Exhibiting wildlife

General information

Exhibiting wildlife (e.g. wildlife parks and zoos)

A wildlife exhibitor licence is needed to display protected, international or prohibited wildlife in a zoological exhibit. A zoological exhibit is characterised by the presence of permanent enclosures to keep and use wildlife for display. The holder of a wildlife exhibitor licence may also use wildlife kept under the licence for film or television display. This licence is issued under the Nature Conservation Act 1992.

A zoological exhibit must comply with the Code of practice: Minimum standards for exhibiting wildlife in Queensland (PDF, 381K)*.

It is in the applicant's interest to engage the department early on in the development and construction of the facility to avoid having to make costly modifications to exhibits once construction is complete, should they not comply with the code.

Guidelines and policies

Please read the information below to find out how to apply for a licence to carry out this type of activity.

You can also read the legislation online by visiting the Office of Queensland Parliamentary Counsel website.

• Guideline: General requirements - Keeping and using protected, international or prohibited animals in Queensland (PDF, 98K)*
• Guideline: Conditions and restrictions - Keeping exempt animals (PDF, 53K)*
• Guideline: General requirements - Keeping and using exotic animals under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 (PDF, 95K)*
• Guideline: Conditions and restrictions - Keeping and using protected, international or prohibited animals under a wildlife exhibitor licence (PDF, 89K)*

Pre-design conference service

The department offers a service to guide applicants through the assessment process. The service includes meeting with a departmental project manager to discuss the information that must be provided with your application.

This service can be initiated by contacting Permit and Licence Management or by email at palm@derm.qld.gov.au or completing a Pre-design conference application form (Word, 285K)‡. If a meeting is required to discuss your application in more detail, a departmental officer will contact you directly.

Permits and approvals

To apply for this type of licence, you need to lodge a completed application form. The Code of practice: Minimum standards for exhibiting wildlife in Queensland (PDF, 381K)* covers:

• Husbandry
• Feeding
• Record-keeping
• Transporting wildlife
• Establishing a wildlife park

Forms and fees

Please download an application form; contact Permit and Licence Management or by email at palm @derm.qld.gov.au for assistance.

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‡ Requires Microsoft Office files viewer

Last updated 3 May 2012

Commercial use of animals

• Commercial harvesting of protected animals
• Commercial interaction with protected animals
• Commercial trade of live and dead protected wildlife
• Demonstrating wildlife
• Exhibiting wildlife
• Farming certain wildlife
• Keeping particular protected wildlife
• Whale watching