Amphibians and reptiles

Exotic (non-native) amphibians and reptiles can cause problems to agriculture and the environment or social problems to the community. For these reasons under the provisions of the Biosecurity Agriculture Management Act 2007 (BAM) they are considered vertebrate animal pests and are regulated accordingly.

The Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia aims to minimise the effect of vertebrate pests on Western Australia. Activities include preventing the entry of new pest species to the state, removing small populations of pests found here, minimising the impact of widespread pests, and raising awareness of the problems of and solutions for pest vertebrates.

The regulations adopted by the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Regulations 2013 specify prohibited and restricted keeping categories for the purposes of regulating declared vertebrate (mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians) pests in regard to the purposes for which they can be kept and the entities that can keep them for that purpose.

Further information on the declaration and management of exotic amphibians and reptiles in Western Australia is available by accessing the links provided here.

Articles

  • Information on policy and management concerning vertebrate animals in Western Australia and risks of emerging pest animals.

  • Many non-native or introduced exotic animals (mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians) have established feral populations in Western Australia, and have become pests as they cause damage to agricul

  • This article provides information about the identification, biology, impact and management of the cane toad.

  • This animal pest alert provides information on the identification, biology, and pest potential of the red-eared slider turtle in Australia.

  • Residents in Cloverdale and surrounding suburbs are urged to look out for unusual toads with raised black pimple-like warts after a live animal was recently discovered in a local resident’s yard.

  • The Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA) is leading the development of a post-border surveillance and detection plan that meets the needs of Western Australia and is suppor