Translocate wildlife

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.