How to export or import hunting trophies
Wildlife trade fact sheet
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, 2008
PDF file
Please note: The material in this fact sheet is provided for general information only and should not be relied upon for the purpose of a particular matter. While efforts have been made to keep this material current, it may not exactly reflect Commonwealth legislation or Australia's international obligations. For further information call the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts on 02 6274 1900.
Introduction
The Australian Government is committed to protecting and conserving Australian native wildlife by regulating international trade. This helps to protect targeted species against overexploitation and protects Australian ecosystems against the introduction of invasive species.
The Australian Government also supports the efforts of other nations to protect their wildlife, by implementing the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) 1.
In Australia, the export and import of wildlife and wildlife products is regulated under Part 13A of the EPBC Act, which is administered by the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (the department). Regulation applies equally to individuals, commercial organisations and not-forprofit organisations.
Hunting trophies and CITES
A number of species targeted by trophy hunters have been included in CITES Appendix I or II in response to the decline in some wild populations as a result of unregulated international trade.
Commonly hunted CITES species include (this is not a comprehensive list):
| Scientific name | Common name | Appendix |
|---|---|---|
| Crocodylia | all alligators, caimans, crocodiles and gavials | I / II |
| Falconiformes Strigiformes | all birds of prey including eagles, hawks, falcons and owls | I / II |
| Felidae | all non-domesticated cats, including lions, tigers, cheetahs, cougars, leopards, jaguars, lynxes | I / II |
| Rhinocerotidae | all rhinoceroses | I / II |
| Ursidae | all bears | I / II |
| Addax nasomaculatus | addax | I |
| Ammotragus lervia | Barbary sheep | II |
| Bison bison ssp athabascae | wood bison | II |
| Capra falconeri | markhor | I |
| Cephalophus jentinki | Jentink's Duiker | I |
| Equus africanus | African wild ass | I |
| Equus grevyi | Grevy's zebra | I |
| Equus zebra ssp hartmannae | Hartmann's mountain zebra | II |
| Equuszebra ssp zebra | Cape mountain zebra | I |
| Gazelle dama | dama gazelle | I |
| Hippopotamus amphibius | hippopotamus | II |
| Hippotragus niger ssp variani | giant sable antelope | I |
| Kobus leche | lechwe | I |
| Loxodonata africana | African elephant | I/II |
| Oryx dammah | scimitar-horned oryx | I |
| Oryx leucoryx | Arabian oryx | I |
Commonly hunted non-CITES species include (this is not a comprehensive list):
| Scientific name | Common name | Scientific name | Common name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aepyceros melampus | impala | Hemitragus jemlahicus | Himalayan tahr |
| Alces alces | moose | Hippotragus niger ssp niger | sable antelope |
| Antidorcas marsupialis | springbok | Kobus ellipsiprymnus , megaceros, vardoni | waterbuck |
| Capra hircus | goat | Madoqua saltiana , kirki, guentheri | dik dik |
| Cephalophus natalensis | red duiker | Odocoileus hemionus | mule deer |
| Cervus canadensis | waipiti (elk) | Odocoileus virginianus | white-tailed deer |
| Cervus elaphus (note some subspecies are subject to CITES) |
red deer | Oryx gazella | gemsbok |
| Cervus nippon | sika deer | Rupicapra rupicapra | chamois |
| Cervus timorensis | rusa deer | Sus scrofa | wild pig |
| Cervus unicolor | sambar deer | Sylvicapra grimmia | common duiker |
| Connochaetes gnou | wildebeest | Taurotragus oryx | common eland |
| Dama dama ssp dama | fallow deer | Tragelaphus imberbis | lesser kudu |
| Damaliscus phillipsi | blesbok | Tragelaphus strepsiceros | greater kudu |
| Equus burchelli | Burchell's zebra |
Exports
A permit issued by the department will generally be needed to legally export specimens of i) Australian native species; or ii) CITES species.
A permit may be issued for the export of specimens for personal purposes, unless the specimens are of a CITES Appendix I species or have been acquired or kept illegally.
A permit may be issued for the export of specimens for commercial purposes if they are derived from an approved source (see below).
A re-export permit may be issued for the export of specimens that have been legally imported into Australia, subject to any conditions legally imposed at the time of import.
Approved sources for export
The following approved sources apply to exports of hunting trophies for commercial purposes.
- regulated species other than CITES Appendix I species - wildlife trade operations and wildlife trade management plans approved by the department
If the source of the specimen is not approved, please contact the department for further information.
Imports
A permit issued by the department will often be needed to legally import hunting trophies.
No hunting trophies of Appendix I species may be imported for personal or commercial purposes, except under a pre-CITES certificate (see below).
If the hunting trophies are CITES Appendix II listed species, an export permit must be acquired from the exporting countries CITES Management Authority prior to any application for an Australian import permit. A copy of the export permit will be required to support the import permit application.
If the import is for commercial purposes and the trophies are declared specimens, it must be demonstrated that they have been harvested as part of an approved commercial import program.
Currently, the only declared specimens that are commonly hunted are specimens originating in a country that is not a party to CITES. There are currently no approved commercial import programs for commonly hunted species. Further details on commercial import programs can be obtained from the department.
Special permits and exemptions
Specimens of CITES listed species acquired before the provisions of CITES applied to that species are not subject to normal permitting requirements. They may be exported or imported under a pre-CITES certificate issued by the CITES management authority of the country of export.
What else do I need to know?
Exports and imports of wildlife and wildlife products may also be subject to regulation under the Customs Act 1901 (administered by the Australian Customs Service) and the Quarantine Act 1908 (administered by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service). These organisations may be contacted through offices in each state capital, or through their head offices:
Australian Customs Service
Customs House
5 Constitution Avenue
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Telephone: (02) 6275 6666
Website: www.customs.gov.au
Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)
GPO Box 858
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Telephone: (02) 6272 3933
Freecall: 1800 020 504
Website: www.aqis.gov.au
Where can I get more information?
For more information on permits, please read the general information sheet entitled: Permits to export or import wildlife and wildlife products, or contact the department at the address below:
International Wildlife Trade Section
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
GPO BOX 787
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Phone: (02) 6274 1900
Facsimile: (02) 6274 1921
E-mail: wildlifetrade@environment.gov.au
Website: www.environment.gov.au/travel
1. See separate fact sheet entitled "CITES" for further information.
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