Wildlife and Forest Crime
The Conservation Regulator and Crime Stoppers Victoria have partnered to raise awareness of the trafficking and the trade of native wildlife, and the growing crime of the illegal take of firewood. Through this partnership Crime Stoppers Victoria educates the community on the signs to look out for to encourage reporting of wildlife crimes and forest crimes through our reporting application.
What is a wildlife crime?
Wildlife crime is any illegal activity that involves and impacts wildlife welfare, including causing pain and suffering to individual animals or acts that could negatively affect species survival. Actions that can harm, scare, or kill native animals, such as hunting, poisoning, or trapping without permission are all wildlife crimes.
Other illegal activities including poaching, trading, importing, exporting, keeping native species as pets unlawfully, and destroying wildlife habitat, such as nests and trees, are also considered wildlife crimes.
All wildlife is protected in Victoria under the Wildlife Act 1975 and it is illegal to hunt, take, destroy, injure, or interfere with them without authorisation, with maximum penalties of $46,154 and/or two years in jail.
Penalties for animal cruelty can be up to $96,155 or two years in jail.
Report environmental crimes on public land 136 186 Report wildlife crime to Crime Stoppers Victoria online or on 1800 333 000.
Wildlife Cases
See current wildlife cases and share what you know on our Wildlife Cases page.
Please note: Wildlife Reports to Crime Stoppers Victoria are processed and passed on to relevant authorities for action.
WATCH THE VIDEOS
See the real impact of wildlife and forest crime
Real scenarios, clear consequences, and what you can do to help.
Buying firewood?
Report illegal firewood activity to Crime Stoppers.
Where firewood comes from matters. It may have been illegally cut down from our forests and national parks – destroying wildlife habitat. Check your firewood is legal before you buy.
Around 9,000 trees, equivalent to the size of almost 180 Melbourne Cricket Grounds, are illegally removed from Victorian forests and national parks each year, with much of that timber entering the black market and ending up in household fireplaces.
We launched a new campaign with the Conservation Regulator that encourages Victorians to check their firewood has been legally sourced and report illegal activity.
Find out how to check your firewood is legal and how to report illegal activity on our Illegal Take of Firewood campaign page.
