Illegal Wildlife Trade
Agriculture Victoria and Crime Stoppers Victoria have partnered together to raise awareness of illegal wildlife trafficking and the trade of native and exotic animals within Victoria. Through this partnership Crime Stoppers Victoria educates the community on the signs to look out for to encourage reporting illegal wildlife trafficking through our reporting application.
What is illegal wildlife trafficking?
Please note: Wildlife Reports to Crime Stoppers Victoria are processed and passed on to relevant authorities for action.
Wildlife trafficking involves the illegal trade of exotic animals into Australia. The illegal trade poses risks of introducing diseases and pests that can harm agriculture, and it often involves cruel animal treatment. Illegally imported animals or their products can pose a great biosecurity risk. Exotic animals, like the red-eared slider turtle and pygmy hedgehog could bring in new animal and human diseases such as foot and mouth disease or rabies. Such diseases would have devastating impacts on our way of life, primary production, and the environment.
Wildlife trafficking is the fourth-largest organised crime globally, worth over $450 billion a year, according to the Wildlife Crime Research Hub. Wildlife trafficking in Australia can as be profitable for criminals as drugs and firearms trafficking.
The maximum penalty for illegally importing, possessing, or selling exotic pest animals in Victoria is a fine of up to $95,000.
If you have an illegal exotic pet, now is the time to surrender it — before someone reports you. Exotic pets surrendered to businesses can contact Agriculture Victoria‘s Customer Service Centre at 136 186.
WATCH THE VIDEOS
See the real impact of wildlife and forest crime
Real scenarios, clear consequences, and what you can do to help.
Cage Closed
Report Illegal Exotic Animals to Crime Stoppers.
We need your help to stop the trafficking and ownership of illegal exotic pets. The illegal trade and keeping of exotic animals pose a serious threat to our native wildlife.
The ‘Cage Closed’ campaign raises awareness of the illegal trade in exotic pest animals and the serious legal and financial penalties faced by those involved. Keeping, breeding or trading exotic animals fuels a criminal supply chain and can result in investigation, seizure of animals, prosecution, and significant penalties under the law.
Animals detected through illegal networks have included African pygmy hedgehogs, tortoises, snakes and iguanas. Authorities warn that these animals are often sourced, transported and kept in unsafe conditions, placing significant stress on the animals and increasing the risk of harm if they escape or are released into the environment.
