Australia has strong laws in place to regulate the trade and the dealing in wildlife to protect native species and to meet our international obligations under CITES.
Under Australia's national environmental law, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, it is illegal to trade Australian native animals to overseas markets.
It is also illegal to import or possess regulated specimens or CITES listed specimens without a permit.
Alongside our intelligence and investigation activities, we work with partners to improve our ability to detect illegal activity, protect our unique flora and fauna and deter wrongdoers.
Case study
We are leveraging world-leading technology to help with the crackdown on the cruel wildlife trade, working with organisations such as the Taronga Conservation Society Australia and Rapiscan Systems.
Rapiscan Systems have developed world first detection algorithms for scanners using AI to complement existing detection methods at Australia's frontlines. Rapiscan RTT uses 3D X-rays to scan items. This is the next step from 2D images, which are unable to be manipulated to find hidden trafficked animals.
Taronga, in partnership with the University of New South Wales, University of Technology Sydney, and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, have developed a hand-held x-ray scanner, called the pXRF, that can detect if native reptiles have been bred in captivity or taken from the wild.
As this technology develops, the Taronga team hope to be able to pinpoint where wild-caught lizards are taken from so that they can be returned to their homes.
The collaboration with Taronga, Rapiscan and the Australian Government is enabling detection technology resulting in greater accuracy and wider application to other animals impacted by illegal wildlife trade.
Since July 2023, more than 500 specimens were recovered across Australia by our Environmental Crime Team. These predominantly involved native species such as Bluetongues and Shinglebacks, but there have also been detections on insects, turtles and native crayfish.
