By Kirsty Ross
WYNDHAM has the highest number of exotic wildlife lovers in Melbourne’s western suburbs, according to the latest figures.
The area is home to 474 basic licence holders and 78 advanced licence holders.
Brimbank comes in second with 364 basic licences, whereas in Hobsons Bay there are just 111 basic licence holders and 16 advanced licence holders.
Maribyrnong is the least reptile-friendly area, holding just 44 licence holders.
All wildlife licence holders have just weeks to lodge their annual returns, or risk fines and loss of their wildlife licence.
The Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) administers the licence system, which allows individuals and commercial operators to own, breed and trade native wildlife such as birds, lizards and snakes.
The most commonly held animals include Central Bearded Dragons, Carpet Pythons and Eclectus Parrots.
The period for submitting annual returns, which are records of sale or breeding, is 1 to 14 April.
DSE officers then visit homes throughout the state to impose fines of up to $2000 on people who fail to comply.
DSE wildlife officer, Samantha Moore, said it was common for licence holders to trade or sell wildlife offspring to other licence holders.
She said recording these transactions was a condition of the licence.
The information is used to track any illegal removal of protected species from the wild.
A basic licence costs $51.20 and an advanced licence costs $139.70.
