Crocodile farming
Queensland's native wildlife is protected by legislation that aims to conserve biodiversity by protecting wildlife and its habitat.
A licensing system helps us protect native wildlife species. By regulating the sustainable taking, keeping, using or moving of wildlife for commercial, recreational or other purposes we ensure viable wild populations of plants and animals are maintained.
While crocodiles cannot be kept as pets in Queensland, there are provisions available for them to be kept for other purposes such as farming or education.
Read more about wildlife permits.
This Code of practice on the humane treatment of wild and farmed Australian crocodiles has been prepared for use by people responsible for the welfare and husbandry of wild and farmed estuarine saltwater crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) and freshwater crocodiles (Crocodylus johnstoni), that are maintained in captivity for closed-cycle captive breeding and the production of products such as meat, leather and taxidermied whole or part specimens. It is illegal to capture or farm wild crocodiles in Queensland unless a wildlife licence has been granted under the Nature Conservation Act 1992.
Any person or organisation proposing to farm crocodiles must be prepared to undertake considerable research into various aspects of crocodile husbandry and farming. The department will only consider fully documented and soundly based proposals for crocodile farming.
In addition to the Code of practice, a Crocodile commercial activity compliance plan has been developed, which outlines the department's approach to compliance and supports the delivery of departmental obligations under the Nature Conservation Act 1992, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, and the Wildlife Trade Management Plan – Queensland Crocodile Farming and Crocodile Egg Harvesting (2023–28).