Wildlife Act 1953

Purpose  The Wildlife Act deals with the protection and control of wild animals and birds and the management of game. Permits are necessary to deal with certain wildlife.

Protection of Wildlife  Most native bird, bat, reptile and frog species are absolutely protected.  Some land invertebrates and marine species also protected.  No-one may kill or have in their possession any such bird or animal, unless they have a permit.  Some native and some introduced bird species have limited protection to maintain their numbers while allowing for some harvest or control.  Many common introduced bird and animal species are not protected.

Schedules  To find what protection a particular species has, it is necessary to consult the schedules to the Act to see which, if any, schedule the species is listed on.

Holding Wildlife  The Act states who can hold wildlife.  People who rehabilitate wildlife need a permit from DOC (Authority to Hold Wildlife Temporarily).  Individual animlas may be held for up to 3 months during rehabilitation.  If longer is needed a new permit must be issued.  Rehabilitators are not allowed to keep animals permanently.  In cases release is not possible then a permitted captive home must be found or the animal euthanased.

Conservation Act 1987

Purpose  The Conservation Act deals with what can and cannot be done on conservation land.  It is relevant to rehab when the animals have been collected from or will be released to conservation land.  A permit from DOC is required to release animals into National parks.

Wildlife in the clinic

Guidelines  Do what is best for the welfare of the animal.  If in any doubt consult DOC.  Make sure the animal has a place to go for rehab after treatment.  Make sure the animal has a home after rehab – either release or to a permitted facility.

Rehabbers  Pre-release care – continue bandage cahnges or give meds while taking care of animals needs.  They will often bring sick/injured wildlife to you.  Have a good relationship with them and develop clear boundaries about what the clinic can and cannot do, and what costs might be involved.

DOC  Have the overall responsibility for wildlife.  Can help with advice on species ID, placement in captive facilities, release locations, permitting, nearest permitted rehabber etc.  Sometimes decisions will be made on the overall conservation value of the individual and may clash with usual clinic practice.  Discuss issues with them so you understand decisions.

Contacts  DOC  Ornithological Soc for species ID  Wildlife rehabilitators Network  Bird rescue  In cases of possible disease outbreaks (more than 3- 5 affected birds) report to MAF

Can we treat?  Do we have the equipment, skills and resources?  Is specialist equipment required?  Consider referral or seeking advice from a specialist wildlife vets such as Massey university or zoo vets.  Are there resources for rehab?  If there are limited resources then it is better to weigh up against the species  Eg better to treat a kereru than a thrush.

Should we treat?  Assess if likely to:  recover AND  be released AND  survive in the wild (will it be able to find food/water/shelter) AND  contribute to the population (will it be able to breed OR serve a useful ecological function such as spread seeds).  If any of these are unlikely then the decision to euthanse should be made. For rare species discuss the situation first with DOC in case there are special reasons to save the individual.

When should we not treat?  Consider the needs for the species – how does it feed, fly, breed and survive in the wild  If the injury or illness will affect these release may not be possible, euthanasia should be considered.  Consider:  Predators need both eyes to hunt  Birds that need to fly long distances for food.  Penguins need both flippers to hunt fish.  Small birds need flight to avoid predators.  Native birds to know own kind to breed so imprinting of hand reared chicks is a problem.

Euthanasia  Information on humane euthanasia: