A 21-year-old Caroline Springs man has been fined $30,000 after he admitted to 19 wildlife offences related to unlawfully taking reptiles from the wild and possessing illegally sourced wildlife as part of a cross-border illegal wildlife trade syndicate.
The man pleaded guilty to 11 charges under the Wildlife Act 1975 and eight charges under the Wildlife Regulations 2013, claiming his “appreciation” and “fascination” with reptiles led to his involvement with the criminal operation between May 2022 and January 2023.
His offences included possessing illegally acquired or disposed of wildlife, illegally possessing protected wildlife, and failing to maintain transaction entries in his wildlife licence record book in relation to 17 shingleback lizards, 10 crested and eight central netted dragons, three eastern and three centralian blue-tongued lizards, 21 mixed species geckos, and 13 Boyd’s forest dragon eggs.
He also admitted to breaching his licence conditions and illegally taking 15 shingleback lizards from the wild within Victoria.
During sentencing on Tuesday, August 27 at Sunshine Magistrates’ Court, presiding Magistrate Robinson said that even though the man’s “involvement was limited”, it helped facilitate more serious offending by others.
His honour also noted that if not for the man’s early guilty plea, he would have been sent to prison.
The man was detected as part of the Conservation Regulator’s Operation Pike, a major investigation into the illegal import, export, and trade of wildlife in Victoria, with assistance from Victoria Police and the federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
The investigation found he received reptiles from interstate and stored them at his house, with many of the animals intended for sale to local and interstate buyers.
Chief conservation regulator Kate Gavens said they are committed to tackling illegal wildlife trade.
“The illegal take and trade of wildlife is completely unacceptable. Not only is taking animals from the wild cruel, but it jeopardises the future health and survival of our iconic native species,” she said.
Another man in his 20s was identified and charged as part of Operation Pike. He is due to face Sunshine Magistrates’ Court next month.
Anyone with information about illegal wildlife trade or other wildlife crime can make a confidential report to Crime Stoppers Victoria on 1800 333 000.
