Collecting and keeping dead protected animals or animal parts

The purpose of this authority type is to allow a person to take (collect) a dead protected animal or animal part from the wild that has the conservation status of ‘least concern wildlife’ under the Act, to keep and use for personal use.

Personal use includes a commercial art purpose but does not include a commercial purpose.

A person acts for a commercial purpose if the person acts for gain or reward. See the regulation for a full definition.

A commercial art purpose means creating a work of art for the purpose of selling it but does not include creating a work of art by processing an animal, or part of an animal, to show the animal’s original physical form or structure.

The activity of processing an animal, or part of an animal for a commercial purpose, to show the animal’s original physical form or structure is captured under a dealer licence.

The conservation status of any protected animal can be found using the species profile search.

Upon expiry of the authority, a person must appropriately dispose of the dead least concern animals, apply for a collection authority (new dead animal collection) or transfer them to another relevant permit, licence, or authority.

How to apply

Applicants for this permit type must demonstrate proficient and ethical knowledge and experience in the identification and collection of dead protected animals.

In order to demonstrate this, the following information must be provided with an application:

• statements outlining what dead protected animals or animal parts you propose to collect from the wild (for example feathers, skulls, bones, eggs, skins etc), and what purpose the collection will be used for
• a statement describing your skills and experience in identifying ‘least concern wildlife’ when collecting dead protected animals
• any relevant courses undertaken or reference where you will obtain positive identification of a dead protected animal or animal part collected.

Maximum duration of this collection authority type is six (6) months.

The purpose of this authority type is to allow a person to keep and use dead animals or animal parts that have already been lawfully taken from the wild or kept in captivity.

Examples of lawful sources for a dead protected animal or an animal part include:

• ‘Least concern wildlife’ taken under a collection authority (least concern animal collection).
• A class 1 or class 2 animal that has died while lawfully kept under a standard, specialised or advanced licence.
• A dead protected animal which has been obtained from the holder of a licence or permit held under the Exhibited Animals Act 2015 such as a zoo, wildlife park or mobile exhibitor.

Under a collection authority (dead animal collection authority), a person can keep a collection of dead protected animals and use them for teaching and training purposes but not a commercial purpose.

Upon expiry of the authority the collection of dead animals must be disposed of appropriately or another Dead Animal Collection Authority be applied for and granted. Dead animals cannot be sold or given away under a Dead Animal Collection Authority.

A collection authority (dead protected animal) is required for:

• Training providers (first aid, Queensland Ambulance Service) keeping a collection of dead venomous snakes
• Home schooling
• Private collections where the holder took the dead animal or animal parts from the wild under a collection authority (least concern animal collection) which is about to expire, and the holder no longer wishes to collect or use dead least concern animals under that authority.

How to apply

Applicants for this authority type must provide a list of species they want to keep, and where they will be obtaining them from.

The maximum duration for a collection authority (dead animal collection) is five (5) years.

What is the difference between a commercial purpose and a commercial art purpose?

A person acts for a commercial purpose if the person acts for gain or reward. See the regulation for a full definition.

A commercial art purpose means creating a work of art for the purpose of selling it; but does not include creating a work of art by processing an animal, or part of an animal, to show the animal’s original physical form or structure.

The activity of processing an animal, or part of an animal for a commercial purpose, to show the animal’s original physical form or structure is captured under a dealer licence.

Are naturally shed animal products exempt from requiring a collection authority?

A person may take, keep, and use a naturally shed, lost, or excreted (without any human intervention or inducement) parts of a protected animal for a non-commercial purpose, without the need for a licence, permit or specific authorisation.

Examples include bird feathers, a naturally shed snake skin, snake teeth, or fur.

Natural products may be used for artwork but the artwork cannot be sold for a commercial purpose.

However if the discarded part is collected and sold as a wholesale product to a retailer or art studio, then a harvesting licence is required.

An example of where a harvesting licence is required is for the collection of a large quantity of naturally shed bird feathers to sell online or to a wholesaler.

Find out more about harvesting licences (protected animals other than macropods).

Can I pick up feathers out of the wild?

Yes. A person may take, keep and use the natural product of a protected animal for non-commercial purposes without a permit, licence or authority.

A natural product means a product that is shed, lost or excreted by an animal without any human inducement or other human intervention.

Examples of natural products include feathers of a bird that the bird naturally sheds or loses, skin of a snake that is naturally shed by the snake, or teeth of a snake that are naturally excreted in the faeces of the snake.

Note: this definition does not include bones, skulls etc.

Can I use the natural products I collect for artwork or jewellery?

Yes, provided the creation of the artwork or jewellery is for non-commercial purposes. For example, a person may take a naturally shed feather from the wild, make earrings from the feather and wear the earrings however the earrings could not be sold.

Do I need a permit to pick up and keep roadkill?

Yes. To take parts of dead protected animals of least concern species from the wild you need a least concern animal collection authority. The taking of these animals must be for non-commercial purposes, except for a commercial art purpose.

The collection of dead protected animals or animal parts of threatened or near threatened species is prohibited under a least concern dead animal collection authority and a dead animal collection authority.

Can I use the animals taken under a least concern animal collection authority for taxidermy?

No. In Queensland, taxidermy of dead protected animals is conducted under a dealer licence. The holder of a dealer licence can buy, accept or receive native animals from captive, lawful sources and turn them into processed products, which may then be sold and are no longer regulated. The holder of a least concern animal collection authority is authorised to use the animal, which allows the holder to preserve the animal in a way that prevents deterioration for keeping at the licenced premises e.g. snake in ethanol solution, treated/boiled bones etc.

Can I use the animals taken from the wild under a least concern animal collection authority for artwork?

Yes. Animals taken under a least concern animal collection authority may be used for a commercial art purpose. A commercial art purpose—

1. means creating a work of art for the purpose of selling it, but
2. does not include creating a work of art by processing an animal, or part of an animal, to show the animal’s original physical form or structure. For example, creating an articulated skeleton or a taxidermy mount.

Can I keep the animal parts taken under a least concern animal collection authority in perpetuity?

No. Unless turned into artwork, animal parts taken under a least concern animal collection authority remain protected animals and as such require an authority to be kept long-term. A person may apply for a dead animal collection authority, which allows the person to keep dead protected animals/parts that have been lawfully taken, for an extended period of five (5) years.

Alternatively, upon expiry of a least concern animal collection authority dead animals, if you wish to keep collecting dead animals or animal parts, apply for a new collection authority (dead least concern animal), or dispose of animal parts appropriately.

I want to collect a dead rabbit or fox or cat. What permit do I need?

The collection of dead animals or animal parts of species that are not protected under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 or not native to Australia cannot be authorised under the Nature Conservation Act 1992.

Permits or licences issued under other Acts such as the Fisheries Act 1994 or Biosecurity Act 2014 may be required. There may also be requirements under local laws regulated by councils or regional authorities.

How to I search for the conservation status of an animal?

The conservation status of any protected animal can be found using the species profile search.

I want to collect and incorporate plants into artwork. What permit do I need?

The collection of plant parts only (not the whole plant) from plant species other than species that are critically endangered or endangered does not require a permit. You must be the landowner or have landowner permission before taking the plan parts from the wild.

The plant parts can be used in artwork and sold.