Keeping protected animal species

According to the Federal Species Protection Ordinance, since January 1, 2001, it has been legally required to mark all species listed in Appendix 6. Specific marking methods are prescribed for individual animal species, such as the use of "closed" (seamless) foot rings, which can only be applied within the first few days after the animal is born for birds. Deviations from this must be approved by authorities.

All other living vertebrates must be marked with transponders or other suitable means. For birds, transponders can be used for marking from a body weight of 200 g, and for turtles from a weight of 500 g. For various turtle and snake species, marking using photo documentation is permitted. However, this is only valid within the Federal Republic of Germany.

The Federal Ministry for the Environment has authorized two associations to exclusively issue identification marks to keepers and breeders of protected species in Germany. These are the Federal Association for Proper Nature and Species Protection (BNA) and the Central Association of Zoological Enterprises (ZZF). Both associations provide relevant informational material and accept orders for identification marks, which can be delivered at the turn of the year or as needed.

For more information, please contact the two professional associations, whose offices can be reached as follows:

• Federal Association for Proper Nature and Species Protection e.V. (BNA), Ostendstraße 4, 76707 Hambrücken, Phone 07255 280-0, Fax 07255 8355, Email gs@bna-ev.de, Internet bna-ev.de.

• Central Association of Zoological Enterprises of Germany e.V. (ZZF), Mainzer Straße 10, 65185 Wiesbaden, Phone 0611 447553-0, Fax 0611 447533-33, Email info@zzf.de, Internet zzf.de.

Legal foundations:

• EU Species Protection Ordinance (VO-EG 338/97)

• Federal Species Protection Ordinance

Anyone who wants to keep, buy, or sell animals or plants of protected species should at least be familiar with the provisions and obtain detailed information as needed.
The full texts of the relevant regulations can be found on the websites of the Federal Office of Justice and the European Union (see further links).

In case of doubt, every animal keeper should inquire about the protection status of the species they keep at the Lower Nature Conservation Authority or the Federal Office for Nature Conservation at www.wisia.de.

The reporting obligation for keeping vertebrates of particularly protected species was introduced in 1987 to record the stocks held in captivity in the Federal Republic of Germany. This is intended to prevent illegal imports of animal species that are endangered or threatened with extinction in their native countries. Only through the complete recording of animals held in private hands is a meaningful control of the animal trade possible.

Anyone who keeps vertebrates of protected species must immediately (within 4 weeks) report their entire stock to the responsible authority, providing the respective certificates. Subsequently, they must also report stock changes, such as acquisitions (e.g., through purchase, exchange, donation, breeding) and disposals (e.g., through sale, exchange, donation, or death of the animal) or a relocation of the regular location of the animals. Some species that are particularly easy to breed are exempt from the reporting obligation (see Appendix 5 of the Federal Species Protection Ordinance).