Hunting trophies
Importing or exporting hunting trophies
Many 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.
Imports
You will often need a permit 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.
- For hunting trophies from CITES Appendix II listed species, you need an export permit from the exporting country’s CITES management authority before applying 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 any declared specimen, you must demonstrate that it has been harvested as part of an approved commercial import program. However, currently, the only declared specimens that are commonly hunted are specimens originating in countries that are not parties to CITES. There are currently no approved commercial import programs for commonly hunted species.
Exports
You will generally need a permit to legally export specimens of CITES species and Australian native 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. For CITES Appendix I species, pre–CITES permits may be issued where it can be demonstrated that the item was obtained or made before the species’ listing under CITES.
Rhinoceroses are listed in CITES Appendix I
Commonly hunted species
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 |
| Scientific name | Common name |
|---|---|
| Aepyceros melampus | impala |
| Alces alces | moose |
| Antidorcas marsupialis | springbok |
| Capra hircus | goat |
| Cephalophus natalensis | red duiker |
| Cervus canadensis | waipiti (elk) |
| Cervus elaphus (note some subspecies are subject to CITES) |
red deer |
| Cervus nippon | sika deer |
| Cervus timorensis | rusa deer |
| Cervus unicolor | sambar deer |
| Connochaetes gnou | wildebeest |
| Dama dama ssp dama | fallow deer |
| Damaliscus phillipsi | blesbok |
| Equus burchelli | Burchell's zebra |
| Hemitragus jemlahicus | Himalayan tahr |
| Hippotragus niger ssp niger | sable antelope |
| Kobus ellipsiprymnus, megaceros, vardoni | waterbuck |
| Madoqua saltiana, kirki, guentheri | dik dik |
| Odocoileus hemionus | mule deer |
| Odocoileus virginianus | white-tailed deer |
| Oryx gazella | gemsbok |
| Rupicapra rupicapra | chamois |
| Sus scrofa | wild pig |
| Sylvicapra grimmia | common duiker |
| Taurotragus oryx | common eland |
| Tragelaphus imberbis | lesser kudu |
| Tragelaphus strepsiceros | greater kudu |
Customs and quarantine
Exports and imports of wildlife and wildlife products may also be subject to regulation under the Customs Act 1901 (administered by the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service ) and the Quarantine Act 1908 (administered by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service ).
See also
Export and import guides
- How to export and import CITES plants and animals
- CITES specimens as personal effects
- Butterfly specimens
- Caviar
- Complementary medicines
- Crocodiles
- Elephant products
- Hoodia
- Hunting trophies
- Online (Internet) shopping
Wildlife trade regulation
Exports and imports of plants and animals (including products) may be subject to regulation under the following legislation:
EPBC Act 1999
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
Customs Act 1901
Australian Customs and Border Protection Service
Quarantine Act 1908
Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service