The Department of Environment and Science (DES) has called on people to contact wildlife officers for advice before taking possession of live native animals or parts of dead animals.
Senior Wildlife Officer with DES, Tina Ball said the move followed a member of the public making an approach to wildlife officers after taking possession of two turtle carapaces and four sawfish rostrums as part of a deceased estate.
“The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service advised the person that specific authorities were required to keep the turtle carapaces,” Ms Ball said.
“We would need to liaise with the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries who administer legislation relevant to deceased sawfish rostrums.”
She said that due to the nature of the estate, the person was unable to provide details of where the items came from, and decided to surrender them to the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.
“We believe the turtle carapaces, which are about 45cm long, are from juvenile green turtles, and we’re not sure what sawfish species the rostrums are from,” Ms Ball said
“Wildlife officers will now use the turtle carapaces for educational purposes to help prevent the illegal take and trade of wildlife and deceased animal parts.”
She said the rostrums had been provided to the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, as sawfish were protected in Queensland and were listed as a no take species.
“Under the Nature Conservation Act 1992, people who have deceased animal parts that were taken before 1992 need to have an authority from the Department,” she said.
“It is currently unlawful to be in possession of any deceased animal parts that were taken from the wild since the introduction of the Nature Conservation Act 1992,” the Senior Wildlife Officer said.
