Two men charged over wildlife poaching in Northern Territory

Northern Territory Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security has advised that remote police officers and rangers from NT Parks and Wildlife have seized 77 reptiles, including three venomous snakes, from a small truck travelling out of the Northern Territory.

The seizure included 26 different species of reptiles which are all protected wildlife in the Northern Territory.

Two men are set to appear in Darwin Local Court today on multiple charges for the alleged import, possession, take and export of protected wildlife after they attempted to smuggle the reptiles out of the Northern Territory to Queensland in July last year.

The 39-year-old male driver and his 23-year-old male passenger were stopped by remote police at Avon Downs and served with a warrant for their vehicle to be searched, which resulted in the seizure of the reptiles that were being transported without authority, paperwork or proof of possession.

Anyone who is aware of or suspects a person is illegally interfering with protected wildlife is urged to call NT police on 131 444, Parks and Wildlife on 0401 115 731 or Border Watch on 1800 06 1800.

Maximum penalties for anyone found guilty of illegally interfering with protected wildlife include five year imprisonment or $78 500 fine.

Image: Knob-tailed Gecko (as species of reptiles seized were not announced, this image, courtesy of Northern Territory Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security is for illustration only. Described as “the puppy dog of the gecko world"…the Knob-tailed Gecko has a chunky build, big eyes and a tail that wags when they get excited…. the Territory is home to four different species.)