Protecting Our Wildlife
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.
Exotic Pet Trade
What is illegal wildlife trafficking?
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.
If you have any information about the illegal exotic animal trade, you can report it anonymously to Crime Stoppers Victoria by calling 1800 333 000 or by submitting a report online.
Please note: Reports to Crime Stoppers Victoria are processed and passed on to the relevant authorities for action.
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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.
If you have any information about the illegal exotic animal trade, you can report it anonymously to Crime Stoppers Victoria by calling 1800 333 000 or by submitting a report online.
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