​Wildlife Rehabilitation Permits

Activities relating to wildlife rehabilitation may require a permit. Most wildlife in Tasmania is protected by law.

The Government supports the sector to deliver high quality wildlife rehabilitation outcomes. New rehabilitators are expected to undertake training and follow the Wildlife Rehabilitation Skills pathways in the Best Practice Guidelines for Wildlife Rehabilitation (see below). 

Individual Wildlife Rehabilitators ​

Individual wildlife rehabilitators are people who undertake home-based wildlife rehabilitation. 

If you wish to rehabilitate wildlife that do not require a permit you can complete the following application:  

 Wildlife Rehabilitation for Partly Protected Wildlife Application (PDF 947Kb)

For all other wildlife you will need to apply for a Wildlife Rehabilitation Permit:  

Permit holders are required to provide NRE Tas with information about the wildlife they rehabilitated under the permit. 

This is called a permit return. 

This (deidentified) data is compiled and shared with the Wildlife Network Tasmania. As an alternative, the following spreadsheet can also be used to provide your permit returns to NRE Tas:

Soft release of rehabilitated wildlife  ​​

Soft release (or assisted release) is when wildlife is held in an enclosure temporarily at the site of release. 

Landowners who wish to soft release animals on their property can complete the following form. If approved, this permit allows a permitted wildlife rehabilitators to transfer wildlife to your possession for the purpose of soft release:

Wildlife Network Tasmania connects soft release landowners with wildlife rehabilitators​. ​

​Wildlife Display Permit​

Wildlife rehabilitators can display wildlife in their possession to the public for educational purposes.  

You must have a permit to do this activity.

Please note: no payment is required for wildlife rehabilitators.  

Body Corporate Permits (for Central Wildlife Rehabilitation Facilities) ​

Permits are available for central rehabilitation facilities that employ staff and engage volunteers to assist with rehabilitating wildlife at a centralised location. 

There are two types of Body Corporate Permits for central facilities: ‘direction’ and ‘supervision’. 

 Wildlife Rehabilitation Record Form  (XLSX 44Kb)

Treating wombats for mange​​

Refer to the  NRE Tas Wombat Mange webpage​. ​​

Information relevant to your permit ​​​​

Best Practice Guidelines for Wildlife Rehabilitation​​​​​​

NRE Tas has developed Best Practice Guidelines for Wildlife Rehabilitation in consultation with the wildlife rehabilitation sector in Tasmania. 

The Guidelines outline the expected standard of care that wildlife provided during wildlife rehabilitation and reflect the sector’s current expectations of best practice, with a focus on home-based wildlife rehabilitators. The Guidelines must be read to ensure you understand your obligations and legal responsibilities when rehabilitating wildlife in Tasmania. 

Zoonotic disease​​​​​​

Wildlife can carry diseases that can be passed to humans through close contact. 

Wildlife Health Australia has useful information on wildlife diseases, including steps you can take to minimise the chance of catching disease in their National Wildlife Biosecurity Guidelines.

​NRE Tas provides a summary of the diseases that wildlife rehabilitators should be aware of in Tasmania.​ 

Microbat rehabilitation

Microbats can carry Australian Bat Lyssavirus (rabies). Although this disease has not been confirmed in Tasmania, if you are rescuing and rehabilitating Tasmanian microbats you must be vaccinated.  A blood test should be undertaken every two years to ensure protection.  

Where a human has been bitten, scratched, or has had other significant contact, Public Health must be contacted immediately on: 

1800 671 738.

For more information, please see the Department of Health Rabies and Australian Bat Lyssavirus web page.