Animals

The Northern Territory (NT) has a huge environmental range that is rich in native animals.

New species of fish, frogs, reptiles, invertebrates and plants continue to be found.

The NT's vertebrate fauna includes 400 bird species, 150 mammal species, 300 reptile species, 50 frog species, 60 freshwater fish species and several hundred species of marine fish.

This includes a few exotic animals that are pests in the NT and have a large impact on native species.

Read about threatened animals in the NT.

Birds

There are few endemic - restricted to the NT - bird species, including the white-throated grass-wren, banded fruit-dove and chestnut-quilled rock-pigeon.

Some of the NT's birds only spend part of their life in the Territory. The coastlines, swamps and water bodies support large numbers of shorebirds, most that breed in the northern hemisphere in their summer. For many of these, the Territory is a stopover as they make their way to southern Australia.

Other NT birds have shorter migrations. The koel, dollarbird, rainbow bee-eater, channel-billed cuckoo and pied imperial-pigeon, or Torres Strait pigeon, make yearly migrations to Indonesia and other parts of south-eastern Australia.

Although some of the rainbow bee-eaters and pied imperial-pigeons are now permanent residents, possibly because of increases in Dry Season food due to ornamental plantings around Darwin.

Mammals

There are a high number of endemic mammal species in the NT, such as the Arnhem rock-rat, black wallaroo, central rock-rat, carpentarian rock-rat, kakadu dunnart, central pebble-mound mouse and kakadu pebble-mound mouse, as well as the bats Taphozous kapalgensis and Hipposideros diadema inornatus.

Many of these are only found in the western Arnhem Land plateau and parts of Kakadu National Park.

The NT mammals include about 35 bat species and 25 marine mammals. Among the latter, there are high numbers of the dugong and snubfin dolphin.

A high number of the Territory's threatened species are mammals.

Many NT mammal species have become extinct either completely, or within the Territory, over the last 100 years.

These include the western quoll, the numbat, desert bandicoot, pig-footed bandicoot, lesser bilby, brush-tailed bettong, burrowing bettong, central hare-wallaby, crescent nailtail wallaby and lesser stick-nest rat.

Threatened mammal species in the NT include the golden bandicoot, marsupial mole, greater bilby, mulgaras and Butler's dunnart.

Many of the Territory's mammals are nocturnal and shy. Most can only be spotted with careful study or camping in the bush at night.

The red kangaroo in Central Australia and the agile wallaby in the north are some exceptions as they are both commonly seen.

Reptiles

Most of the reptiles in the NT are lizards, particularly skinks with over 100 species.

The NT has five common species of marine turtle, including the green, flatback, olive (or pacific) ridley, hawksbill and loggerhead and the leatherback turtle is spotted occasionally.

Territory beaches are important breeding sites for the leatherback, pacific ridley, flatback, hawksbill and green turtles. There are between five and ten freshwater tortoise species.

The saltwater (estuarine) and freshwater crocodiles are a feature of the Top End.

While other notable reptiles include goannas, especially the huge perentie of Central Australia, the frilled neck lizard and the thorny devil.

Snakes are also common and diverse, with about 90 species, including 20 sea-snakes, recorded from the Territory.

NT snakes include the following:

• Oenpelli python, the endemic large snake in western Arnhem Land
• water python which can be seen commonly at night at Fogg Dam
• black-headed python and woma which are beautifully marked snakes that prey largely on other reptiles
• very dangerous snakes such as:
  • the mulga
  • king brown
  • western brown
  • taipan
  • the death adder.

Threatened reptiles in the Territory include several of the marine turtles, three species of goannas that are vulnerable to cane toads and some of the skinks that are restricted to small areas.

Amphibians

Notable NT amphibians include the common green tree frog, the magnificent tree-frog and a range of burrowing frogs, many that appear in Central Australia only after heavy rain.

The chorus of frogs around Wet Season waterholes and flooded forests of the Top End can be remarkable.

There is one threatened frog species in the Territory. The Howard River toadlet lives in sandy areas of the Howard and Elizabeth River catchments, in the outer Darwin area.

Invertebrates

Not much is known about insects in the NT as there is a huge number and variety.

More than 100 ant species may be found within any hectare of the eucalypt forests of northern Australia.

All of the invertebrates listed as threatened species in the Territory are species of land snails or butterflies.

Many land snails are restricted to areas of limestone and/or under fig trees.

In some cases species are only found under one or two individual fig trees or in isolated areas of limestone outcrop.

Landscapes and wildlife

Some parts of the Territory are very important for wildlife as they have an unusual richness of species, or particular groups of endemic or threatened species. Many of these areas are sites of conservation significance in the NT.

The most important area is the stone country of western Arnhem Land, which is home to far more endemic and threatened plants and animals than anywhere else in the Territory.

This is because it is split into deep gorges, caves, escarpments and bouldered slopes.

This provides protection from predators, fire and climatic change.

The area supports many relict species that are either entirely restricted to this area, or have very small numbers and distributions. Many of these relict species are hangovers from periods of far warmer or wetter climates.

Some of the ranges in Central Australia support large numbers of restricted and endemic species. Palm Valley is one such place.

Other parts of the Territory are important because they support abundances of wildlife.

The lowlands and floodplains of northern Australia support large groups of waterfowl, dense populations of fish and crocodiles, and many other species.

At Fogg Dam the population of water pythons has the greatest biomass density for any terrestrial predator system in the world.

Their main prey item, the dusky rat, is in the order of 15,000 individuals per square kilometre.

In other parts of the NT massive groups of wildlife are not a permanent feature.

The long-haired rat plagues in the Mitchell grasslands and chenopod shrublands of the Barkly Tablelands about every 10 to 20 years, which encourages a similar increase in its main predators, the letter-winged kite and barn owl.

The flock bronzewing is another Mitchell grassland species that sometimes occurs in large numbers.

Early explorers described huge flocks of this pigeon darkening the sky for hours as they flew over.

Most bees seen around the home are introduced European honeybees.

These are social bees and will sometimes swarm.

If you see a swarm of honeybees, you must not disturb them as they are likely to defend themselves by stinging any threats.

If you are concerned about a swarm or hive in your yard, a commercial apiarist in your area may be able to collect and relocate the bees.

European honeybees are important to the economy of the Northern Territory (NT) as they pollinate many of our food crops.

Native bees

Native bees are important for the environment as they pollinate native plants and provide a food source for some native birds, reptiles and amphibians.

Native Australian honeybees do not have a stinger and do not bite, but other native bee species can sting if provoked.

Bees near garden taps

Bees use water to cool their hives.

They will move to water sources, such as outdoor taps around your home.

You can place a bag over the tap to stop the bees from using it.

You can also provide another water source for the bees to use near the hive or their flight path.

Such water sources include a floating log or submerged rock. These will give the bees a place to land and rest while they take water and stop them drowning.

Contact

For more information, contact the apiary officer on 08 8999 2118.

In the Northern Territory (NT) every species of plant and animal is classified according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list categories and criteria.

Species are assessed against five criteria (A to E) that consider all of the following:

• population size, including number of sub-populations
• the area occupied by the species and the size of its population
• the number of locations where the species has been found
• any trends or changes to the characteristics above.

The assessment gives each species a status that relates to its risk of extinction.

Read the guidelines for using the IUCN red list categories and criteria.

The status of species within the NT might be different to their status in other states or at the national level.

The last review of species conservation status within the NT was done in 2012.

Read more on the conservation status of native wildlife in NT.

Categories for classification

Extinct (EX)

A species is extinct when there is no reasonable doubt that the last individual has died. To call a species extinct, there must have been surveys carried out to look for the species across its previously known range. The survey needs to also consider the life cycle of the species and the times of year when it might be located there.

Extinct in the wild (EW)

A species is extinct in the wild when it is known only to survive in cultivation, in captivity or as a naturalised population/s outside the range they once lived in.

Calling a species needs for there to have been similar surveys to those done for extinct species.

Critically endangered (CR)

A species is critically endangered when all the evidence shows that the species meets at least one of the IUCN criteria A to E for critically endangered.

It is then at an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. In cases where a species may be extinct but where not all surveys have been done to show the species absence, the species may be classified in a possibly extinct subcategory.

These species are considered threatened in the NT.

Endangered (EN)

A species is endangered when all evidence shows that it meets at least one of the IUCN criteria A to E for endangered species, indicating it is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.

These species are considered threatened in the NT.

Vulnerable (VU)

A species is vulnerable when all the evidence shows that it meets at least one of the IUCN criteria A to E for vulnerable, indicating that it is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.

These species are considered threatened in the NT.

Near threatened (NT)

A species is near threatened when it is not classified in one of the above threatened categories, but it is close to being or is likely to be in a threatened category soon.

Least concern (LC)

A species is least concern when there is sufficient information available to make an assessment and it is not classified as critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable or near threatened.

Species that are widespread with high numbers are in this category.

Data deficient (DD)

A species is data deficient when there is not enough information to make a direct, or indirect, assessment of its risk of extinction based on distribution and/or population.

Data deficient is not a category of threatened species, but data deficient species should not be assumed to be safe.

A species in this category may be well studied and well known but there is not enough specific data on numbers and distribution.

Species in this category need more information and future research will probably show that they need to be classified as threatened.

Not evaluated (NE)

A species is not evaluated when it is has not been assessed against the criteria. This may be because the species is a rare visitor to the Territory or that the taxonomy of the species has recently changed or is unclear.

Threatened species

Species that have been classified as extinct in the wild, critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable are threatened species and have greater protection in the NT under the Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1976.

Numbers of threatened species in each category are shown in bold in the table below.

Find out about threatened animals and threatened plants.

Classifications of NT species

The numbers of species and subspecies in each category for each of the major groups are listed below.

* Threatened fish species are not listed under the Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act, but many of these species are protected in regulations under the Fisheries Act 1998.

You must apply for a permit to collect animal materials for scientific research.

Collecting any kind of biological resource for scientific research or commercial use is called bioprospecting.

To find out more about bioprospecting, go to the Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade website.

Before you apply

You must enter into a benefit-sharing agreement with the resource access provider.

A resource access provider could be:

• the NT Government (for example national parks)
• a freehold landholder
• the Aboriginal Lands Trust.

How to negotiate

To enter into a benefit-sharing agreement, you must negotiate a benefit-sharing deed.

To help you draft a deed, you can use the templates below as a guide.

How to apply

To apply for a permit, you must contact the relevant department below, depending on whether you want to access:

• land resources
• marine resources.

If your application is successful

If your application is successful, you will be notified and issued with a valid permit.

This could take up to four weeks.

Contact

For more information, call Industry Development on 08 8999 6888 or email industrydevelopment@nt.gov.au.

You can also go to the Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade website.

Territorians share their backyards and neighbourhoods with a range of native birds, mammals and reptiles.

Native animals have adapted to a diet over many years. 

Feeding wildlife foods they wouldn't usually eat can negatively impact the health of these animals by causing obesity, nutrient deficiency or disease.

Feeding wildlife can lead to unnatural population increases and can cause animals to lose their fear of people and become aggressive or a nuisance.

Animals that have been fed for a long time may become dependent on this food source, so that when you go away or move house, these animals may suffer because they have lost the instinct to fend for themselves.

Help native animals in your backyard

Rather than encouraging native animals to come into your yard by feeding them you can do any of the following:

• plant native trees and shrubs 
• provide nesting boxes or hollow logs for birds and mammals 
• install a birdbath or pond. 

If you do plan to encourage wildlife into your backyard make sure dogs and cats are controlled, especially during the night when most native mammals are active. 

This will provide a safe haven for native wildlife without posing a risk to the animals, yourself or other members of the community.

You can explore the Northern Territory's (NT) unique and diverse wildlife from home or in the great outdoors.

If you find an animal in the NT that you can't identify, you can do any of the following:

• take a picture of the animal and submit it on the Atlas of Living Australia website
• upload the picture and find the animal on the Field Guide NT App
  • read about the app and how to get it on the Museum and Art Gallery of the NT website
• use the OzAtlas App to see what species have been recorded in your area
  • get the app on Google Play or App Store.

Field guides

You can also look at the field guides listed below that may be found in your local library.

Mammals

Books that cover all Australian mammal species are:

• Steve Van Dyck and Ronald Strahan, editors. (2008), The Mammals of Australia, 3rd edition. (New Holland Publishers, Sydney).
• Steve Van Dyck, Ian Gynther and Andrew Baker (2013) Field Companion to the Mammals of Australia (CSIRO Publishing, Canberra)
• Peter Menkhorst and Frank Knight (2010), A field guide to the mammals of Australia (Oxford University Press, Melbourne).

Rats, mice and dasyurids

One publication provides information for the rats, mice and dasyurids (carnivorous marsupials) that are found in the NT:

• Jeff Cole and John Woinarski (2002) Field Guide to the Rodents and Dasyurids of the Northern Territory (Surrey Beatty & Sons).

A detailed specialist account of Australia's rats and mice is contained in:

• C. H. S. Watts & H. J. Aslin (1981), The rodents of Australia (Angus and Robertson, Sydney).

Specific mammal groups

A number of books are available to help identify specific mammal groups.

The best book on bats, which are probably the most difficult mammals to identify, is:

• Sue Churchill (2009) Australian bats 2^nd Edition (Allen & Unwin Publishers, Sydney).

Bats

A smaller book that covers NT bats is:

• Bruce Thompson (1991), A field guide to bats of the Northern Territory (Conservation Commission of the NT, Darwin).

Birds

Four high quality field guides are available that cover all Australian birds. Any of these books can be used to identify NT birds:

• Ken Simpson and Nicholas Day (2010), Field guide to the birds of Australia, 8^th edition. (Penguin Books, Ringwood)
• Michael Morcombe (2004), Field guide to Australian birds, 2^nd edition (Steve Parish Publishing, Archerfield). eGuide also available to buy for smart phone
• Peter, Pat and Raoul Slater (2009), The Slater Field Guide to Australian birds, 2^nd edition (New Holland, Frenchs Forest)
• Graham Pizzey and Frank Knight. (2012), The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia, 9^th edition (HarperCollins, Sydney).

You can also use the Birds in backyards website.

Reptiles and frogs

References that identify Australia's frogs and/or reptiles include:

• Steve Wilson and Gerry Swan (2013), A complete Guide to the Reptiles of Australia, 4^th edition (New Holland Publishers)
• Harold Cogger (2014), Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia 7^th edition (Reed New Holland, Frenchs Forest).

Several publications that only cover the NT may be valuable to confirm identifications. These include:

• Paul Horner (1992), Skinks of the Northern Territory (Northern Territory Museum of Arts and Sciences, Darwin)
• and Michael Tyler and Margaret Davies (1986), Frogs of the Northern Territory (Conservation Commission of the NT, Darwin).

Freshwater fish

The following book covers identification of all Australia's freshwater fish:

• G. R. Allen, S. H. Midgley and M. Allen (2002), Field guide to the freshwater fishes of Australia (Western Australian Museum, Perth).

Several books that cover identification of all or part of the NT's freshwater fish are:

• Helen Larson and Keith Martin (1989), Freshwater fishes of the Northern Territory (Northern Territory Museum of Arts and Sciences, Darwin)
• Rob Wager and Peter Unmack (2000), Fishes of the Lake Eyre catchment of central Australia (Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane).

Insects

Insects are a diverse group of animals. Most individuals can only be identified to the family level. A selection of useful identification books is listed below:

• Graham Brown’s interactive key on CD for Northern Territory Insects - A Comprehensive Guide - to the identification of the insects of the Northern Territory with keys, a catalogue of species and over 4,000 photographs
• Brown, G.R. (2009). Northern Territory Insects A Comprehensive Guide. CD. CBIT Qld University
• CSIRO (1991), The insects of Australia, 2nd edition (Melbourne University Press, Carlton)
• P. Zborowski and R. Storey (2003) A Field Guide to Insects in Australia, 2nd edition (Reed New Holland, Sydney)
• M.F. Braby (2004) The Complete Field Guide to Butterflies of Australia (CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood)
• P. Zborowski and E.D. Edwards (2007) A Guide to Australian Moths (CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood)
• G. Theischinger and J. Hawking (2006) The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia (CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood)
• M.S. Moulds (1990) Australian Cicadas. (New South Wales University Press, Kensington).

Masked lapwings or plovers (Vanellus miles miles) will swoop to defend their eggs or young chicks. 

These attacks are seasonal, most often during the breeding season from November to June. Swooping usually stops when the eggs hatch and the chicks can fly. 

Plovers generally nest in a small depression in the ground laying three to four eggs, which take about 28 days to hatch.

It is unusual for plovers to strike and contact is rarely made when they swoop.

What to do if you are swooped

Try to tolerate plovers if swooping is minor or rare, and you don't feel threatened. 

Otherwise if you are swooped you can do any of the following:

• avoid plovers during breeding season by taking a different route
• travel in groups plovers tend to swoop individuals
• wear a hat
• hold or wave a stick or flag above your head
• if you are riding a bike get off it and walk through the area
• put up warning signs for others who may not be aware that there are swooping birds in the area.

You can discourage plovers from nesting in your area by changing the habitat to make it unsuitable for them to breed by letting the grass grow long or by planting shrubs.

What not to do if you are swooped

Do not do any of the following: 

• stare at a bird when they swoop
• panic or run as it will encourage a swooping bird to continue its attack as most swooping behaviour is a form of bluffing
• search for the nest or young
• remove eggs or damage the nest
• harass, interfere or throw objects at the birds.

Brush-tail Possums are a protected species the Northern Territory (NT).

Possums are very territorial and given the opportunity, will make your roof or shed their home.

If you have a problem possum there are a number of things you can do.

• Do not feed possums.
• Place unwanted food scraps into the bin.
• Ensure that all bins have secure lids.
• Bring in or cover dog and cat biscuits of a night time.
• Cut back any overhanging trees to stop possums from accessing the house.
• Install sensor or flood lights in affected areas to deter possums.
• Grease any posts leading to the roof
• Of a night time, as to not trap a possum in the roof, seal up any possible access points.

Failing this, you can call any number of licenced Pest Control operators to assist you in removing possums.

Once you are sure that your roof is empty, block up the hole or access point.

Possums MUST be released within 50m of capture site.

Remember, possums are territorial and it won’t take long for the same or another possum to take up residence once again.

If you are happy to have possums living in your yard but not your roof, look up ‘Possum boxes designs’ online and try building a possum box.

If you find a snake in or around your house, do not touch the snake.

Keep track of its approximate location and call a snake handler on 1800 453 210.

You might be asked to send a photo through for identification. It is helpful if you can include an approximate size and what date and time you saw the snake.

If you find an injured snake you should also report it.

Wildlife crime is the taking, interfering with, possession, control or trade in an animal that is protected wildlife, without approval.

All native wildlife is protected in the Northern Territory (NT).

It is also a criminal offence to bring protected wildlife into, release protected wildlife in or take protected wildlife out of the NT.

How to report

Report online

Find out about other ways to report.

Prohibited entrants

Prohibited entrants are animals that are not native to the NT and are banned from entering the Territory.

These include all of the following:

• mustelidae family - ferrets and stoats
• axolotls or Mexican walking fish
• all species of frog
• all species of turtles.

Read more about prohibited entrants.

If you are found guilty of a wildlife offence you could face a fine of up to 500 penalty units or 5 years in prison.

Wildlife permits

Wildlife permits help Parks and Wildlife keep track of wildlife held in captivity and to detect illegal wildlife activities.

You need a permit to do any of the following:

• take or interfere with protected and prohibited wildlife
• keep protected and prohibited wildlife
• import or export any wildlife
• use any part of a native animal in the NT such as:
  • the skull
  • skins
  • shells
  • teeth
• care for wildlife and releasing wildlife back to the wild.

Read more on wildlife permits.

Exempt species

Some species are exempt from needing a permit but must still be obtained legally from a licensed pet shop or pet breeder and not taken from the wild.

Wildlife smuggling

Some animals are very valuable. Wildlife smugglers often target Central Australia and remote areas.

To help stop wildlife smugglers, you should look out for any of the following signs of smuggling:

• snake catch equipment such as:
  • tongs
  • hooks
  • pinning sticks
• calico bags
• hoop bags
• plastic boxes with holes or other ventilated boxes
• cage traps
• nets
• other traps
• live animal imports and exports that do not have a valid permit attached to the parcel
• animal products that have no permits or product tags.

Report wildlife crime

If you know of or suspect someone is involved in a wildlife crime, report it to your nearest Parks and Wildlife office or contact wildlife operations:

Phone 24 hours: 0401 115 702
Wildlife.investigations@nt.gov.au

You can report anonymously.

You should provide as much information as possible. Think about names, descriptions, address, vehicle details and registration, time, date, location and reasons for your suspicion.

How to report

Report online

Estimated completion time is 5 to 10 minutes.

Other ways to report

Fill in the below form.

Crime against wildlife report PDF (169.6 KB)
Crime against wildlife report DOCX (65.5 KB)

Submit your report by email or mail to:

Parks and Wildlife Commission
PO Box 496
Palmerston NT 0831 
wildlife.investigations@nt.gov.au

A person in charge of an animal must look after its welfare and protect it from neglect and cruelty.

If you suspect or witness them not doing that, you should report it to the Animal Welfare Branch. If you're not sure, get their advice.

All contact is confidential, and you can stay anonymous. But they may need more information so it's best to provide your contact details.

If a matter results in a court case, your name may also be asked for by the court.

You can call 1300 720 386, email animalwelfare@nt.gov.au or submit a report online.

Report online

What you can report on

You can report on the following:

• exposure to extreme heat or cold such as leaving an animal in a car or without proper shelter
• suffering from hunger or thirst
• being hurt, beaten, kicked or abused
• an injury or illness not treated
• being abandoned
• unsuitable environment e.g. a space that is too small and does not have enough space to exercise
• at risk of death or injury
• deliberately baited or poisoned
• used to perform an illegal activity such as dogs or birds being encouraged to fight each other.

What Information you need

When you make a complaint, you must provide:

• incident details, including:
  • location - street address (if specific place) or description and registration number (if vehicle)
  • date and time
  • why you’re concerned
  • the animal's condition
• details of the people involved, including: 
  • physical description
  • name, address, phone number or if they're known to be abusive or violent (if you know them)
• the type and number of animals involved
• any other information that may help, like:
  • names and addresses of other witnesses
  • aggressive dogs at the address.

You must not give false or misleading information. If you do, you can be charged with an offence.

How a complaint is investigated

When you make a complaint, the Animal Welfare Branch will assess the immediate risk to the animal.

They will then provide this information to an authorised inspector or police officer to investigate.

Depending on the situation, they may:

• call you for more information
• take no further action
• educate the owner on how to properly care for the animal
• instruct the owner to address the welfare issues
• collect evidence to begin a prosecution
• take the animal away
• re-visit the property later to check their advice has been followed.

A veterinarian or animal specialist can also be called in for advice.

For privacy and legal reasons, you can't find out the exact outcome unless an offence was found.

If you are a pastoralist you can get help with managing wild dogs.

For more information and application forms, contact chemical services: (08) 8999 2344 or (08) 8999 2016.

In local government areas, contact your local council.

Before rescuing injured wildlife you must make sure you and your party are safe from possible danger from road and traffic, other animals or the injured animal itself.

If you find an injured animal you should do all of the following:

• make sure the animal is away from noise
• keep handling to a minimum to keep the animal calm
• keep pets and children away from wildlife
• make sure the animal actually needs rescuing
• don't offer food especially not cow's milk as this can make many animals sick
• move roadkill at least 10m away from the road
• check dead kangaroo and possum pouches for joeys
• make sure you put your own safety first.

Report injured wildlife

Organisations that collect, care and release injured, orphaned or sick wildlife in the Northern Territory (NT) are run by volunteers. You may not hear back from a volunteer immediately because they may be at work or busy with other tasks.

Contact a wildlife rescue near you

If possible, these organisations will make sure the animal is collected, cared for and released.

Darwin

Call Darwin Wildlife Sanctuary on 0473 992 581.

Katherine

Call Wildcare Inc on 0412 955 336.

Alice Springs

Call Wildcare Alice Springs on 0419 221 128.

Taking the animal to a vet

Some local vets support wildlife care and offer first aid for native animals at no charge.

You can drop the animal off during business hours to any of the following vet clinics:

• All Pets Vet Hospital
• Ark Animal Hospital Yarrawonga
• Barkly Veterinary Practice, Tennant Creek
• Darwin Mobile Vets
• Howard Springs Veterinary Clinic
• Litchfield Vets
• Parap Veterinary Hospital
• Paul Arnold Bush Photos (drop off point only)
• University Avenue Veterinary Hospital

If you choose to care for injured or orphaned wildlife you will need a wildlife carer's permit.

For more information  and contacts read the wildlife rescue information sheet PDF (1.5 MB).

This is a list of threatened amphibians, birds, invertebrates, mammals and reptiles in the Northern Territory (NT).

It also includes a list of NT fish that qualify for threatened species status (not listed under the Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1976).

Conservation status indicates the status under the Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1976.

See the list of threatened plants.

If you want to translocate wildlife in the Northern Territory (NT), you must get relevant approvals.

Translocation of wildlife for conservation is moving flora or fauna from one site to another to:

• improve the status of threatened species
• restore natural ecosystem processes.

To translocate wildlife, you must:

• develop a proposal and get it endorsed
• apply for a wildlife permit.

Before you apply

Read the policy and guidelines:

Wildlife translocation policy PDF (262.4 KB)
Wildlife translocation guidelines  PDF (382.7 KB)

Timeframes

You should submit your draft proposal at least 6 months before the proposed date of translocation to allow time for review and feedback.

How to apply

To apply, follow these steps:

Step 1. Discuss your proposal

Contact the Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security (DEPWS) Flora and Fauna division to discuss your proposal.

They can advise:

• whether the proposal aligns with regional, territory and national priorities, including recovery or action plans for threatened species
• on streamlining requirements for translocations across jurisdictional borders
• suitable capture and handling methods for fauna, or removal and transport techniques for flora
• management requirements at proposed release sites - e.g. predator control or exclusion
• what to include in your permit application
• other relevant information or approval requirements.

Other consultation

You must also discuss your proposal with the relevant landholders.

This includes both landholders of the area where the source population occurs and the translocation site. You must provide written evidence of the landholder’s support for the proposed translocation.

If any part of the translocation will be carried out on Aboriginal land, you must consult with the relevant traditional owners and land councils.

Step 2. Develop your proposal

Draft and develop your proposal. It must meet the requirements of appendix 1 found in the guidelines.

The proposal should:

• provide information about the proposed translocation
• outline other potential conservation options and reasons why you have chosen translocation.

You should include evidence and data to support your application.

Step 3. Submit your proposal

Submit your proposal to biodiversity.depws@nt.gov.au.

It will be assessed against the policy principles and requirements in appendix 1.

If your proposal is endorsed, you can apply for a permit in step 4.

The department will notify you if:

• your proposal isn’t endorsed
• you need to provide more information.

Step 4. Apply for a permit

Once your proposal is endorsed, you will need to apply for the relevant permit/s from Parks and Wildlife.

Depending on your circumstances, this may include:

• take or interfere with wildlife
• undertake scientific research on animals or plants
• import / export - if sourcing animals from interstate
• release.

You will be told which permit to apply for when your proposal is endorsed.

You must include your endorsed proposal with any permit application.

If the source or release site is on Commonwealth land, you might need additional authorisations under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

If you are granted a permit, you must comply with the requirements outlined in your proposal and any other conditions.

Step 5. Begin translocation

Once you have received the relevant permits, you can begin the translocation program subject to the conditions of your permits.

Contact

Email biodiversity.depws@nt.gov.au.

Many native animals become victims of barbed wire entanglement. 

Entanglements usually happen when nocturnal animals don’t see fencing or can't clear the height of the fencing.

Over 75 native wildlife species have been recorded as becoming entangled on barbed wire fencing.

How to help entangled wildlife

If you see an animal entangled on barbed wire fencing you should do the following:

• report the animal to your local wildlife rescue organisation or Wildlife Operations, Parks and Wildlife
• if possible, leave the rescue to a wildlife carer or wildlife ranger to reduce the risk of further injury to the animal and to you
• while waiting for a wildlife carer or wildlife ranger, reduce stress by providing the animal with shade
• keep people, especially children, and other animals away
• do not handle bats.

Wildlife friendly fencing

You can do all of the following to reduce the impact of barbed wire fencing on our native wildlife:

• monitor barbed wire fencing in your area and report any entangled animals to your local wildlife rescue organisation or to Wildlife Operations
• put bunting on the top wire of barbed wire fencing so it can be seen by animals and help them to avoid it
• replace the top strand of fence with plain or borderline sighter (white plastic coated) wire
• avoid using barbed wire
• consider if a fence is needed and think about other options such as planted barriers
• avoid erecting fences on ridgelines, near fruiting or flowering trees, across wildlife corridors, over dams or waterways
• don’t grow fruiting or flowering plants near barbed wire fencing
• remove and appropriately dispose of redundant barbed wire fencing as soon as possible.

Contact

To report an entangled animal or for more information on wildlife friendly fencing, contact Wildlife Operations or a wildlife rescue organisation in your area.

Go to the Wildlife Friendly Fencing website for information to help keep your fences safe for Australian wildlife.

Darwin

Wildcare Inc.: (08) 8988 6121 or 0408 885 341

Parks and Wildlife, Wildlife Operations Darwin: 0401 115 702

Katherine

Katherine Wildlife Rescue: 0412 955 336

Parks and Wildlife, Wildlife Operations Katherine: 0419 828 487

Alice Springs

Wildcare Alice Springs: 0419 221 128

Parks and Wildlife, Wildlife Operations Alice Springs: (08) 8951 8290

If you’re an eligible organisation, you can apply for a grant to deliver a call-out service for sick, injured, or orphaned wildlife.

This service must be available 7 days a week from 7am to 8pm, and must include advice, rescue and rehabilitation.

You must also follow relevant laws and guidance on care, rehabilitation and release of protected wildlife in the Northern Territory (NT).

Who can apply

You can apply for a grant if your organisation:

• is legally registered and operates in the NT
• is a registered not-for-profit incorporated body, co-operative or association
• maintains public liability insurance (no less than $20 million for any one occurrence).

If you're an unincorporated body, you must nominate an organisation with appropriate legal status that accepts legal and financial responsibility for the grant.

What you can apply for

You can receive payment every year for 5 years, up to:

• $100,000 per year for Darwin
• $30,000 per year for Alice Springs
• $20,000 per year for Katherine.

How to apply

Applications are now open until noon Monday 6 May.

To apply, go to GrantsNT.

After you apply

You will be notified by email of the outcome of your application.

If you’re successful

If you're successful, you will receive a grant funding agreement. You must sign this and agree to the terms and conditions before you receive your grant.

Performance measures

Your performance will be based on evidence of capacity, commitment and community support, within the agreed timeframes.

These performance measures will be outlined in your agreement.

Reporting

As part of your funding agreement, you must provide:

• a mid-year and annual progress report
• financial report
• verified income and expenditure statement
• funding acquittal statement.

You must provide these within the agreed timeframes outlined in the agreement before subsequent payments will be made.

Templates will be provided.

More information

Read the guidelines for Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Grants Program 2025-2029.

Guidelines for Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Grants Program 2025-2029 PDF (242.7 KB)
Guidelines for Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Grants Program 2025-2029  DOCX (192.7 KB)

Contact

Wildlife Operations
Level 4 Goyder Centre
25 Chung Wah Terrace
Palmerston NT 0830
wildlife.management@nt.gov.au

Phone: 08 8995 5008