Protected animals: licence for taxidermists to own dead animals (GL02)
Get a licence to own dead species protected under annex 4 of the Habitats Directive for scientific or educational purposes.
Applies to England
Documents
Details
You need a licence if you plan to transport specimens of dead protected species (listed under annex 4 of the Habitats Directive) for scientific or educational purposes. All specimens must have been lawfully taken from the wild within the United Kingdom or the European Union.
There’s no need to apply for general licences but you must follow the conditions in the licence, including:
- the specimen must be for scientific or educational purposes
- you need to be a member of the Guild of Taxidermists
- you need to be registered with Natural England
How to register with Natural England
You need to register with Natural England within one month of first possessing the dead specimen. Register with Natural England by email or phone:
Wildlife licensing (Science, education and conservation)
Natural England
Horizon House
Deanery Road
Bristol
BS1 5AH
Email wildlife.scicons@naturalengland.org.uk
Telephone 020 8026 1089
Last updated 1 January 2024 + show all updates
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There is an update to this licence for 1 January 2024.
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Annual licence update, valid from 1 January 2023.
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Annual licence update, valid from 1 January 2022.
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Annual licence update.
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Added accessible version of the licence - HTML.
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Replaced licence with new version issued 1 January 2020
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Replaced licence with new version issued 1 January 2019
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Replaced licence with new version issued 1 January 2018
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Replaced licence with new version issued 1 January 2017
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Replaced licence with new version issued 1 January 2016
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Added updated general licence. New version valid between 1 January and 31 December 2015.
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First published.