet keeper’s) licence.

Species are categorised for the purpose of issuing a licence (or being exempt from one):

• Category A: species exempt from needing a licence
• Category B: species requiring a standard licence
• Category C: species requiring an advanced licence

Criteria by which species are designated to a category for the purposes of the fauna possessing (pet keeper’s) licence are outlined in the BC Regs.

There is no obligation on the CEO to include a particular species of fauna in the CEO Guidelines issued for the purposes of the BC Regs.

The review of the approved species list involves several stages.

• Consultation with interstate wildlife licensing agencies on approved species lists under their licensing schemes within their jurisdictions. Information sought on licensing structures and management processes for keeping of fauna for similar purposes, including effectiveness.
• Expression of interest (EOI) process to provide an opportunity for individuals, organisations and stakeholders to contribute their views and suggestions on the current list by proposing changes, via the EOI form. EOI questions are designed to ensure the suggestions align with key requirements for the inclusion of species on the list, including biodiversity conservation, biosecurity, animal welfare and public safety.
• Panel review of information collated from above processes, incorporating scientific knowledge and emerging industry information, and assessment of submissions against the above key considerations, including concerns about or support for species suitability for keeping in captivity as pets.
• Recommendations to the CEO of DBCA for any proposed changes to the approved species list. Where there is concern or uncertainty, the precautionary principle will be applied.
• CEO to issue and publish CEO Guidelines including the (revised) approved species list. A summary report on EOI submissions and the assessment process will be available on the webpage at the conclusion of the review.

The process will support ethical and sustainable practices in the keeping of native fauna and support transparent and inclusive decision-making.

EOI responses that utilise standard submission wording pre-prepared by an organisation or group will be acknowledged as such for the purposes of assessment. This approach supports a transparent, evidence-based review process and helps maintain the integrity of the consultation. 

In assessing information collected through this process, DBCA retains discretion to act independently of the recommended options to meet biodiversity conservation objectives in accordance with legislation and government policies.

DBCA has legislated responsibility to conserve and protect native animals and to promote the ecologically sustainable use of biodiversity components in Western Australia. 

Criteria have been established to support the objectives of the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 and consideration must be given to the objectives of the Animal Welfare Act 2002 and Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 when reviewing the pet keeping species list.
Criteria for the assessment of suggested new species include:

• Species are endemic or naturally occur within WA in accordance with the Checklist of the Terrestrial Vertebrate Fauna of WA (Western Australian Museum).
• Taxonomy is well understood and stable.
• Species are readily available from legally held captive bred populations in other Australian jurisdictions (excluding species in family Pythonidae which cannot be imported). Wild take of species will not be permitted.
• Import of the species from interstate poses no biosecurity, disease or pest risk.
• Care and welfare requirements can be readily met in captivity.
• Family group representation on the current species list is limited (similarities with other species).
• Sufficient science/evidence to support species conservation. 

Consideration will be given to:

• Biodiversity conservation – Does the approval of this species for keeping as a pet pose risks to wild populations, ecosystems, or the environment? This includes consideration of potential impacts from animals that escape or are deliberately released.
• Species suitability – Is the species suitable for keeping as a pet (which defined for the purposes of the fauna possessing (pet keeper’s) licence is a native Australian animal protected and managed under legislation, is able to thrive in captivity and is primarily kept and cared for by its owner for companionship and/or appreciation). Considerations include:
  • the resilience of the species to handling and being kept in captivity
  • if appropriate care, including housing, environmental conditions, diet and enrichment, can be adequately and readily provided in a captive environment to meet the animal’s needs, health and safety.
• Biosecurity – Potential for the species to become an environmental pest, carry and transmit diseases that can affect the industry, or otherwise negatively impact wildlife, agriculture or human health.
• Potential for illegal take and trafficking – Evaluate the likelihood of the species being illegally taken from the wild and traded illicitly on national and international markets, considering the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) listing where relevant.
• Public safety – the potential risks to public safety, including the animal’s size, behavioural traits, capacity to cause harm, and the level of experience and housing required by a keeper to mitigate these risks.

The Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2018 include management of fauna in captivity. DBCA reviews management practices to ensure they reflect objectives of the BC Act and recognises the need to continue to integrate, in a meaningful way, the knowledge and opinions of others into its decision-making processes.  

DBCA recognises that people keep fauna as a pet for various reasons and with differing interests and has received requests to consider new species for inclusion on the pet keeper’s list.

DBCA will review the list with the process to include suggestions from the public and stakeholders to maintain that it reflects and represents species of interest for the purpose of pet keeping, while ensuring that any changes are ecologically sound, ethically responsible and aligned with legislation and government policy.  

It is anticipated that this process will be conducted approximately every five years to review the keeping list. 

To participate in the EOI process, you must be a resident of Western Australia and 18 years of age or older.

If you are under 18, a responsible adult may complete the form on your behalf.

More information is available in the Guide to the Expression of Interest form, which can be downloaded above.

The review may result in changes to the pet keeper’s species list that affect some licence holders, for example a species moving from one category to another. These changes are designed to improve species management and provide more options for responsible pet keeping.

DBCA is committed to supporting licence holders through any changes and will provide clear guidance as required.

Wildlife Protection Branch
Phone: 9219 9956
Email: biodiversity@dbca.wa.gov.au