| 4.1 | Farming of wild animals |
| 4.1.1 | RSPCA Australia is opposed to the taking of animals from the wild for the purpose of farming (defined as the breeding, rearing and slaughter of animals for commercial purposes), due to the risk of pain, injury or distress arising from the capture, transport, handling and long-term confinement of these animals, and potential effects on the ecosystem from where they are taken. See B6 Farming of non-domesticated species |
| 4.2 | Hunting of wild animals |
| 4.2.1 | RSPCA Australia is opposed to the hunting of any animal for sport. |
| 4.2.2 | RSPCA Australia is opposed to open seasons on duck, quail, deer and other ‘game’ species, and to the breeding and release of animals into ‘game parks’ for the purpose of hunting for sport. |
| 4.2.3 | Where wild animals are legitimately hunted for subsistence, this must be conducted humanely and with regard for the conservation status of the species involved. |
| 4.3 | Killing of wild animals for commercial purposes |
| 4.3.1 | RSPCA Australia is opposed to the killing of wild animals for commercial utilisation (i.e. for food or other animal products) unless this is carried out as part of a wild animal management program that meets the criteria specified in Policy E2. |
| 4.4 | Keeping of wild animals as pets |
| 4.4.1 | RSPCA Australia is opposed to the taking of animals from the wild to be kept as pets due to the risk of pain, injury or distress arising from the capture, transport, handling and long-term confinement of these animals, and potential effects on the ecosystem from where they are taken. |
| 4.4.2 | RSPCA Australia believes that captive-bred wild animals should not be kept as pets unless the species has been clearly identified as being suitable for this purpose. |
| 4.4.3 | Characteristics which indicate suitability for a species to be kept as a pet include:
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| 4.4.4 | Any proposals for the keeping of endangered native animals as pets as a means of promoting their conservation must adequately address the above characteristics and any additional conservation, ecological or animal welfare issues arising. |
(adopted 06/12/10)
