Wildlife Crime: It’s Your Call
Protecting native Wildlife is everyone’s responsibility and the community plays a vital role in solving Wildlife crime.
Crime Stoppers Victoria and the Conservation Regulator join forces for their ‘Wildlife Crime: It’s Your Call’ campaign, to help the public recognise wildlife crime and encourage them to come forward with any information that could help find those responsible.
Help us solve Wildlife crime. Your call could make the difference.
Please note: Reports to Crime Stoppers are processed and passed on to relevant authorities for action.
What is Wildlife Crime?
What is Wildlife Crime?
Wildlife crime is any illegal activity that involves and impacts wildlife welfare, which include 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.
Penalties
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.
What is 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.
Penalties
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.
A day in the life of a Forest and Wildlife Officer
Unsolved Cases
Your assistance is invaluable in solving wildlife crime cases. Your reports and cooperation greatly contribute to protecting our precious wildlife. Together, we can create a safer environment for all creatures. Join us in our efforts to combat wildlife crime.
The Conservation Regulator is seeking public information regarding an incident involving a juvenile white-bellied sea eagle, approximately 4 months old, which was allegedly shot around 3-4 weeks ago in Avalon. The exact date is yet to be confirmed.
A member of the public reported hearing gunshots in a nearby paddock to a neighbor. Following this report, a local birdwatcher discovered the deceased bird in the paddock. The discovery was reported to the Conservation Regulator on Wednesday, February 21.
Authorized Officers visited the site on Thursday, February 22, and confirmed the presence of the eagle’s body. Examination revealed entry and exit wounds consistent with shotgun pellets on the bird’s beak. Due to decomposition, further testing could not be conducted.
The land where the incident occurred is currently owned by Geelong Grammar School and leased to a farmer. White-bellied sea eagles are classified as endangered under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee (FFG) Act 1988.
Ornithologists have been monitoring a breeding pair of adult white-bellied sea eagles in Avalon for several years, believed to be the only breeding pair in Port Phillip Bay. It is alleged that the deceased juvenile eagle is the offspring of this pair.
Authorities have interviewed witnesses and representatives from Geelong Grammar School and Avalon College, but no Persons of Interest (POI) have been identified at this stage.
Anyone with information is urged to contract Crime Stoppers Victoria reporting online or calling 1800 333 000. Under the Wildlife Act 1975 it is illegal to hunt, take or destroy threatened wildlife, including the white-bellied sea eagle.
The maximum penalty is $46,154 and or two years in jail.
The Conservation Regulator is calling on the public for information about two eastern grey kangaroos allegedly attacked by two dogs near Blessington Parade in Lalor on 22 December 2023.
A member of the public reported the incident to Wildlife Victoria after observing a male drive away with the two pet dogs and leaving the seriously injured kangaroos at the scene.
The kangaroos were subsequently euthanised by a wildlife carer due to the severity of their wounds. A very young joey was also found at the scene and was taken to a local wildlife shelter for rehabilitation.
All wildlife, including kangaroos, are protected in Victoria under the Wildlife Act 1975 and it is illegal to hunt, take, destroy, injure, or interfere with them without authorisation and severe penalties apply.
The maximum penalty for hunting, taking, or destroying wildlife is $9,615.
Solved Cases: Protecting Victoria’s wildlife
Public assistance is incredibly important to investigating and solving wildlife crime.
When you make a report about something you know or anything suspicious you’ve seen, it greatly contributes to protecting our precious native wildlife.
Join us in our efforts to combat wildlife crime.
Solved
- 2021
The community helped the Conservation Regulator identify two men who illegally killed protected wildlife, including an endangered powerful owl, in Paul Range State Forest near Melbourne following a Crime Stoppers Victoria appeal for information.
Both men were non-English speaking immigrants who were unaware of the relevant wildlife laws in Victoria. The Conservation Regulator facilitated an information session with co-regulars to educate the men and their community about hunting and environmental laws in Victoria.
A dog owner self-reported to the Conservation Regulator last year after a video of their pet dog attacking a kangaroo in Upwey was circulated online and a call for information was made through Crime Stoppers Victoria.
The dog owner was issued an Official Warning under the Wildlife Act 1975 for allowing their dog to attack wildlife, and officers educated them about the dangers of dog and wildlife interactions.
Thanks to an anonymous community report about native birds being shot near Mildura, the Conservation Regulator investigated and prosecuted a man for animal cruelty offenses.
On inspection of the man’s property, Conservation Regulator Authorised Officers found four dead and two injured magpies, which were later euthanised by a qualified veterinarian due to the seriousness of their wounds.
In 2023, the man was sentenced to a two-year good behavior bond and ordered to pay nearly $2,400 in fines and legal costs after he pleaded guilty to ten charges of wounding and inflicting aggravated cruelty on an animal under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986.
