Commencement: 5 June 1962

LAWS OF THE REPUBLIC OF VANUATU
REVISED EDITION 1988

CHAPTER 30

WILD BIRD (PROTECTION)

JR 5 of 1962
JR 10 of 1970
JR 13 of 1971

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

SECTION
1.	Interpretation
2.	Killing etc. of protected species prohibited without permit
3.	Killing etc. of protected species prohibited except during permitted months
4.	Killing etc. of other protected species prohibited except during permitted months
5.	Sale, purchase and export of protected species prohibited
6.	Hunting at night unlawful
7.	Import of trap, net etc. unlawful without permit
8.	Application for permit to hunt or capture protected species
9.	Regulations
10.	Penalties
11.	Confiscation of devices used in contravention of Act
12.	Enforcement

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WILD BIRD (PROTECTION)

To protect wild bird life.

INTERPRETATION

1.	In this Act -

"Minister" means the Minister responsible for agriculture.

KILLING ETC. OF PROTECTED SPECIES PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMIT

2.	It shall be unlawful for any person to kill, wound, capture or take the eggs of any bird of the following species without first having obtained a permit to do so from the Director of Agriculture-

Australian Dabchick			Podiceps novaehollandiae leucosternes
White-browed Rail			Poliolimnas cinereus tannensis
Australian White-eyed Duck		Nyroca australis extima
Bam Owl				Tyto alba interposita
Santa Cruz Ground Pigeon		Gallicolumba sanctaecrucis
Green Palm Lorikeet			Vini Palmarium (charmosynopsis)
Chestnut-bellied Kingfisher		Halcyon farquhari
Thicket Warbler			Cichlornis Whitney
Mountain Starting			Aplonis santovestris
White-bellied Honey-eater		Guadalcanaria notabilis
Blue-faced Parrot-Finch		Erythrura trichroa cyanifrons
Red-headed Parrot-Finch		Erythrura cyanovirens efatensis
Red-headed Parrot-Finch		Erythrura cyanovirens regia
Red-headed Parrot-Finch		Erythrura cyanovirens serena
Sooty Rail				Neolaiage banksiana

KILLING ETC. OF PROTECTED SPECIES PROHIBITED EXCEPT DURING PERMITTED MONTHS

3.	It shall be unlawful for any person to kill, wound, capture or take the eggs of any of the following species during the 9 months extending from 1 September to 31 May -

Black Duck (also known as Australian Wild Duck)		Anas superciliosa pelewensis

KILLING ETC. OF OTHER PROTECTED SPECIES PROHIBITED EXCEPT DURING PERMITTED MONTHS

4.	(1)	It shall be unlawful for any person to kill, wound, capture or take the eggs of any of the following species during the 9 months extending from 1 July to 31 March -

Pacific Pigeon Nautou			Ducula Pacifica
Baker's Pigeon				Ducula bakeri
White-throated Pigeon		Columba vitiensis
Red-bellied Fruit Dove		Ptilinopus greyii
Tanna Fruit Dove			Ptilinopus Tannensis
Rufous-brown Pheasant Dove		Macropygia mackintayi
Green-winged Ground Pigeon	Chalcophaps Indica
Megapode or Incubator Bird		Megapodius Freycinet
Australian Grey Duck			Anas supercilios
Grey Teal				Anas gibberifons

(2)	The Minister may by Order prohibit the hunting of one or more of these species, on certain islands, for a period long enough to permit the re-establishment of the population of that or those species.

(3)	During the period from 31 March to 1 July in each year, the killing of more than 10 birds of the same species in any 1 day -

(a)	by any one person using any firearm or firearms requiring the issue of a firearms permit; or

(b)	by the use of any firearm requiring the issue of a firearms permit whether used by one person or more than one person;

shall be unlawful.

SALE, PURCHASE AND EXPORT OF PROTECTED SPECIES PROHIBITED

5.	It shall be unlawful for any person at any time to sell, attempt to sell, buy or export any of the birds the subject of sections 3 and 4.

HUNTING AT NIGHT UNLAWFUL

6.	Hunting at night shall be unlawful throughout Vanuatu at all times and in respect of all species of birds.

IMPORT OF TRAP, NET ETC. UNLAWFUL WITHOUT PERMIT

7.	It shall be unlawful for any person to import or purchase any trap, net or other device designed for the capture of birds without first having obtained a permit from the Director of Agriculture.

APPLICATION FOR PERMIT TO HUNT OR CAPTURE PROTECTED SPECIES

8.	(1)	Any person who wishes to obtain a special permit to hunt or capture birds as provided for in sections 2 and 7 shall make written application to the Director of Agriculture.

(2)	Every such application shall indicate the species chosen, the number of birds in each species, where they are to be sent, the purpose for which it is desired to kill or capture them and the method of capture or slaughter that it is proposed to employ.

(3)	A charge shall be made for each specimen killed or captured and the amount of such charge shall be fixed by the Minister by Order.

REGULATIONS

9.	The Minister may make regulations for the better carrying out of the provisions of this Act.

PENALTIES

10.	Any person who contravenes any of the provisions of this Act shall be liable to a fine not exceeding VT10,000 or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 8 days or to both such fine and imprisonment.

CONFISCATION OF DEVICES USED IN CONTRAVENTION OF ACT

11.	Any weapon, trap, net or other device used in contravention of the provisions of this Act may be confiscated and disposed of as the court shall direct.

ENFORCEMENT

12.	(1)	Officers of the Police Force, officers of the Agricultural Department, officers of the Customs Department, and any person expressly appointed a voluntary game warden for this purpose by the Minister, shall be responsible for the enforcement of this Act.

(2)	Any person appointed a voluntary game warden for the purposes of this Act, may report the suspected commission of an offence to any member of the other classes of persons responsible for the enforcement of this Act.

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