Guardians of Native Wildlife: Meet Queensland's Wildlife Officers
Issued: 5 Sep

Imagine a career where you're a champion for Queensland's incredible native wildlife! Well, that's the life of a Wildlife Officer in Wildlife and Threatened Species Operations, within Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Senior Wildlife Officer, Jonathan, rescuing an echidna. Photo credit: © Queensland Government

Issued
5 September 2024

These dedicated individuals are on the frontlines, working tirelessly to protect and conserve our state's unique and precious native animals. Wildlife Officers have a very unique role compared to their Ranger counterparts—they put the 'wildlife' in Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.

These passionate individuals wear many hats. Their wide range of expertise includes regulating the Nature Conservation Act 1992 and its rules and regulations, including undertaking wildlife permit assessments and on-site audits of people's personal wildlife collections, to ensure the take, keep, and use of native wildlife is monitored.

Wildlife Officer Chris Heckathorn said their work is supported by community members.

‘A lot of our compliance activity is based on tip-offs from members of the public, and we get a surprising number of reports about people unlawfully capturing native wildlife without a relevant permit,' he said.

A Wildlife Officer is holding an electronic device in hand, undertaking a routine field inspection, and auditing a member of the public's native wildlife collection. The wildlife officer is seen overlooking animal husbandry facilities. Six separate glass animal housing units can be seen in the image.
A black cockatoo in a wildlife transportation cage. The cage is sitting in the back of a canopy vehicle tray, ready to be transported to the nearest wildlife husbandry facility. A Wildlife Officer can be seen wearing a compliance vest, body cam, and voice recorder in the photo.
A wildlife officer in full uniform holding a native freshwater turtle.
A Wildlife Officer is holding an electronic device in hand, undertaking a routine field inspection, and auditing a member of the public's native wildlife collection. The wildlife officer is seen overlooking animal husbandry facilities. Six separate glass animal housing units can be seen in the image. Wildlife Officer, Alex, undertaking a routine field inspection, auditing a member of the public's native wildlife collection. Photo credit: © Queensland Government A black cockatoo in a wildlife transportation cage. The cage is sitting in the back of a canopy vehicle tray, ready to be transported to the nearest wildlife husbandry facility. A Wildlife Officer can be seen wearing a compliance vest, body cam, and voice recorder in the photo. A member of the public surrendered multiple black cockatoos after having purchased the birds from an unlawful seller. Photo credit: © Queensland Government A wildlife officer in full uniform holding a native freshwater turtle. Several freshwater turtles were taken into custody after a person was found to not have the correct license to lawfully keep the animals. Photo credit: © Queensland Government

Combatting wildlife crime and a billion-dollar industry

Wildlife crimes are a major driver of the loss of native species and globally, the annual value of wildlife crime, such as the illegal poaching and trafficking of native animals, is estimated at about $100–300 billion.

'People can keep some native animals, but they must obtain a relevant licence and must purchase the animal from a legal source such as another licence holder or a pet store,' Wildlife Officer Chris said.

One of the most common offences that Wildlife Officers encounter is the illegal take of a protected animal without lawful authority, where a person will receive an on-the-spot fine of $806 or a $16,130 maximum court-imposed penalty as of July 2024.

Two wildlife officers are kneeling on a sandy bank and counting estuarine crocodile eggs.
A wildlife officer is undertaking routine crocodile surveys, in a local waterway, on a boat. The wildlife officer is wearing a khaki field uniform and is steering the boat. Mangroves can be seen lining the banks of the waterway in the foreground. There is a very small wake behind the boat.
A wildlife officer is working in a forest environment and is wearing a compliance vest with the word wildlife in big letters on the back of the vest. They are holding a notebook in their left hand and are stepping over a small log.
Two wildlife officers are standing beside a waterway, on a high escarpment, after deploying an estuarine crocodile trap which can be seen floating on the river in the foreground.
Two wildlife officers are kneeling on a sandy bank and counting estuarine crocodile eggs. Wildlife Officers undertaking estuarine crocodile egg and hatchling surveys. Photo credit: © Queensland Government A wildlife officer is undertaking routine crocodile surveys, in a local waterway, on a boat. The wildlife officer is wearing a khaki field uniform and is steering the boat. Mangroves can be seen lining the banks of the waterway in the foreground. There is a very small wake behind the boat. Wildlife Officer, Alex, undertaking routine crocodile surveys in a local waterway. Photo credit: © Queensland Government A wildlife officer is working in a forest environment and is wearing a compliance vest with the word wildlife in big letters on the back of the vest. They are holding a notebook in their left hand and are stepping over a small log. Working in the field, undertaking surveys of reported flying-fox roosts. Photo credit: © Queensland Government Two wildlife officers are standing beside a waterway, on a high escarpment, after deploying an estuarine crocodile trap which can be seen floating on the river in the foreground. Wildlife Officers undertaking crocodile trapping in a local waterway. Photo credit: © Queensland Government

More than just compliance officers

Our Wildlife Officers also contribute to applied research initiatives, including the safe trapping and relocation of crocodiles assisting in marine animal strandings, assessing flying-fox roosts, and undertaking koala surveys.

With urban development continuing to grow in Queensland, it's more important now than ever that Wildlife Officers undertake research to help develop new and innovative wildlife management and community engagement strategies.

Senior Wildlife Officer Jonathan said their work revolves around helping vulnerable wildlife.

‘Often times, our wildlife can't help that their natural habitat boarders your backyard, which is why we focus a lot of our efforts and resources on providing public education and undertaking compliance activities,' Senior Wildlife Officer Jonathon said.

'Through strategic compliance activities and community engagement, we strive for a peaceful coexistence between people and wildlife, providing education about responsible human-wildlife interactions for the protection of Queensland's vulnerable species.’

Wildlife Officers investigating a report of a stranded marine animal.
A medium to large-sized estuarine crocodile is pictured in a crocodile trap. The crocodile trap is made of criminal safe metal guarding.
A boat is reversed into a waterway, with wildlife officers unhooking their boat from their boat trailer. The water of the waterway is a murky dark brown colour. A second boat has already been launched and can be seen floating in the foreground.
Wildlife Officers investigating a report of a stranded marine animal. Two wildlife officers are standing to observe a marine animal stranding on a sandy Queensland beach. A large marine animal can be seen in the foreground, stranded near the low tide mark. Photo credit: © Queensland Government A medium to large-sized estuarine crocodile is pictured in a crocodile trap. The crocodile trap is made of criminal safe metal guarding. An estuarine crocodile after having ventured into a deployed crocodile trap. Photo credit: © Queensland Government A boat is reversed into a waterway, with wildlife officers unhooking their boat from their boat trailer. The water of the waterway is a murky dark brown colour. A second boat has already been launched and can be seen floating in the foreground. Wildlife Officers getting ready to head out into the field. Photo credit: © Queensland Government

What you can do to help protect Queensland's native animals

If you see any sick or injured wildlife (except crocodiles, cassowaries and marine strandings), make a report to 1300 ANIMAL (1300 264 625).

Don’t risk injury. Keep safe and follow the guidelines for handling and transporting sick, injured and orphaned wildlife. Getting an animal picked up by a wildlife carer or to a vet within 72 hours is critical in getting the best care for injured wildlife.

If you see a crocodile, you can report it to the department via the QWildlife app, the DESI website, or by calling the Wildlife Hotline on 1300 130 372. Wildlife Officers investigate every sighting that is reported.

Wildlife Officers are measuring a stranded marine mammal on a sandy beach. The officers are in full uniform. One officer is standing at the head end and the other officer is standing at the tail end of the marine mammal. Both officers are holding either end of the measuring tape to measure the length of the animal. Water is lapping up around the stranding animal.
A concrete boat ramp is pictured near a large waterbody, featuring a QR code to report crocodile sightings in the area.
Wildlife Officers undertaking crocodile trapping and handling training at a crocodile farm. Two Wildlife Officers are sitting on a crocodile. The crocodile has duct tape wrapping around its jaws. A third Wildlife Officer is pictured in the foreground keeping watch of the nearby water for any other crocodiles.
Wildlife Officers are measuring a stranded marine mammal on a sandy beach. The officers are in full uniform. One officer is standing at the head end and the other officer is standing at the tail end of the marine mammal. Both officers are holding either end of the measuring tape to measure the length of the animal. Water is lapping up around the stranding animal. Wildlife Officers measuring a stranded marine animal to contribute to ongoing stranding research. Photo credit: © Queensland Government A concrete boat ramp is pictured near a large waterbody, featuring a QR code to report crocodile sightings in the area. A local boat ramp featuring a QR code to report crocodile sightings in the area. Photo credit: © Queensland Government Wildlife Officers undertaking crocodile trapping and handling training at a crocodile farm. Two Wildlife Officers are sitting on a crocodile. The crocodile has duct tape wrapping around its jaws. A third Wildlife Officer is pictured in the foreground keeping watch of the nearby water for any other crocodiles. Wildlife Officers undertaking crocodile trapping and handling training at a crocodile farm. Photo credit: © Queensland Government

If you suspect someone is engaged in illegal wildlife activities, such as dolphin feeding or not having a permit to keep native animals, we encourage you to report it to a Wildlife Officer by calling the Wildlife Hotline on 1300 130 372, or email wildlife.operations@des.qld.gov.au

'We are very appreciative of members of the public who have a love and passion for protecting Queensland native animals as much as we do,' Senior Wildlife Officer Jonothan said.

For more information about the responsibilities for wildlife license holders, please visit keeping native animals on the Queensland Government website.

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